The Hearse Blu-ray - Trish Van Devere

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by George Bowers
USA 1980

Jane Hardy, a recently divorced teacher from San Francisco, decides to spend the summer at the large old country home willed to her by her aunt. However, upon arriving in the sleepy town where her aunt lived, she's met with hostility from the locals and slowly begins to discover her aunt's dark connections to witchcraft and the occult, all the while being menaced by a large black hearse that mysteriously drives near her house in the dead of night...

A chilling blend of supernatural horror and romantic mystery, THE HEARSE stars Trish Van Devere (THE CHANGELING), Joseph Cotten (SHADOW OF A DOUBT), and David Geautreaux (STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE) and was one of the few directorial efforts from prolific editor, George Bowers. Taking strong influence from European gothic horror films of the 1960s, THE HEARSE is a haunting and suspenseful, classically minded horror film and is proudly presented by Vinegar Syndrome on Blu-ray, newly restored in 2k from its original 35mm negative.

Posters

Theatrical Release: 20 June 1980 (USA)

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Comparison:

Rhino Home Video - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Scorpion Releasing - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for all the DVD Screen Caps!

1) Rhino Home Video - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Scorpion Releasing - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

Box Covers
Distribution	Rhino Home Video Region 0 - NTSC	Scorpion Releasing Region 0 - NTSC	Vinegar Syndrome Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:39:09	1:39:18	1:39:36.178
Video	1.73:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.54 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 4.95 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 Disc Size: 24,515,612,736 bytes Feature Size: 22,820,274,432 bytes Total Bitrate: 27.95 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Rhino Home Video
Bitrate: Scorpion Releasing
Bitrate: Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray
Audio	English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono	English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1063 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1063 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	none	none	English SDH, none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Rhino Home Video Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.73:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 2:26) DVD Release Date: 12 February 2002 Snapper Case Chapters 12	Release Information: Studio: Scorpion Releasing Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - Edition Details: • Playable with 'Katarina's Nightmare Theater' mode • Audio interview with writer William Bleich (11:46) • Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 2:30) • Double feature with Blood of Dracula's Castle (16:9; 1:31:06) • Kat's Eyes: On camera interview with John 'Bud' Cardos (16:9; 30:07) DVD Release Date: 24 July 2012 Amaray Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: Vinegar Syndrome 1.85:1 Disc Size: 24,515,612,736 bytes Feature Size: 22,820,274,432 bytes Total Bitrate: 27.95 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC Edition Details: • "Satan Get Behind Thee" - video interview with lead actor, David Gautreaux (20:39) • Original theatrical trailer (2:27) • TV spot (0:30) • Promotional still gallery (1:02) • Reversible cover artwork by Chris Garofalo DVD Blu-ray Release Date: May 30th, 2017 Transparent Blu-ray Case inside slipcase Chapters: 5

Comments

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

ADDITION: Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray (May 2017): While I don't find the new 1080P stellar it's a massive improvement over the SD transfers, as indicated by the comparison captures below. The HD image is brighter, skin tones and colors normalize, detail advances and there are no artifacts that are present on the DVDs. It's a notable bump in quality, although the presentation still has softness and can look a shade waxy. In-motion, I thought it was very watchable, though. The transfer is on a single-layered disc with a supportive bitrate.

Vinegar Syndrome go authentic with a DTS-HD Master 1.0 mono track (24-bit) and it supports the film's effects and especially the score by Webster Lewis (his first!) which adds some haunting vibes to the film experience. It remains flat but, definitely, augments the viewing by being exported via the lossless. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles on the Region FREE Blu-ray disc.

Not too many extras - we get a 21-minute interview with actor, David Gautreaux entitled "Satan Get Behind Thee", an original theatrical trailer, TV spot and promotional stills gallery. The package has reversible cover artwork by Chris Garofalo (also on the slipcase - see below) and a DVD of the feature with the same extras is included.

I was in the mood, not expecting a masterpiece, and was pleasantly surprised by this 1980 horror. It's a definite popcorn'er and a decent way to start a double feature on a late Friday night. Keep your expectations low and you'll enjoy Van Devere and a bit of Cotten - who give it some class. Very much of its time... goofy and hollow - but sometimes we like that. Recommended to the appropriate crowd.

-Gary and Eric

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(Rhino Home Video - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Scorpion Releasing - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)