Anchor Bay Entertainment

Region 1 - NTSC

1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.4 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Anchor Bay Entertainment

Arrow Video Blu-ray

LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit
LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
•  Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 1:37)

DVD Release Date: 24 October 2000
Amaray

Chapters 25
 

Edition Details:
•  Audio Commentary by source novel author Shaun Hutson
•  Audio Commentary by filmmaker Chris Alexander
•  'Here’s Slugs In Your Eye' interview with actor Emilio Linder (7:39)
•  'They Slime, They Ooze, They Kill: The Effects of Slugs' interview with special effects artist Carlo De Marchis (10:46)
•  'Invasion USA' interview with art director Gonzalo Gonzalo (11:52)
•  'The Lyons Den' interview and locations tour with production manager Larry Ann Evans (21:00)
•  Theatrical Trailer (1:37)
•  Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Wes Benscoter
•  Fully-illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by writer Michael Gingold
 

Chapters : 12

The Arrow Blu-ray is another massive improvement over the older DVD - more detail, better layered contrast, superior colors, more information in the frame etc. It's really no competition. The 1080P transfer is on a dual-layered disc with a very high bitrate.

Arrow stay faithful to the original audio with a linear PCM mono track. There are effects but fairly modestly exported. In the credits the score is cited as conducted and composed by Tim Souster and performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It is one of the better attributes of the film and seems to suit the onscreen action, creepiness and suspense fairly well although often overly-dramatic. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles and the Blu-ray disc is Region FREE.

Arrow again go the extra mile with an abundance of supplements starting with an audio commentary by source novel author Shaun Hutson explaining how he was only 23 when he wrote 'Slugs' and discrepancies between his story and film. Very enjoyable - he's fun. There is also a second commentary by filmmaker Chris Alexander - a Toronto-based film critic, director, and freelance writer, and the current managing editor for the horror website Shock Till You Drop. His comments are enjoyable, refreshing and educational. There are 3 new features, 'Here’s Slugs In Your Eye' is a 7.5-minute interview with actor Emilio Linder, 'They Slime, They Ooze, They Kill: The Effects of Slugs' is a 11-minute interview with special effects artist Carlo De Marchis.  'Invasion USA' interviews art director Gonzalo Gonzalo for a dozen minutes and 'The Lyons Den' spends 21-minutes with locations tour with production manager Larry Ann Evans. There is also a theatrical trailer and the package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Wes Benscoter and includes a fully-illustrated collector’s booklet featuring a new essay by writer Michael Gingold.

Yeah - mutated slugs. Uh-huh. Not that way in the book Shaun tells us. Actually, it's not as bad as you may expect - once you invested some time in the extras - which help advance appreciation of this gore-fest. I get the feeling that I would have liked the novel. The film seems directionless at times but I like the concept and how it plays out.  I think pacing could have been improved. But the film is the only lacklustre thing about this immoderate Blu-ray package - another 'to the 9s' by Arrow - who are really doing a service to films fans with these extensive sets. I can do nothing but tip my hat to them for their extensive hard work. Commentaries, interviews, booklets... if only it were Bresson where they were focusing this love. For fans of this exploitive, horror genre - you couldn't ask for more. Recommended!

 -Gary Tooze and Eric Cotenas