The Film Detective entered the Blu-ray game last year and have slowly built up a nice library of classic cinema releases. Most of what they’ve done thus far are public domain films, some of which have previously received Blu-ray releases from Film Chest. On May 31st they’ll be releasing Roger Corman’s The Terror on Blu-ray, another title that Film Chest released a number of years back.
Up to this point The Film Detective has managed to improve on the previous Film Chest releases, delivering a better overall quality in picture. The Film Detective digitally restores their releases same as Film Cheset, often times from 35mm archival film elements which is the case with The Terror, but unlike Film Chest they do a good job of not doctoring them up too much. The Film Detective releases offer a more natural film look, whereas Film Chest usually has a waxy quality as a result of too much DNR. Here’s to hoping The Terror continues The Film Detective’s streak.
The Film Detective’s owner Phil Hopkins certainly seems to think that’ll be the case stating, “After years of sub-par versions, The Film Detective brings The Terror to the screen as it’s never been seen before, fully restored from 35mm archival material in its original aspect ratio. I think fans will be thrilled with the unparalleled quality of this Blu-ray release, not only visually but by the impact of the soundtrack.”
As for the actual film itself, well it’s an interesting one to say the least. Corman was always known for getting the most bang for his buck and so with a few extra days with access to the sets from The Haunted Palace, he decided to make another movie. That movie was The Terror.
Is it a good movie? No, not at all. But is it an interesting movie? Absolutely. It’s something all horror fans should see at one point in their life because it’s quite bizarre. And it’s Corman. The more Corman on Blu-ray the better.
Synopsis:
In 18th century France, Lt. Andre Duvalier (three-time Academy Award-winner Jack Nicholson, The Departed, As Good As It Gets, A Few Good Men, The Shining), an officer in Napoleon’s army, has been separated from his regiment. Wandering near the coast, he spies a young woman (Sandra Knight, Frankenstein’s Daughter, Blood Bath) and calls out to her. When she fails to acknowledge, he follows her into the dark surf and strangely loses consciousness.He awakens in a house tended by an old woman, Katrina (Dorothy Neumann, Sorry, Wrong Number, The Ten Commandments), who claims not to know the mysterious lady. On his way once again, Andre comes upon the castle of Baron Victor Frederick Von Leppe (Boris Karloff, Frankenstein, The Mummy, How the Grinch Stole Christmas).
There he learns that the girl is in fact the spirit of the Baron’s late wife, being used as a pawn by the witchy Katrina who is bent on driving the elderly Baron to suicide.
Also starring Dick Miller (A Bucket of Blood) as Stefan, married in real-life to Knight (who portrays the ghost of Ilsa, the Baroness Von Leppe), who was visibly pregnant with their daughter during filming.
