ADDITION: Indicator 4K UHD (March 2024): Indicator have released Simon Wincer's "Snapshot" (aka "The Day After Halloween") to 4K UHD. The 4K UHD disc offers two presentations of the film: the 93-minute theatrical version in 4K Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) , and the extended 101-minute director’s cut from best surviving materials. As Eric tells us in our Blu-ray / DVD comparison of "Snapshot", HERE, "For reasons unknown, the original negative was re-cut to conform to this version (theatrical.) This is the only version of Snapshot believed to survive on film." So Indicator include the 1080P transfer with SD insets (see examples below - presumably a pan-and-scan old video master, that looks quite compromised, matted to the 2.35:1 frame) to fill out the longer director's cut while still offering the 2160P theatrical version. The 4K UHD still has some inherent softness but is quite a step up from the Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray and sloppy DVDs of the past. Grain on the 2160P is not very textured and the image can look waxy in spots. Overall though, colors embolden and appear more balanced plus detail still rises very pleasingly. The 4K UHD has a very high bitrate and we can presume, the transfer reflects the best quality elements.  

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: 68 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: Phase IV (software uniformly simulated HDR), Burial Ground (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dark Water (software uniformly simulated HDR), Fear and Desire (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf (no HDR), Paths of Glory (software uniformly simulated HDR), Southern Comfort (software uniformly simulated HDR), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (software uniformly simulated HDR,) The Wages of Fear  (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Roaring Twenties (software uniformly simulated HDR), Universal Classic Monsters Limited Edition Collection (software uniformly simulated HDR), Scarlet Street (software uniformly simulated HDR), eXistenZ (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (software uniformly simulated HDR), Conan the Barbarian (software uniformly simulated HDR),  Django (no HDR), Lone Star  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Suspect Zero (software uniformly simulated HDR), Count Dracula (software uniformly simulated HDR), Full Circle - The Haunting of Julia (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Warriors  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (software uniformly simulated HDR), Blackhat (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mark of the Devil (software uniformly simulated HDR), Barbarella (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Last Picture Show (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Man Who Knew Too Much (software uniformly simulated HDR), Rope (software uniformly simulated HDR), Frenzy (software uniformly simulated HDR), American Graffiti (software uniformly simulated HDR), East End Hustle (software uniformly simulated HDR), Three Days of the Condor (software uniformly simulated HDR), Witness (software uniformly simulated HDR), Fascination (software uniformly simulated HDR), Lips of Blood (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Others (no HDR), It Came From Outer Space (software uniformly simulated HDR).

On their 4K UHD, Indicator use a DTS-HD Master mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. "Snapshot" has a couple of bar/disco scenes and a nasty fire. Even in the mono the audio effects can make themselves known. The, much-discussed, score is by Brian May who composed for Richard Franklin's Road Games and Cloak-and-Dagger plus other Ozploitation films like The Survivor, Turkey Shoot, and Nightmares sounding inventive, and occasionally inappropriate, while supporting the film. The agonizing Angela performed by Sherbet and a few tunes by Bob Brown (aka 'Captain Rock') fill the film awkwardly. The disc offers optional English (SDH) subtitles on both versions - and is, like all 4K UHD, region FREE, playable worldwide.

There are plentiful extras on the 4K UHD disc -Indicator provide the 2017 audio commentary on the theatrical version with producer Antony I Ginnane, director Simon Wincer, cinematographer Vincent Monton, and actor Sigrid Thornton, moderated by Mark Hartley. There is also a 2018 audio commentary on the director’s cut with Ginnane and film critic and archivist Jaimie Leonarder. We also get a the 2012 audio commentary on the director’s cut with Ginnane and horror hostess Katarina Leigh Waters (yes, of Katarina's Nightmare Theater and professional wrestler fame) introduces the film and moderates with (as described by Eric) "producer Anthony Ginnane, who says that the production was mounted quickly to get another thriller out on the market after their international success with Patrick. The original script Centerfold was problematic, so he hired Patrick author Everett de Roche and his wife to put together a similar script about two women in the fashion business in the space of two weeks." Producing ‘Snapshot’ is from 2017 and has Antony I Ginnane revisit the film’s shoot for shy of 1/2 hour. There are 40-minutes worth of interview conducted by Mark Hartley for his 2008 documentary Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!, featuring Thornton, Ginnane, Wincer, Monton, writer Everett De Roche, assistant director Tom Burstall, and actor Lynda Stoner. There is an archival audio interview with Simon Wincer from 1979 running over 1/4 hour plus a short archival audio interview with stuntman Grant Page entitled "Elements of Danger". We get a new 10-minute appreciation of ‘Snapshot’ by Australian cinema specialist Stephen Morgan. We can see the alternative The Day After Halloween opening titles, original theatrical trailers, TV spots and three image galleries of: promotional and publicity material, behind the scenes and script details. The package offers a limited edition exclusive 80-page book with a new essay by Ian Barr; an exclusive extract from producer Ginnane’s unpublished memoirs; archival interviews with director Simon Wincer, screenwriter Everett De Roche, and composer Brian May, and full film credits.

The Australian psycho-thriller "Snapshot" was director Simon Wincer's debut feature and producer Antony I Ginnane's fifth. I loved Ginnane's outrageous dystopian action film Turkey Shoot directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith. The screenplay of "Snapshot" was by Everett De Roche (Long Weekend , Roadgames, Razorback, Link) - so "Snapshot" certainly has an Ozploitation pedigree. Not really in the horror vein (don't buy into the alt-title.). Despite it having some moderate pacing and being a bit 'soapy' there are strong performances by Sigrid Thornton (cute Angela with frequent shocked expressions) and Chantal Contouri (worldly model, Madeleine - strong and manipulative). The attempted cashing-in of the renamed title The Day after Halloween - makes no sense (no one said it wasn't November 1st, I guess) and belies the low budget's exploitation roots (made for less than $300,000.) It's the film's detail quirks that give it a cult-ish appeal; a pig's head in bed (no reason), a puritanical mother, Angela's naked photos wallpapering the studio, and the stalker ex-boyfriend's ice cream truck named 'Mr. Whippy' - among others. The climax gets intense, filling in the gaps of the protagonist's recent lesbian encounter and the obsessive-ness of her girl-next-door charisma. I enjoyed watching this again - the improved video also improved the film to a surprising degree. Indicator's 4K UHD release is one of the more complete of the year - two versions, three commentaries, interview extras out-the-wazoo, new appreciation, booklet and the wonderful 2160P video upgrade. Many critic's hated it. I'll probably be watching this, yet, again. It's hard to explain "Snapshot"s appeal... but it is there. For me, anyway. Recommended!

Gary Tooze