NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (August 2021): Indicator have also transferred Robert Hartford-Davis' Corruption with Peter Cushing to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "2K restoration from the original negative". We've compared some screen captures to the 2013 Grindhouse Releasing Blu-ray which includes the US/UK (lumped together) and 'International' versions of the film - not seamlessly-branched. The Indicator has three feature presentations: the censored UK theatrical cut, the US theatrical cut, and the graphic continental version seamlessly-branched as indicated by the menus screen;

FYI: Corruption was released in different cuts throughout the world. In the UK, the British Board of Film Censors required changes to reels four and five to lessen the murders of the girl on the train and Terry, and remove shots of Terry's severed head, all of which was achieved with cut-away inserts. While the US cut presents these scenes intact, the continental version includes a stronger, yet shorter prostitute murder, featuring a different actress.

The Indicator has better, richer colors and truer skin tones (the Grindhouse flesh hues looks orange/yellow.) Overall the contrast is layered better and the textures exported more consistently on the, higher bitrate, Indicator. The Indicator is the better HD presentation.

NOTE: We have added 64 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

Like Grindhouse Releasing, on their Blu-ray, Indicator use a DTS-HD Master 1.0 channel mono track but at 24-bit to the US audio transfer's 16-bit - both in the original English language. Corruption has plenty of aggressive moments that come flat but with modest depth. The jazzy, swinging 60's score was by Bill McGuffie (The Leather Boys, Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. with Cushing) adding a dated tone to the film. Indicator win this as well with an more robust uptick via their own 24-bit lossless transfer. It's more minor than the video superiority but is still there. Grindhouse Releasing include no subtitle options where Indicator offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray. Both BDs offer an isolated score and effects track option.

The Indicator Blu-ray also include the 2013 audio commentary with Cushing biographer David Miller (author of Peter Cushing: A Life in Film) and English Gothic author Jonathan Rigby (author of English Gothic) for both the US cut and continental version. It's thorough detailing many points of the production, Titan International Productions, other relatable films and Cushing's low opinion of this and his previous film The Blood Beast Terror. There are many parallel references (themes, tone, Grand Guignol cinema etc.) to Corruption, reading some poor reviews and it is a very entertaining commentary. While the film runs we can listen to two interviews on the Indicator; via the BEHP with Peter Newbrook from 1995 running over 1.5 hours as an archival audio recording of the producer and cameraman in a career-spanning conversation with Alan Lawson and Roy Fowler, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project. The second is a 72-minute Guardian interview with Peter Cushing from 1986 as an archival audio recording of the legendary actor in conversation with David Castell at the National Film Theatre in London. Both are revealing. Indicator include a new (2021) video piece; The Reluctant Beatnik where actor Phillip Manikum revisits his time on the film for 1/4 hour. Also new on the Indicator; Stephen Laws introduces ‘Corruption’ as a 7-minute appreciation by the acclaimed horror author. Indicator stack the package with past interview of Wendy Varnals remembering playing Terry in Corruption, plus separate interviews with actors Billy Murray and Jan Waters (both also included on the Grindhouse Releasing Blu-ray.) indicator have the alternative Laser Killer opening titles, an original UK theatrical trailer, the original US theatrical trailer, TV spots, Radio spots, an Edgar Wright trailer commentary from 2013 as a short critical appreciation, image galleries of production stills and promotional material and the director’s shooting script gallery. The Indicator Blu-ray package itself includes a limited edition exclusive 80-page book with a new essay by Laura Mayne, a history of production company Titan International Films, an archival interview with producer and cinematographer Peter Newbrook, a look at the film’s music, cast and publicity, excerpts from the novelisation, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits and limited edition exclusive set of five replica production stills.

Robert Hartford-Davis's Corruption has been given a bad critical rap, most probably for pushing the envelope in regards to the gruesome, shocking visuals - that still have head-turning impact today. Peter Cushing (it would have been his 108th birthday this year!) is excellent and, while the film doesn't travel in the directions some would hope, it still has a solid concept and tells a creepy story at a suspense pace. It's a pretty rare-bird and may have appeal from that standpoint alone. Indicator continue with very complete Blu-ray packages of keen fan films, just like this. Fans of the horror genre, Cushing or British films of the late 60's - not Hammer  but has shades of the studio's work - will probably appreciate Corruption. The Indicator Blu-ray wins in all categories, a/v - supplements, between the two editions. Theirs is quite an impressive package Corruption is still, very much worth seeing and owning, imo.

Gary Tooze