Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

• Audio Commentary by Film Historian David Del Valle and Filmmaker Kenneth J. Hall
• Trailers - White Zombie - 2:46, Black Sleep - 1:36, The Undying Monster - 1:05, and Donovan's Brain - 2:02

Bitrate:

 

 

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

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

The single-layered Kino Lorber Blu-ray of Chamber of Horrors has fluctuating contrast 1080P. The very thin image may also have moiring issues. I've provided the most noticeable example of the inconsistency - near the beginning of the film - as the last 2 screen captures. To be fair it does settle as the film runs along and it wasn't fatally distracting - you tend to accept it as a factor of the film's age. The grain can look blotchy almost like artifacts but it looks better in-motion than in the static screen grabs. The image is flat with a few, light, vertical scratches. Certainly not premium but super to SD, I'll wager.  This Blu-ray gave me, only, a watchable, viewing in regards to the picture quality. Certainly not reaching the heights of the format.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frame-to-frame Contrast anomalies

 

Kino Lorber use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track at 1556 kbps in the original English language. There are few effects in the film - and the tension and atmosphere are exported from the score by Guy Jones. There seems to be a few inconsistencies with the audio as well - again, more imperfect because of the source and production. There are optional English subtitles offered and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.

Extras :

Kino include a good audio commentary by film historian David Del Valle and filmmaker Kenneth J. Hall who discuss writer Edgar Wallace, and his appeal, and actors Leslie Banks, Lilli Palmer - their careers and others as well as similar films of the era. It has quite a bit to offer and is a bone-fide reason to indulge in the Blu-ray, imo. There are also trailers for White Zombie, Black Sleep, The Undying Monster, and Donovan's Brain.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
I had never seen Chamber of Horrors band I enjoyed the 'Brit horror' aspects as well as the 'old country estate' factor and beautiful Lilli Palmer. Certainly it's more prototypical mystery than a horror. It's vintage with some good characterizations. Really, not a bad effort if you give over to it. The Kino Lorber Blu-ray has the indifferent image in 1080P - but I'm more accepting of that as a condition of the print than a transfer flaw. The commentary definitely pushes it into the category of recommendation - and it's reasonable pre-order price. Recommended!  NOTE: At the writing of this review it is 37% OFF at Amazon.

Gary Tooze

March 14th, 2017