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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Nightmare Island" )

 

directed by J.S. Cardone
USA 1982

 

IS IT A NIGHTMARE? OR IS IT... THE SLAYER?

One of the most sought-after titles for slasher fans everywhere, The Slayer finally rises from the ashes of obscurity in a brand new 4K transfer courtesy of Arrow Video.

Two young couples set off to a secluded island for what promises to be a restful retreat. But the peace is short-lived: as a storm batters the island, troubled artist Kay begins to sense that a malevolent presence is here with them, stalking them at every turn. Is she losing her mind, or are her childhood nightmares of a demonic assailant coming to terrifying life?

Previously only available on home video in truncated or full screen versions, The Slayer whose nightmares-seeping-into-reality theme predates a certain Wes Craven classic by several years comes lovingly restored from the original negative in a stunning transfer that will be a revelation to fans both old and new.

Theatrical Release: 1 October 1982 (USA)

Reviews                                                                                         More Reviews                                                                                         DVD Reviews

 

 Comparison:

Vipco - Region 0 - PAL vs. Arrow Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray

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

(Vipco - Region 0 - PAL - LEFT vs. Arrow Video - Region FREE -  Blu-ray - RIGHT)

Box Covers

 

 

Also available in North America on Blu-ray from Arrow:

      

 

Distribution

Vipco

Region 0 - PAL

Arrow Video
Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:26:00 (4% PAL speedup) 1:29:55.264
Video

1.33:1 Open Matte format
Average Bitrate: 6.4 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 46,435,641,412 bytes

Feature: 31,062,621,504 bytes

Video Bitrate: 37.70 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Bitrate:

 

Vipco

 

Bitrate:

 

Arrow Blu-ray

 

Audio English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono

LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Commentaries:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Isolated Score:

LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit
The Tybee Post Theater Experience:

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

Subtitles none English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Vipco

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
Actors' Filmographies
Director's Filmography
Gallery
Previews

DVD Release Date: 13 October 2003
Amaray

Chapters 13
 

Release Information:
Studio: Arrow Video

 

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 46,435,641,412 bytes

Feature: 31,062,621,504 bytes

Video Bitrate: 37.70 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Audio Commentary with writer/director J.S. Cardone, actress Carol Kottenbrook and executive in charge of production Eric Weston, moderated by Ewan Cant
Audio Commentary with The Hysteria Continues
Isolated Score Selections and Audio Interview with Composer Robert Folk
Nightmare Island: The Making of The Slayer documentary featuring interviews with J.S. Cardone, Carol Kottenbrook, Eric Weston, producer William Ewing, director of photography Karen Grossman, camera operator/2nd Unit DOP/still photographer Arledge Armenaki, special creature and make-up effects ceator Robert Short and Slayer performer Carl Kraines (52:24)
Return to Tybee: The Locations of The Slayer featurette revisiting the shooting locations on Tybee Island, Georgia (13:18)
The Tybee Post Theater Experience join the audience of the Tybee Post Theater (one of the film s key locations) for this very special home-town screening of The Slayer! Includes event introduction, feature-length audience reaction track and post screening Q&A with Arledge Armenaki and Ewan Cant (2:38 - Q+A - 17:50)
Still Gallery (9:55)
Original Theatrical Trailer (1:56)
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Lee Gambin
 

Blu-ray Release Date: August 21st + 29th, 2017
Transparent
Blu-ray case

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments

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

 

ADDITION: Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray (August 2017):  Firstly, the 2003 DVD is vertically stretched (longer, thinner, faces) and the new Arrow is advertised as a "Brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original negative". So, it wouldn't be much of a comparison excepting that we can see how much information was in the full-aperture, 1.33:1, image as compared to the theatrically correct 1.85:1. Composition dynamically impress in the 1080P and it improves in all the usual areas - richer, deeper colors, sharper, crisper, film grain... it looks super in-motion too.

Audio for the feature presentation is authentic linear PCM mono. It sounds flat but clean with audible dialogue. the score is by Robert Folk and has some impact bust modest depth, approache to the original production, via the uncompressed track. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles - sample below - and the Blu-ray disc is region FREE - playable worldwide.

The commentary features writer/director J.S. Cardone, executive in charge of production Eric Weston, and actress Carol Kottenbrook (Cardone's wife) who concede the influence of the slasher genre but emphasize the psychological nature of the story and the emphasis on suspense over shocks. A second track features podcasters The Hysteria Continues (who have already covered the film on one of their podcasts). They humorously discuss the film's plot, atmosphere, performances, and also venture some theories about the film's use of foreshadowing (elaborated upon on the first track) and the ending. A third track is a recording of the audience during the screening at the restored Tybee Post Theater from this June (similar to the audience track on PIECES) while a fourth track features an isolated score selections and an audio interview with composer Robert Folk.

"Nightmare Island" is a fifty-two minute making of with input from Cardone, Weston, and Kottenbrook as well as co-writer/producer Wiliam Ewing, director of photography Karen Grossman, effects artist Robert Short, second unit DP Arledge Armenaki, and actor Carl Kraines. In "Return to Tybee Island", Armendaki revisits the locations including the theater and the house and recreates shots with his DSLR while relating anecdotes about the shoot. Armenaki also appears in "The Tybee Post Theater Experience" which is an additional playback option that presents the film with the audience track prefaced by introductions by the theater manager and Cardone followed by a seventeen minute Q&A with Armenaki. The disc also includes a stills gallery, and the American theatrical trailer.

Another impressive Blu-ray release from Arrow of an overlooked, niche, horror classic. Genre fans will be enticed by this and the extensive supplements give it significant value. An amazing package that audiences will appreciate! It's not a great film but has so much appeal in the way it conveys fear. Recommended!

 - Eric and Gary

 


Menus
Vipco - Region 0 - PAL
 

Arrow Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 


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

 

Subtitle Sample

 

Arrow Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 


(Vipco - Region 0 - PAL - TOP vs. Arrow Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)


(Vipco - Region 0 - PAL - TOP vs. Arrow Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)


(Vipco - Region 0 - PAL - TOP vs. Arrow Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)


(Vipco - Region 0 - PAL - TOP vs. Arrow Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)


More Blu-ray Capture


 

Report Card:

 

Image:

Blu-ray

Sound:

Blu-ray

Extras:

Blu-ray

 

Box Covers

 

 

Also available in North America on Blu-ray from Arrow:

      

 

Distribution

Vipco

Region 0 - PAL

Arrow Video
Region FREE - Blu-ray


 




 

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