NOTE: 76 more more  full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K UHD captures, in lossless PNG format, for Patrons are available HERE

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages recently: Fright, The Tenant (software uniformly simulated HDR), Gummo, Demon Pond, Happiness, Cheeky (software uniformly simulated HDR), Produced By Val Lewton , The Long Good Friday, The Ladykillers (software uniformly simulated HDR), Torso (software uniformly simulated HDR), All of Us Strangers, Last Year at Marienbad (NO HDR applied to disc), Peril & Distress (And Soon the Darkness / Sudden Terror) (NO HDR applied to disc), The Case of the Bloody Iris (software uniformly simulated HDR), Reptilicus (software uniformly simulated HDR), Risky Business (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Conversation (software uniformly simulated HDR), Perfect Days, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) (software uniformly simulated HDR), Le samouraï  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Castle of Blood (software uniformly simulated HDR), Pat Garret and Billy the Kid (HDR), Fist of Legend (HDR), American Gigolo (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Long Wait (no HDR,) Bound (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Valiant Ones (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mute Witness (software uniformly simulated HDR), Narc (software uniformly simulated HDR), Peeping Tom (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dr. Terrors House of Horrors (software uniformly simulated HDR), High Noon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Picnic at Hanging Rock (Criterion) (software uniformly simulated HDR), I Am Cuba (no HDR), The Demoniacs (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Nude Vampire (software uniformly simulated HDR), Nostalghia (no HDR), Werckmeister Harmonies (no HDR), Goin' South (software uniformly simulated HDR), La Haine (software uniformly simulated HDR,) All Ladies Do It (software uniformly simulated HDR), Old Henry  (software uniformly simulated HDR), To Die For (software uniformly simulated HDR), Snapshot (software uniformly simulated HDR), Phase IV (software uniformly simulated HDR), Burial Ground (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dark Water (software uniformly simulated HDR), Fear and Desire (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf (no HDR), Paths of Glory (software uniformly simulated HDR), Southern Comfort (software uniformly simulated HDR.)

On their 4K UHD Arrow offer DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the English language. It differs marginally from Arrow 2020 Blu-ray that was in linear PCM. The score by is credited to orchestrator James B. Campbell, but more notable may be the sampling of Joanna St. Claire's I Put a Spell on You, Lori Chacko's Once Bitten, Twice Shy, Jess Harnell's Town Without Pity, Cassandra herself performing Here I Am, Michael Sembello's Maniac and some may recognize Dvorak's New World Symphony. The lossless audio transfer offers strong support for the film experience. Arrow Video offer optional English subtitles (SDH) on their Region FREE 4K UHD.

The 4K UHD extras are duplicated from Arrow's 2020 Blu-ray. It offers the archival audio commentary with actors Cassandra Peterson, Edie McClurg and writer John Paragon - which is till fun and shows Cassandra's warmth and humor. There is also an introduction to the film by director James Signorelli and two further commentaries from 2017 - with Elvira Webmaster and judge of US TV show The Search for the Next Elvira Patterson Lundquist and the third with with director James Signorelli, hosted by Fangoria Editor Emeritus Tony Timpone. Running longer than the feature is Too Macabre - The Making of Elvira: Mistress of the Dark - newly-revised 2018 version of this feature-length documentary on the making of the film including interviews with various cast and crew and rare never-before-seen archival material. It has Tony Angellotti, Yancy Calzada, Sam Egan, Susan Kellermann, Cassandra Peterson and others. It is quite good. Also included Recipe for Terror: The Creation of the Pot Monster - a 2018 featurette on the concept and design of the pot monster, as well as the other SFX of the movie. There are extensive image galleries with original storyboards etc. plus theatrical and teaser trailers. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck. The only difference that I see is that the 'original storyboards' are part of the image gallery selections now.  

I presume Arrow is releasing this in 4K UHD format because the title remains so popular. Cassandra Peterson is... amazing - she carved out such a unique and lovable niche. It's one that is universally appreciated by genre film fans. Elvira: Mistress of the Dark should have had a sequel or entire movie series - it has held up so well. Elvira is carefree, absurdly sexy, cute and fun - built around an homage of horror cinema - both cheesy and scary. I really know very few people who didn't enjoy the heck out of this - I've rewatched it may times myself. Great to have it on the vastly superior 4K UHD and the multitude of extras including the three commentaries, feature-length 'making of' and more. Absolutely recommended!

***

ADDITION: Arrow Video Blu-ray (July 2020): Arrow Video have transferred Cassandra Peterson's super fun Elvira: Mistress of the Dark to Blu-ray. The 1080P transfer is on a dual-layered disc with a high bitrate - almost 6X that of the 2001 DVD. It's a remarkable leap in image quality showing grain texture, notably more information in the frame, it is brighter, colors shift from pale orange to red - it's a significant upgrade and the HD presentation is consistent. clean and looks solid in-motion. It is advertised as as a "Brand new restoration from a 4K scan of original film elements". 

NOTE: We have added 62 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Arrow Video use a linear PCM 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original English language. It is another advancement in the film's audio and score by is credited to orchestrator James B. Campbell, but more notable may be the sampling of Joanna St. Claire's I Put a Spell on You, Lori Chacko's Once Bitten, Twice Shy, Jess Harnell's Town Without Pity, Cassandra herself performing Here I Am, Michael Sembello's Maniac and some may recognize Dvorak's New World Symphony. It's another significant upgrade via the uncompressed audio transfer. Arrow Video offer optional English subtitles (SDH) on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Arrow Video Blu-ray has the archival audio commentary with actors Cassandra Peterson, Edie McClurg and writer John Paragon - which is till fun and shows Cassandra's warmth and humor. There is also an introduction to the film by director James Signorelli and two further commentaries from 2017 - with Elvira Webmaster and judge of US TV show The Search for the Next Elvira Patterson Lundquist and the third with with director James Signorelli, hosted by Fangoria Editor Emeritus Tony Timpone. Running longer than the feature is Too Macabre - The Making of Elvira: Mistress of the Dark - newly-revised 2018 version of this feature-length documentary on the making of the film including interviews with various cast and crew and rare never-before-seen archival material. It has Tony Angellotti, Yancy Calzada, Sam Egan, Susan Kellermann, Cassandra Peterson and others. It is quite good. Also included Recipe for Terror: The Creation of the Pot Monster - a newly-revised 2018 version of this featurette on the concept and design of the pot monster, as well as the other SFX of the movie. There are extensive image galleries with original storyboards etc. plus theatrical and teaser trailers. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck.

Gary Tooze