An enormous, sincere thank you to our phenomenal Patreon supporters! Your unshakable dedication is the bedrock that keeps DVDBeaver going - we’d be lost without you. Did you know? Our patrons include a director, writer, editor, and producer with honors like Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director, a Pulitzer Prize-winning screenwriter, and a Golden Globe-winning filmmaker, to name a few!

Sadly, DVDBeaver has reached a breaking point where our existence hangs in the balance. We’re now reaching out to YOU with a plea for help.

Please consider pitching in just a few dollars a month - think of it as the price of a coffee or some spare change - to keep us bringing you in-depth reviews, current calendar updates, and detailed comparisons.
I’m am indebted to your generosity!

 


 

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "The Nesting" or "Phobia" or "Massacre Mansion")

 

Directed by Armand Weston
USA 1981

 

With the impending release of her new book, “The Nesting,” agoraphobic New York-based writer Lauren Cochran decides to spend some time outside the city to find inspiration for her next novel. Arriving in the small town of Dover Falls, she happens across an isolated and dilapidated mansion that bears an uncanny resemblance to the one depicted on the cover of her latest work. Feeling a strange pull to the place, Lauren decides to rent the property and quickly gets herself set up and into writing mode. But it’s not long before she starts experiencing bizarre, vivid dreams and seeing ghostly apparitions. Soon enough, those around her start dying in strange and gruesome ways. What could all this have to do with the house’s murky history and a tragedy that occurred there decades before?

The only mainstream feature directed by prolific illustrator and erotic filmmaker Armand Weston (Defiance, Take Off), The Nesting - which was originally filmed as Phobia and subsequently re-released in 1983 as Massacre Mansion - is a stylish supernatural slasher expertly photographed by João Fernandes (Children of the Corn, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter), and featuring Academy Award-winning actress Gloria Grahame (Naked Alibi) in her final screen role. Now newly restored in 4K from its original 35mm camera negative, Vinegar Syndrome is proud to unveil The Nesting in its UHD world premiere, presented in its longer Phobia cut for the first time on home video, alongside a host of new bonus features and a wealth of archival material.

***

The Nesting (1981), directed by Armand Weston, is a supernatural horror film following Lauren Cochran (Robin Groves), an agoraphobic New York novelist who rents a rural Victorian mansion to overcome her writer's block and phobia. Unbeknownst to her, the mansion, a former brothel, is haunted by the ghosts of prostitutes massacred in the 1940s. As Lauren experiences eerie visions and violent deaths occur around her, she uncovers her personal connection to the house's dark past, revealed to be her grandmother’s brothel where she was the sole survivor of the massacre as an infant. The film blends haunted house chills with gory slasher elements, featuring John Carradine and Gloria Grahame in her final role.

Posters

Theatrical Release: May 1st, 1981

Reviews                                   More Reviews                                DVD Reviews

 

Review: Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

  

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD
Runtime 1:49:58.592         
Video

1.85:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD

Disc Size: 66,219,501,882 bytes

Feature: 65,538,115,584 bytes

Video Bitrate: 73.16 Mbps

Codec: HEVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate 4K Ultra HD:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 2052 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2052 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Radio Interview:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -27dB
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -27dB

Subtitles English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Vinegar Syndrome

 

1.85:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD

Disc Size: 66,219,501,882 bytes

Feature: 65,538,115,584 bytes

Video Bitrate: 73.16 Mbps

Codec: HEVC Video

 

Edition Details:

4K Ultra HD

• Commentary track with writer and critic Andy Marshall-Roberts

• Audio interview with co-writer Daria Price, conducted by extras producer Ewan Cant (57 min)

