Synapse Films

Region 0 - NTSC

1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.11 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

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

Synapse Films

AGFA/Something Weird Video/MVD Visual Blu-ray

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1578 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1578 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1

Edition Details:
•  Audio commentary with director/co-writer Dusty Nelson, actor John Harrison, and co-producer/editor Pasquale Buba
• 'After Effects' documentary (4:3; 59:14)
• Two Short Films:
• - 'Ubu' (4:3; 12:10)
•  - 'Beastie' (4:3; 15:36)
• Easter Egg

DVD Release Date: October 25th, 2015
Amaray

Chapters 16

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

Edition Details:
• Archival commentary track with John Harrison, Dusty Nelson, and Pasquale Buba

• BEASTIE short film (15:39)
• UBU short film (12:12)
• AFTER EFFECTS documentary with optional commentary track (59:38)
• Liner notes by Joseph A. Ziemba of AGFA Bleeding Skull!
 

Chapters: 9

ADDITION: AGFA - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (August 2017): AGFA stands for 'American Genre Film Archive' with the statement "The American Genre Film Archive preserves the orphan films that are moldering in storage units or being disposed of into the dark abyss of the ocean. Regardless of "artistic" merit, these movies are important. And fun! " They are non-profit.

This is cited as a "New 4K scan from the only 35mm theatrical print in existence". It was shot on 16mm and the new 1080P transfer looks superior to the older SD with much more grain, tighter color, a brighter image with more detail and an overall film-like representation. Colors are better separated and more authentic. It shows more information, mostly in the top and bottom of the 1.78:1 frame. There is still, predictable - usually frame-specific - damage (see last capture.)

Audio is transferred in a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel (16-bit) and seems a solid representation of the films production and its limitations. It seems less on the effects side and, unusually, more dialogue-driven. The score is by John Harrison (Romero's Day of the Dead) and it maintains the film's appeal sounding flat and even with flashes of depth. There are optional English subtitles on the Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray disc.

There is an older commentary track included featuring John Harrison, Pasquale Buba, and Dusty Nelson that I have yet to indulge. Michael Felsher has a long list of editor credits but directed, the included supplement, After Effects: Memories of Pittsburgh Filmmaking in 2005. It is an hour-long documentary that looks back at the making of the low-budget independent horror movie film Effects made by an enterprising group of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania filmmakers. There are interviews including David Belko, Susan Chapek, Debra Gordon, John Harrison, Dusty Nelson, George A. Romero, Tom Savini and others sharing memories of the shoot some 25-years hence. Also as extras are two shorts Ubu is a 12-minute short film by John Harrison and Beastie is a 1/4 hour video by Dusty Nelson. The former is fairly primitive but the latter has some decent qualities. The package has a liner notes leaflet with an essay by Joseph A. Ziemba of AGFA.  

There is historical relevance to Effects - especially for Romero fans who may appreciate the style and meager production values. There is some vιritι realism in the horror with the snuff-film cache and that always has appeal to genre fans. The Blu-ray provides significant value servicing its niche film-aficionado base. Great to see releases like this coming out... recommended!