COMING OUT INDIVIDUALLY IN LATE 2024

Die Screaming, Marianne HERE
The Flesh and Blood Show HERE
House of Whipcord HERE

Frightmare HERE
The House of Mortal Sin HERE

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

ADDITION: 88 Films Blu-ray (June 2024): 88 Films have transferred seven 1970's Pete Walker horror films to one 'Heritage Collection' seven Blu-ray boxset; 1971's Die Screaming, Marianne, 1972's The Flesh and Blood Show, House of Whipcord made in 1974, Frightmare from the same year, 1976's House of Mortal Sin, 1977's Schizo and The Comeback from 1978. We have reviewed a lot of Pete Walker's films on DVDBeaver including the 2016 Kino Blu-ray of For Men Only and School For Sex, the 2024 88 Films Blu-ray of The Big Switch + Man of Violence, we compared the 2013 Redemption Blu-ray to the 2017 Screenbound Blu-ray of Die Screaming, Marianne, Redemption's Pete Walker Collection, Vol. 2 of The Flesh and Blood Show, the 2008 Shriek Show (Media Blasters) DVD of House of Whipcord, the 2014 Redemption Blu-ray of Frightmare, Redemption's Pete Walker Collection, Vol. 2 of House of Mortal Sin, the 2023 88 Films Blu-ray of Home Before Midnight and the 2015 Kino Blu-ray of House of the Long Shadows. Individually, Die Screaming, Marianne, is cited as being from a "Brand NEW 2K Remaster from the Original Camera Negative" - with The Flesh and Blood Show as "Restored HD Master with the 3D Sequence Presented in both Anaglyph 3D (2 Pairs of Glasses Included) and in 2D" - and House of Whipcord from a "Brand NEW 2K Remaster from the Original Camera Negative" - and House of Mortal Sin is cited as "Brand NEW 2K Remaster from the Original Camera Negative". We've made comparison captures where we can below. Generally the newer 88 Films transfer - all dual-layered with max'ed out bitrates, range from mildly superior to noticeably improved with less damage superior contrast and marginally sharper. There is definite improvement here as well as often showing more information in the frame on all four sides.

NOTE: We have added 170 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, 88 Films use linear PCM 2.0 channel tracks (24-bit) in the original English language. Each film has screams and aggressive effects that are more enhanced by the visuals and the dramatic, jolting, music cues. There is some potent bass response. The score for Die Screaming, Marianne and The Flesh and Blood Show is credited to British conductor, songwriter and composer Cyril Ornadel (Walker's Man of Violence, The Flesh and Blood Show) and for the rest of the five films by Stanley Myers (The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Nightmare at Noon, The Wilby Conspiracy, Eureka, Cimino's The Deer Hunter, Roeg's Insignificance, Harold Becker's The Boost, etc.) Audio appears fairly tight and without flaws via the lossless transfer. I heard no untoward issues. 88 Films offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-rays.

The 88 Films Blu-rays vault over all previous editions with an extensive array of fourteen commentaries! There are two on 1971's Die Screaming, Marianne; new from critic Samm Deighan (co-author of Revolution in 35mm: Political Violence and Resistance in Cinema from the Arthouse to the Grindhouse, 1969-1990) and another, from 2006, with director/producer Pete Walker, and Jonathan Rigby (author English Gothic: A Century Of Horror Cinema.) For 1972's The Flesh and Blood Show there are also two commentaries; Rigby (again) and critic Kevin Lyons (The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film and Television) and the 2006 one another with Walker and Rigby. There are two more audio commentaries House of Whipcord - firstly with Kim Newman (author of "Moriarty: The Hound of the D'Urbervilles",) Barry Forshaw (author of "British Crime Film", "British Gothic Cinema")., Barry Forshaw and writer David McGillivray (Doing Rude Things: The History of the British Sex Film) and a second with director / producer / co-writer Pete Walker, and director of photography Peter Jessop (The Avengers TV series); moderated by biographer Professor Steven Chibnall (Making Mischief: The Cult Films of Pete Walker) from 2006. Frightmare also has two commentaries; by Newman, Forshaw and McGillivray and a second by Nathaniel Thompson (DVD Delirium: The International Guide to Weird and Wonderful Films) and Troy Howarth (Splintered Visions: Lucio Fulci and His Films.) 1976's House of Mortal Sin has three commentaries; Newman, Forshaw and McGillivray - the second with Samm Deighan and the third, from 2006, with Walker and Rigby. Schizo has a commentary by Newman, Forshaw and McGillivray. The Comeback has two commentaries by Newman, Forshaw and McGillivray and the second from 2006, with Walker and Rigby. I've sampled many of the commentaries - these participants are experts and I anticipate healthy discussion and informative observations. There are also a five new interviews with 84-year old director Pete Walker (titles like 'Walker’s Women', 'Symphony of Horror' - about the music 'House of Walker' 'Ask Mr Walker' where he answers fan's questions etc.), which run, in total about 3/4 of an hour. There are interview with cinematographer Norman G. Langley (Jekyll and Hyde) who has worked on House of the Long Shadows, Die Screaming Marianne and Man of Violence. There are other interviews with actor Stewart Bevin (House of Mortal Sin), 3rd assistant Director Terry Madden (Home Before Midnight, Alfie Darling), editor Robert Dearberg on Frightmare, 'Actor Confessionals' with Norman Eshley (House of Mortal Sin) and Bevan plus a video piece on Scottish character actress Sheila Keith, a "Return to the House of Whipcord" featurette, a "Making of The Comeback" and others. Courting Controversy - An Insider’s View of the Films of Pete Walker is a 37-minute updated (2023) version of Jake West's 2005 documentary about British horror filmmaker Pete Walker, who discusses at length his films Die Screaming Marianne (1971), House of Whipcord (1974), Frightmare (1974), and The Confessional (House of Mortal Sin) with input from Peter Jessop, David McGillivray, Susan Penhaligon, Paul Greenwood, Graham Duff, Steven Chibnall, Jonathan Rigby and Stephen Thrower. There are some original trailers, radio spots, and each Blu-ray has a reversible cover with new art by Sean Longmore.

88 Films seven Blu-ray package of "The Flesh and Blood Show - The Horror Films of Pete Walker" is the best set of the director's 70's film production to date. The more highly rated movies are House of Whipcord, Frightmare and House of Mortal Sin but I am also a fan of Die Screaming, Marianne (still love Susan George.) and The Flesh and Blood Show with Luan Peters who some may remember from the Fawlty Towers episode "The Psychiatrist" where she played Raylene Miles, an Australian tourist. There are frequent villains (or villainesses) in Walker oeuvre, often more exploitive nudity than gnarly gore, and his films have some intriguing subtexts often dealing with authority figures (politics), obsessions and revenge. Controversial? not so much nowadays. The bottom line of his work is that it is both entertaining and never really boring. He controls pace well and keeps suspense as a prominent factor of the viewing. His films have a different charisma from Gothic Hammer horrors. but there is still a nostalgic appeal often circling 70's Britain. I'm highly pleased with 88 Films Blu-ray package with 14 commentaries! and many other interviews and extras. I also love the new covers by Sean Longmore. Walker fans should definitely indulge - this is an impressively stacked package. Strongly recommended to those interested. 

Gary Tooze