Blu-ray

• Commentary track with writer and critic Andy Marshall-Roberts

• Audio interview with co-writer Daria Price, conducted by extras producer Ewan Cant (57 min)
• "Acting is Being Brave" (20:39) - an interview with actress Robin Groves
• "The Outlaw Poet" (21:02) - an interview with actor Michael David Lally
• "Low Budget Miracle" (30:32) - an interview with associate producer / production manager Don Walters
• "The Sating of Desire" (28:39) - an interview with Nightmare USA author Stephen Thrower
• "The Nesting Outtakes: Preserving Armand Weston's Gothic Horror" (14:22) - a featurette produced by the Vinegar Syndrome Film Archive
• U.S. theatrical trailer (1:59)
• Spanish theatrical trailer (1:59)
• TV spots (1:40)
• Radio spot (0:35)
• Alternate 'jump scare' from The Nesting cut (1:11)
• The Nesting title sequence (1:24)
• Archival image gallery (5:17)
• Cuts and trims (8:56)
• Unused dailies (11:26)
Reversible sleeve artwork


4K Ultra HD
Release Date: May 27th, 2025

Black 4K Ultra HD Case

Chapters 6

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray and 4K UHD captures were taken directly from the respective discs.

ADDITION: Vinegar Syndrome 4K UHD (May 2025): Vinegar Syndrome has transferred Armand Weston's The Nesting to Blu-ray and 4K UHD. This is a 2-disc set: 4K UHD / Region Free Blu-ray. It is cited as being  "Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative". The 4K UHD is presented in Dolby Vision High-Dynamic-Range. Back in 2011, we reviewed the Blue Underground Blu-ray HERE and have compared captures below. The Vinegar Syndrome release presents the longer Phobia cut (by about 7 minutes,) a first on home video, which includes additional character moments but slightly alters pacing. The image quality remains consistent across this extended version with no noticeable degradation in restored footage. Cinematographer João Fernandes (The Prowler, Children of the Corn) delivers a moody, atmospheric visual style that maximizes the film’s limited budget. Shot on location in upstate New York, The Nesting uses its rural setting and Victorian mansion to create a gothic ambiance. The film uses low-key lighting to enhance its horror atmosphere with candlelit scenes and blue-tinted night sequences evoking classic gothic aesthetics. The Dolby Vision HDR enhances the film’s muted palette with vibrant greens and earthy browns in daytime scenes and deep blues in night sequences. It's brighter. The mansion’s warm interiors (yellows, reds) contrast vividly with cold shadows, amplifying the gothic mood. The restoration preserves the film’s organic texture without digital over-processing. Scratches, dirt, and print damage are virtually eliminated, resulting in a very strong, film-like image. The video presentation is a welcome upgrade, transforming The Nesting from a gritty cult film into a visually rich experience. The Dolby Vision HDR and native 4K scan maximize the mansion’s atmospheric detail and the film’s tonal shifts.

NOTE: We have added 44 more large resolution 4K UHD captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Vinegar Syndrome uses a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original English language. The rural setting of The Nesting is brought to life with ambient sounds, like chirping crickets, rustling leaves, and distant thunder, grounding the supernatural in a tangible world. Effects are most effective in exterior scenes, contrasting the mansion’s oppressive silence with the open, yet ominous, countryside. The sound effects are functional, but lack subtlety, often leaning on genre clichés. Budget limitations likely restricted the use of layered or nuanced audio, but the effects succeed in creating a palpable sense of dread, especially within the mansion’s confines. The unremarkable score, crafted by Jack Malken and George Scholes, is a quintessential product of early 1980s low-budget horror, relying heavily on synthesizers and minimalist instrumentation. Its role is to underscore the film’s tension and emotional beats, though it occasionally falls into generic territory. It is clear and flat in the lossless that cannot improve upon the film's modest roots. Vinegar Syndrome offers optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE' Blu-ray and 4K UHD.

