Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Winterbeast Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 25, 2021

“Winterbeast” was completed in 1992, but began life in 1986, with director Christopher Thies and producer Mark Frizzell setting out to create a horror picture with no money and a plan to manufacture monsters using stop-motion animation, with Frizzell a student of the artform. The pair spent years putting the film together, finding time here and there to do something with premise and hire patient actors looking to contribute to the cause. What they ended up with is barely a movie at times, packed with as much filler as the production can get away with. Still, “Winterbeast” is charmingly rough around the edges, especially when it focuses on just being a creature feature, getting away from a barely realized story and loose characterization.

There’s a problem brewing inside a Massachusetts state park, and it’s up to Whitman (Tim R. Morgan) to figure out why monsters are suddenly populating the deep woods and tall mountains. The answer has something to do with a Native American gateway to Hell that’s been opened, but “Winterbeast” isn’t entirely sure what’s going on, with the screenplay dealing vaguely with characters and motivations, and creature attacks are infrequent. What the feature really offers is lengthy passages of nonsense dialogue presented by amateur actors, extended walks around the woods, and the presence of Sheldon (Bob Harlow), the manager of local vacation destination, the Wild Goose Lodge, who performs a Lynch-ian lip synch dance in the middle of the movie, which kills just enough screen time to get the endeavor to 77 minutes in length.

Winterbeast Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a new 2K scan of "16mm and Super 8mm film elements." Vinegar Syndrome presents an opening card explaining the visual differences between 16mm and Super 8, and while the shifts in resolution are noticeable, they do not disrupt the viewing experience. Detail reaches as far as possible, delivering decent skin surfaces, and highly decorated sets are open for inspection. Monster textures come through with clarity. Exteriors retain compelling dimension. Colors are distinct, with red, green, and blue lighting used to shake up horror visuals. Skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is heavy but film-like. Source has some wear and tear, with scratches, speckling, and some brief frame damage.

Winterbeast Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Opening information is also provided on the 2.0 DTS-HD MA track, noting the film was mixed with "rudimentary equipment," leading to occasional distortion. Indeed, "Winterbeast" wasn't finished with much attention to detail, finding dialogue exchanges clear but far from nuanced, with crispy highs as panicked reactions increase. Scoring cues are also unsteady, but offer a pronounced synth sound.

Winterbeast Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features producer Mark Frizzell.

• Commentary #2 features director Christopher Thies, producer Mark Frizzell, and cinematographer Craig Mathieson.

• "It Came From Lone Peak" (73:22, HD) is an early workprint version of "Winterbeast," with sections of the movie unfinished.

• "A Movie For Filmmakers" (18:44, HD) is an appreciation piece from screenwriter Simon Barrett ("You're Next").

• "He Wears Sunglasses at Night" (14:15, HD) is a video conference interview with actor Mike Magri, who admits "Winterbeast" is the only film he's ever done, largely focusing on building his stage career as a younger man. Asked to replace another actor, Magri joined the "Winterbeast" shoot, which carried on for a long time. The interviewee offers praise for producer Mark Frizzell and recalls the picture's limited release.

• "Sweat and Persistence" (27:39, HD) is an interview with producer Mark Frizzell, who shares his early love for Ray Harryhausen and his creations, inspiring him to pursue stop-motion animation. Frizzell's relationship with director Christopher Thies is detailed, and he offers thoughts on the physically draining nature of stop-motion work. The creation of "Winterbeast" is remembered, with Frizzell highlighting technical challenges and examining a lengthy post-production process, which carried on for years before the movie was finally finished. The interviewee closes with an anecdote about showing "Winterbeast" to his film students to help them feel better about their projects, only to learn about the endeavor's cult appeal.

• "So Bad, It's Good" (10:19, HD) is a video conference interview with actress Dori May Kelly, who was working her way into the Boston theater scene when she tried her luck with an audition for "Winterbeast." Kelly offers praise for Mark Frizzell and recalls camaraderie with some of her co-stars.

• "My First Career" (13:36, HD) is a video conference interview with actor David Majka, who tracks his developing friendship with Mark Frizzell and shares his impression of Christopher Thies. Majka identifies his "standby" status during the lengthy filming process for "Winterbeast," and examines the movie's amazing life as a cult title.

• "I Saw It In a Dream" (10:35, HD) is a video conference interview with actor Charles Majka, who shares his relationship with Mark Frizzell and his appreciation for Christopher Thies. The filming process for "Winterbeast" is analyzed, with Majka accepting multiple jobs during the shoot. And the feature's cult legacy is celebrated.

• "Soap Opera Footage" (11:49, SD) edits together early video-shot scenes for "Winterbeast," making use of work that wasn't going to fit into the film.

• "Oh Dear, What Can The Matter Be?" (19:36, SD) is the original, undated making-of for "Winterbeast, featuring interviews with Mark Frizzell, Christopher Thies, Charles Majka, and Dave Majka.

• Deleted Scenes (13:00, SD) are offered.

• Audio Interview (3:44) with composer Michael Perilstein is a brief, overly jokey bit from the interviewee, who mentions an "upcoming" CD release of the "Winterbeast" soundtrack and plugs his other scores.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Winterbeast Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Winterbeast" is in no hurry to provide suspense or scares. It's simply happy to be completed, hoping to offer some entertainment value to cult film fanatics. There are moments to enjoy, especially when Frizzell gets an opportunity to show his stuff with stop-motion animation, creating imaginative sequences for "Winterbeast," giving the movie unusual visuals, which helps to digest a habitually dull endeavor.