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

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray (August 2021): Arrow have transferred David Nelson's 1982 horror Death Scream to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand new 2K restoration from an archival 35mm print". The problem is not the max'ed out bitrate transfer, it's the surviving archival print. It is consistent in terms of texture but dark scenes hide excessive detail and it is devoid of any appreciative depth. It's hard to know whether the 1080P image is more a function of the original production or degraded archival source. It's absolutely watchable but is a far hike from the 'anticipated' from this format. 

NOTE: We have added 48 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Arrow use an authentic linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Death Scream has aggressive moments often in terms of screams - more so in the second half - but they come through fairly modestly - as per, what I assume, is the original production limitations. It probably never sounded immersive - even initially. The score is notable by Dee Barton, a jazz trombonist and big band drummer, who also composed a few Clint Eastwood films; High Plains Drifter, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, and Play Misty for Me. I don't think this is his best work but it adds some needed mood-enhancement for certain scenes of Death Scream. It all sound fairly unremarkable, but probably accurate, via the uncompressed transfer.  Arrow offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Arrow Blu-ray offers a two new commentaries. The first is by producer Charles Ison and special effects artist Worth Keeter moderated by filmmaker Phil Smoot. I found it moderately informative with a heavy focus on cast/crew and some details of the production including locations being shared. Interesting, at least, to have the filmmakers involved. The second is by the podcast participants The Hysteria Continues (Justin Kurswell, Erik Threllfall, Joseph Henson and Nathan Johnson.) Some fun, some distractions - fans of the film may get some of the carefree but researched vibe. The Fun of the Scare: The Making of Death Screams is a newly-produced, 33-minute, making-of documentary featuring interviews with producer Charles Ison, special effects artist Worth Keeter, writer Paul Elliott, actors Hanns Manship and Curt Rector, actor/producer’s assistant/assistant supervising editor Sharon Alley and actor/talent wrangler Robert “Billy Bob” Melton. There are TV and radio spots, a set of four image galleries, the House of Death alternate VHS opening titles, a brief behind the scenes TV spot and two versions of the screenplay under the original title of Night Screams here the package also has a reversible sleeve featuring original artwork and a newly-commissioned re-imagining of the original VHS artwork by Sadist Art Designs presented with die-cut slipcover and we get a fully-illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Brian Albright. 

Following the success of similar teen-slasher-horror flics that came before it (the first two Halloweens, Happy Birthday to Me, Prom Night etc. etc.), Ozzie and Harriet-fame, David Nelson's Death Scream seems a bit 'standard fare' coming out the same year as The Forest - which I would recommend above it. What interested me about the film was how banal it was for the first half - identifying multiple, perhaps too many, characters - and then it escalates via a drastic turn to graphic deaths, eventual, awkward, nudity and opportunistic terror tropes ("Let's go to the cemetery".) Frankly, I was expecting more from Susan Kiger's (Seven) exposed bareness and eroticism as represented by marquee-level exploitation enticement. Death Scream seems slap-dash effort suffering from poor pacing - it kind of vaults right into 'it' instead a persistent 'build' transition. Unlike the film, the Arrow Blu-ray is above reproach with a max'ed out, 24-bit a/v transfer, two commentaries, documentary, booklet and more. I suggest the film may have extensive nostalgic value for a small niche of genre aficionados. It's not horrendous - just flawed - bit that can be appealing for some. Fans may appreciate the extensive Arrow Blu-ray package. 

Gary Tooze