Andy Marshall-Roberts, a horror critic, provides a solo commentary on both the Blu-ray and 4K UHD that explores The Nesting’s place in 1980s horror, its blend of gothic and slasher elements, and Armand Weston’s transition from adult films to mainstream horror. He discusses the performances, particularly Groves and Gloria Grahame, and analyzes the film’s themes of trauma and female vengeance. Marshall-Roberts also covers the Phobia cut’s differences and the restoration process. Also included on both discs and running to the feature for almost an hour is an audio interview with co-writer Daria Price (Dawn of the Mummy,) who covers the script’s development, her collaboration with Weston, and the integration of agoraphobia and supernatural elements. Price discusses the Phobia cut’s extended scenes and the film’s thematic goals. There are quite a few extras - all relegated to the second disc Blu-ray. The standout featurettes include the 20-minute “Acting is Being Brave”, a candid high-definition interview with actress Robin Groves, who reflects on portraying Lauren Cochran’s agoraphobia, working with Armand Weston’s unconventional direction, and sharing anecdotes about co-stars Gloria Grahame and John Carradine, providing a personal perspective despite a concise runtime. Actor Michael David Lally of “The Outlaw Poet” discusses his role as Daniel, the low-budget shoot’s improvisational vibe, and the 1980s horror scene, complementing Groves’ insights with a supporting actor’s view for 20 minutes. “Low Budget Miracle” (a 1/2-hour detailed interview with associate producer Don Walters, who reveals the logistical challenges of location scouting and effects coordination in upstate New York) offers invaluable behind-the-scenes context. “The Sating of Desire” (where horror scholar Stephen Thrower delivers an erudite 1/2- hour analysis of the film’s gothic-slasher hybridity, feminist undertones, and Weston’s exploitation roots) makes it essential for scholars. “The Nesting Outtakes: Preserving Armand Weston’s Gothic Horror” is a polished 2025 Vinegar Syndrome featurette, detailing the 4K restoration process with before-and-after comparisons and much more. It runs a 1/4 hour. Additional extras include restored U.S. and Spanish theatrical trailers, TV spots, and a radio spot, capturing the film’s grindhouse marketing. An alternate jump scare and title sequence offers niche insights into editing and aesthetics. An archival image gallery, 9 minutes of cuts and trims, and a dozen minutes of unused dailies provide raw production glimpses for completists, and the package has a reversible sleeve.

Armand Weston's The Nesting, also known as Massacre Mansion or Phobia, is a lesser-known supernatural horror film that blends elements of the haunted house subgenre with slasher-style violence. The story centers on Lauren Cochran, a New York City novelist crippled by agoraphobia and writer’s block. The cyclical nature of violence - past massacre leading to present hauntings - underscores the inescapability of history. The narrative combines psychological horror with supernatural and slasher elements, creating a hybrid tone that oscillates between eerie and exploitative. This Vinegar Syndrome 4K UHD release is highly recommended for fans of The Nesting, 1980s horror, and cult cinema collectors. Poor Gloria Grahame is only in it for a cup of coffee. There may be some nostalgia here and echoes of the superior, The Changeling, but the two films drastically diverge in tone, execution, and production. The 4K UHD presentation of The Nesting breathes new life into the film’s gothic and slasher elements, while the extensive extras provide a deep dive into its production, themes, and restoration.

Gary Tooze

 


Menus / Extras

 

Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD

 

Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY and 4K UHD CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL RESOLUTION

 

1) Blue Underground - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM

 

 


1) Blue Underground - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM

 

 


1) Blue Underground - Region FREE' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM

 

 


1) Blue Underground - Region FREE' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM

 


1) Blue Underground - Region FREE' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM

 


1) Blue Underground - Region FREE' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM

 

 


1) Blue Underground - Region FREE' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM

 

 


1) Blue Underground - Region FREE' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM

 

 


1) Blue Underground - Region FREE' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM

 

 


 

Examples of NSFW (Not Safe For Work) CAPTURES  (Mouse Over to see- CLICK to Enlarge)

 

 


 

More full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K Ultra HD Captures for Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 

 
Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

  

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - 4K UHD


 


 

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

 CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!