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(aka 'Frightmare' or 'Body Snatchers' or 'The Horror Star')
Directed by Norman Thaddeus Vane
USA 1983
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Also known as THE HORROR STAR, the 1983 cult
creeper FRIGHTMARE offered audiences postmodern shocks
long before Wes Craven gave us his game-changing
SCREAM in 1996! An underrated and underseen gem,
FRIGHTMARE tells of a celebration for a late, great
horror star... only the actor in question might not be
entirely dead and soon the participants at his supposed
party are being picked off one by one! Highlighting a
notable supporting performance Jeffrey Combs (RE-ANIMATOR)
and assured direction from Norman Thaddeus Vane (who
also worked on the X-rated cult favourite DRACULA
SUCKS), this is one of the most stylish and sublime
of all the eighties slice and dice horror-pack and 88
Films is thrilled to present FRIGHTMARE as part
of its Slasher Classics collection Blu-ray! *** This uneven attempt at horror parody, direced by Norman Thaddeus Vane, gets off to a fairly promising start with a fun performance from Ferdinand Mayne (the imposing lead vampire in Roman Polanski's Fearless Vampire Killers) as the impossibly flamboyant horror superstar Conrad Radzoff -- whose idea of a memorable promotional stunt for his latest film involves the murder of its director. Though this proves a hard act to follow, Radzoff manages to do so by kicking the bucket himself. Then enter the annoying young members of a horror-film society who decide to steal Radzoff's corpse to use as a macabre centerpiece at their next hootenanny. Big mistake. Mrs. Radzoff is none too pleased and consults a spirit medium to reanimate her husband's body and avenge the desecration of his crypt. Sadly, what began as a clever comic nod to horror films of yore (and their die-hard fans in particular) collapses completely into routine slasher formula as Radzoff floats his coffin around the house in pursuit of his enemies, dispatching them in outrageously gory ways. Distributors released a title on video, shortly after the run of this film, entitled 'Frightmare II.' It was in fact a 1974 Pete Walker film all but unrelated to this one and erroneously advertised as the sequel to Vane's film. |
Posters etc.
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Theatrical Release: January 1983 (Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Review:
88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray| Box Cover |
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Also released on a Region FREE Blu-ray by Vinegar Syndrome:
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| Distribution |
88 Films |
Vinegar Syndrome Region FREE Blu-ray |
| Runtime |
1:26:46.826 |
| Video |
Disc Size: 28,110,379,101 bytes Feature Size: 20,369,870,208 bytes Average Bitrate: 27.99 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video |
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Bitrate:
88 Films Blu-ray
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| Audio |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1096 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1096 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentaries: Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps |
| Subtitles | English, None |
| Features |
Release
Information: Studio: 88 Films
Disc Size: 28,110,379,101 bytes Feature Size: 20,369,870,208 bytes Average Bitrate: 27.99 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
Chapters: 8 |
| Comments |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. The Pete Walker's 1974 "Frightmare" aka "Cover Up" Blu-ray is reviewed HERE. 88 Film's package offers a High Definition (1080P) presentation of 1983's Frightmare. IMDb says it was shot in 35mm but it certainly looks like 16mm to me with the extensive grain throughout the majority of the presentation - perhaps its an upgrade but heavily filtered. It is stated as from an "All new 2K Scan and Restoration from 35mm Camera Negative" as is the Vinegar Syndrome release which we will presume is the same. The image is transferred in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio and looks extremely textured - a look which I tend to like as I find it very film-like. Perhaps we will compare to the VS Blu-ray one day to confirm the appearance.
The audio transfer offers DTS-HD Master 1.0 channel mono track (24-bit). There are some standard, but unusually-placed, effects that comes through with a modicum of depth and support. There is a score by Jerry Mosely, only one of two composer film credits. 88 Films add optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.
Some of these extras are on the Vinegar Syndrome release including the
David Del Valle + David DeCoteau, as well as the 'The Hysteria
Continues' commentaries, the archival audio interview (via phone?) with
Director Norman Thaddeus Vane played over the film. Also repeated is the
21-minute interview with Cinematographer Joel King. What appears top be
new are Bobo's Confession a 16-minute interview with Scott
Thomson (Bobo in the film) and yet another audio commentary this one is
by Nathaniel Thompson and Tim Greer from Mondo Digital and I enjoyed it
as they dissected the film's attempts at legitimacy and the performers,
cast, crew and director. I appreciated the lightness of the audio
commentaries. There is also an original theatrical trailer, stills
gallery and it has reversible cover artwork (see below). I think Frightmare was a decent idea - with a strong lead, but less diligent production values had it succumb to a more typical 'Lloyd Kaufmann popcorner'. It is entertaining but in the eighties 'sophomoric' tradition that still appeal to many for its nostalgic and obvious horror values. Meh - not that bad... recommended to the less-discerning.- Gary Tooze |
Menu - 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
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| Box Cover |
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Also released on a Region FREE Blu-ray by Vinegar Syndrome:
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| Distribution |
88 Films |
Vinegar Syndrome Region FREE Blu-ray |
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Gary Tooze
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Thank You!
