ADDITION: Vinegar Syndrome 4K UHD (October 2022): Vinegar Syndrome's have released Stuart Rosenberg's 1979 "The Amityville Horror" to 4K UHD. It is cited as being "newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative." The feature is also included in 1080P on a second disc Blu-ray that has the video extras. We reviewed the 2008 20th Century Fox / MGM Blu-ray HERE. There was a 2014 Blu-ray HERE but we don't own it to compare. Ditto for the out-of-print Shout! Factory Blu-ray trilogy set. The 3840 X 2160 image shows the usual improvement from this higher resolution - more consistent grain, brighter, richer colors, superior contrast layering and the flesh tones shift - at times cooler and other scenes warmer.  The 4K UHD is a resounding upgrade with a very high bitrate (4X that of the initial BD) showing much more depth, color balance and a superior film-like image.

It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. Our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the 4K system at your home. But the framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by this simulation representation.

NOTE: 50 more more full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K UHD captures, in lossless PNG format, for Patrons are available HERE

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages to date: The War of the Worlds (1953) (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Incredible Melting Man  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Cloak & Dagger (software uniformly simulated HDR), Event Horizon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Get Carter (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Killing (software uniformly simulated HDR), Killer's Kiss (software uniformly simulated HDR), Out of Sight (software uniformly simulated HDR), Raging Bull (software uniformly simulated HDR), Shaft (1971),  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Double Indemnity (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Untouchables (software uniformly simulated HDR),  For a Few Dollars More (no HDR), Saboteur (software uniformly simulated HDR), Marnie (software uniformly simulated HDR), Shadow of a Doubt (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (software uniformly simulated HDR), A Fistful of Dollars (no HDR), In the Heat of the Night (no HDR), Jack Reacher (software uniformly simulated HDR), Death Wish II (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Apartment (no HDR), The Proposition (software uniformly simulated HDR), Nightmare Alley (2021) (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Godfather (software uniformly simulated HDR), Le Crecle Rouge (software uniformly simulated HDR), An American Werewolf in London (software uniformly simulated HDR), A Hard Day's Night (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Piano (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Great Escape (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Red Shoes (software uniformly simulated HDR), Citizen Kane (software uniformly simulated HDR), Unbreakable (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mulholland Dr. (software uniformly simulated HDR), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Hills Have Eyes (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Servant (software uniformly simulated HDR), Anatomy of a Murder (software uniformly simulated HDR), Taxi Driver  (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Wolf Man (1941) (software uniformly simulated HDR), Frankenstein (1931) (software uniformly simulated HDR),  Deep Red (software uniformly simulated HDR),  Misery (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Silence of the Lambs (software uniformly simulated HDR), John Carpenter's "The Thing" (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Cat' o'Nine Tails (software uniformly simulated HDR),  The Bird With the Crystal Plumage (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (software uniformly simulated HDR), Perdita Durango (software uniformly simulated HDR),  Django (software uniformly simulated HDR),  Fanny Lye Deliver'd (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, (NO HDR applied to disc),  Rollerball (software uniformly simulated HDR),  Chernobyl  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Daughters of Darkness (software uniformly simulated HDR), Vigilante (software uniformly simulated HDR), Tremors (software uniformly simulated HDR), Cinema Paradiso (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Bourne Legacy (software uniformly simulated HDR), Full Metal Jacket (software uniformly simulated HDR),  Psycho (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Birds (software uniformly simulated HDR), Rear Window (software uniformly simulated HDR), Vertigo (software uniformly simulated HDR),  Spartacus (software uniformly simulated HDR), Jaws (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Invisible Man, (software uniformly simulated HDR), Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds (software uniformly simulated HDR), Lucio Fulci's 1979 Zombie  (software uniformly simulated HDR),, 2004's Van Helsing (software uniformly simulated HDR),  The Shallows (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Bridge on the River Kwai (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Deer Hunter (software uniformly simulated HDR),  The Elephant Man (software uniformly simulated HDR), A Quiet Place (software uniformly simulated HDR), Easy Rider (software uniformly simulated HDR), Suspiria (software uniformly simulated HDR), Pan's Labyrinth (software uniformly simulated HDR),  The Wizard of Oz, (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Shining, (software uniformly simulated HDR), Batman Returns (software uniformly simulated HDR), Don't Look Now (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Man Who Killed Killed and then The Bigfoot  (software uniformly simulated HDR),,  Bram Stoker's Dracula (software uniformly simulated HDR), Lucy (software uniformly simulated HDR), They Live (software uniformly simulated HDR), Shutter Island (software uniformly simulated HDR),  The Matrix (software uniformly simulated HDR), Alien (software uniformly simulated HDR), Toy Story (software uniformly simulated HDR),  A Few Good Men (software uniformly simulated HDR),  2001: A Space Odyssey (HDR caps udated), Schindler's List (simulated HDR), The Neon Demon (No HDR), Dawn of the Dead (No HDR), Saving Private Ryan (simulated HDR and 'raw' captures), Suspiria (No HDR), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (No HDR), The Big Lebowski, and I Am Legend (simulated and 'raw' HDR captures).

On their 4K UHD, Vinegar Syndrome state "presented for the first time on home video in its original unaltered theatrical surround mix with an optional stereo mix." These two options are robust in DTS-HD Master tracks (24-bit) in the original English language. There are some significant, and sharp, audio effects that shoot out of the rear channels to shock and accentuate the horror elements. Some will opt for the stereo channel which also handles the 'build' of the atmosphere extremely well. The creepy score is by Argentinean Lalo Schifrin (famous as the guy behind the Mission: Impossible theme as well as impressive score for Man on a Swing, Joe Kidd, Rollercoaster, Charley Varrick, The Nude Bomb, Day of the Animals, Hit!, The Manitou, Tango and many other films). It adds uncomfortable tension in the second half moving slowly from the more serene aura setting a placid, mysterious tone early in the film. The disc offers optional English (SDH) subtitles - and is, like all 4K UHD, region FREE, playable worldwide. In this case the second disc Blu-ray is region 'A'-locked.

Stuart Rosenberg's 1979 "The Amityville Horror" is based on events following November 13th, 1974, where Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot and killed six members of his family in a large Dutch Colonial house situated in a suburban neighborhood in Amityville, on the south shore of Long Island, New York. This was documented in Jay Anson's 1977 book The Amityville Horror which centers on George and Kathleen Lutz who purchased the property, after about a year - complete with boathouse and swimming pool - as, because of the grisly murders, the price had been "too good" to pass up. They, and their three children, departed 28 days later after claims of paranormal experiences after moving in. There have been a series of books and over 25 films using the "Amityville" name if not related to "The Amityville Horror" characters. Vinegar Syndrome's 4K UHD release is, like most of their work, very complete with a very strong transfer - easily the best for this effective, late 70's, horror - and inclusion of many extras, a commentary, new 'making of' documentary and excellent artwork with a reversible sleeve. The film has a notable cast with James Brolin, Margot Kidder, Rod Steiger, Helen Shaver etc. and this particular  4K UHD package is a keeper for me.  

Gary Tooze