Videodrome

(aka 'Network of Blood' or 'Zonekiller' ')

directed by David Cronenberg
USA 1983

When Max Renn goes looking for edgy new shows for his sleazy cable TV station, he stumbles across the pirate broadcast of a hyperviolent torture show called Videodrome. As he unearths the origins of the program, he embarks on a hallucinatory journey into a shadow world of right-wing conspiracies, sadomasochistic sex games, and bodily transformation. Renn’s ordinary life dissolves around him, he finds himself at the center of a conflict between opposing factions in the struggle to control the truth behind the radical human future of “the New Flesh.” Starring James Woods and Deborah Harry in one of her first film roles, Videodrome is one of writer/director David Cronenberg’s most original and provocative works, fusing social commentary with shocking elements of sex and violence. With groundbreaking special effects makeup by Academy Award-winner Rick Baker, Videodrome has come to be regarded as one of the most influential and mind-bending science fiction films of the 1980s.

Posters

Theatrical Release: January 29th, 1983

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DVD Comparison:

Universal - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Criterion (2 disc) - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Bill McAlpine for the Universal Screen Captures!

(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Universal Region 1 - NTSC	Criterion Collection - Spine # 248 Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1.28.33	1:28:42
Video	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.32 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio - 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 7.39 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Universal	NOT AVAILABLE
Bitrate: Criterion
Audio	English mono, French mono	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles	English, Spanish, and none	English, and none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Universal Studios Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Production notes • Cast & Filmmakers' bios • Theatrical trailer DVD Release Date: September 2nd, 2003 Keep case Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Collection / Home Vision Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Two audio commentaries: David Cronenberg and director of photography Mark Irwin, and actors James Woods and Deborah Harry • Camera (2000), a short film starring Videodrome’s Les Carlson, written and directed by Cronenberg • Forging the New Flesh, a new half-hour documentary featurette by filmmaker Michael Lennick about the creation of Videodrome’s video and prosthetic makeup effects • Effects Men, a new audio interview with special makeup effects creator Baker and video effects supervisor Lennick • Bootleg Video: the complete footage of Samurai Dreams and seven minutes of transmissions from “Videodrome,” presented in their original, unedited form with filmmaker commentary • Fear on Film, a 26-minute roundtable discussion from 1982 between filmmakers Cronenberg, John Carpenter, John Landis, and Mick Garris • Original theatrical trailers and promotional featurette • Stills galleries featuring hundreds of rare behind-the-scenes production photos, special effects makeup tests, and publicity photos English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired • 40-page booklet featuring an essay by film critic Carrie Rickey, excerpts from an unpublished book on Videodrome by film critic and publisher Tim Lucas, and a new essay by novelist and culture critic Gary Indiana DVD Release Date: August 31st, 2004 Firm cardboard slip box Chapters: 24

Comments:

Comparing the Universal edition does show that the Criterion is cropped on the right and top edges. To be fair, the non-anamorphic Universal is not too bad at all. It is duller and a shade hazy, but colors seem fairly accurate devoid of any extreme variances aside from being a little washed out. The Criterion has some red in the skin tones, but has very good contrast. Non-intrusive subtitles and extras are solidly in Criterion's favor, but the Universal does offer a French audio DUB and some extra subtitle choices. For this reason we say that for those watching through a tube, desire the language options, and are not overly concerned with the minutia of the extensive extras - they will find the Universal price is right. Big fans of the film (and there are many) will rejoice at the Criterion.

- Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)

Subtitle Sample