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

ADDITION: 88 Films, Blu-ray (August 2024): 88 Films have also have transferred Michael Reeves' The Sorcerers to Blu-ray. It has a significantly improved color balance compared to the Anolis (DE) Blu-ray that we reviewed in 2019. The German Blu-ray had a yellow bias with orangey skin tones where the new 88 Films is a shade pink with warmer flesh tones but a notable jump in sharpness. There are some framing differences although both are in 1.85:1 and the Anolis has light damage marks that are not present on the UK rendering (see sample below.) I found the HD presentation much more satisfying in terms of detail in the film's many close-ups. There are fine grain textures present and the funky 60's vibrant colors add further flavor to the visuals. The 88 Films is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate (higher than the Anolis.)

NOTE: We have added 58 more large resolution Blu-ray captures for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, 88 Films use a linear PCM dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. It's clean with some buoyancy. The score was credited to Paul Ferris (Revenge of the Blood Beast, The Blood Beast Terror, Witchfinder General), adding some tension. There are also two 'swinging' songs by Lee Grant & The Capitols, sung by Toni Daly; Your Love and Sweet Nothing. 88 Films offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

There are two commentary tracks. The first by film journalists William Fowler and Vic Pratt (authors of The Bodies Beneath) and the second commentary by Kim Newman (author of Nightmare Movies: Horror on Screen Since the 1960s) and Sean Hogan (author of Twilight's Last Screaming.) William and Vic discuss Karloff, cinematographer Stanley A. Long, director Michael Reeves and his early death of an overdose, the small budget, wimpy burgers and much more. It is quite a good commentary. Kim and Sean love the film and feel it is overshadowed by Witchfinder General and/or Targets. They discuss Catherine Lacey and her career (the Nun in 1938's The Lady Vanishes, Powell and Pressburger's I Know Where I'm Going!,) the central theme of a generational clash, Ian Ogilvy (Return of The Saint), Susan George and much more. There are also three interviews; Can’t Get You Out of My Head spends 23-minutes with Ian Ogilvy recalling The Sorcerers. Black Magic Camera is an 8-minute interview with assistant cameraman Don Lord and Controlling the Cuts - is a 14-mnute interview with editor David Woodward. There is also an original trailer and a stills gallery while the package has reversible sleeve featuring new artwork by Sean Longmore and original poster.

Michael Reeves' The Sorcerers was credited as 'based on an idea' by John Burke (eventual a same-titled book) who also novelized Dr Terror s House of Horrors and many more. Burke's original screenplay ended up being markedly different from the finished film. I liked the concept with the power of hypnosis / suggestion, generational existence and a ravenous desire for 'experience' - Karloff and Catherine Lacey are excellent and we get some of 17-year old Susan George in her first adult role. It was a pleasant surprise despite her limited screen-time. The Sorcerers was released by Tigon (titles like Witchfinder General, The Body Stealers, The Haunted House of Horror, The Blood on Satan's Claw, The Beast in the Cellar, Virgin Witch) and 88 Films are bringing a few of the studios efforts to new Blu-ray editions, and some in 4K UHD, with Sean Longmore 's superlative cover artwork. 88 Films are knocking it out of the park and this Blu-ray edition with the best a/v, two commentaries and three interviews is absolutely recommended to genre fans.

***

ADDITION: Anolis, Blu-ray (January 2020): Anolis, out of Germany have transferred Michael Reeves' The Sorcerers to Blu-ray in one of their special limited edition, three cover release options. It is on a dual-layered disc with a high bitrate and looks very strong in 1080P. Colors have some odd shifts but contrast seems stable and I suspect they were at the mercy of the print source. It is relatively clean (see an example of the infrequent frame-specific damage below) and looks solid in-motion showing some grain textures.

NOTE: We have added 22 more large resolution Blu-ray captures for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Anolis use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel mono tracks (16-bit) in the original English language or an optional German DUB. It's fairly unremarkable but clean and clear with a score by Paul Ferris (Revenge of the Blood Beast, The Blood Beast Terror, Witchfinder General), adding some tension. Anolis offer optional German subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Anolis Blu-ray has two audio commentaries (both in German) - the first by Dr. Rolf Giesen and Dr. Gerd Naumann and the second with Uwe Sommerlad and Volker Kronz. German-language fans will likley appreciate them. What I loved was the 1.5 hour (longer than the feature!) 2019 documentary 'The Magnificent Obsession of Michael Reeves' directed by Dima Ballin. It is in English with optional German subtitles and has input from journalist Gavin Baddeley, writer Tom Baker, author Ingrid Cranfield, film journalists and commentator Kat Ellinger (who wrote this documentary, I believe), author Steve Haberman, Benjamin Halligan, music lecturer David Huckvale and actor Ian Ogilvy (who plays Mike Roscoe in The Sorcerers.) This is wonderfully made by Diabolique Films discussing Reeves' career and early life, his young obsession with film and much more. I found it very educational and made me appreciate this director's worth. We also get 'Paul Ferris The Sorcerer's Apprentice' running 11-minutes - a profile on the composer by David Huckvale - it is in English with optional German subtitles. There is 3-minutes of the opening German title sequence, galleries with German advertising, another with Poster and Stills plus on with the original German Theatre Program. There are also trailers in English and German, and the handsome Digibook case has pictures and text in German.

This Blu-ray package has value from the UK-centric 60s horror charisma of The Sorcerers to the extensive documentary supplement, commentaries (albeit only in German) and the appealing, thick, digibook case. I gained a lot of appreciation for the film and director with the extras and this is certainly something I will revisit.

Gary Tooze