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

ADDITION: BFI Blu-ray (April 2021): BFI have also transferred David Greene's I Start Counting to Blu-ray. It is also cited as being "Scanned & restored in 2K from the 35mm interpositive". I have a feeling that BFI may also have done a color correction as there is a slight shift in flesh tones - which warm, the reds of the buss are less-orangey, and the overall image loses its green and orange hues present on the Fun City Blu-ray edition from last year. It is also on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate but, while the image is very comparable, we would give the edge to BFI.

For the audio BFI go on e channel mono, still a DTS-HD Master and my ears couldn't detect significant differences. The BFI also have optional English subtitles (white font as opposed to Fun City's yellow) and their UK Blu-ray disc is Region 'B'-locked.

BFI include the excellent commentary by Samm Deighan (see below.) Also duplicated are the Jenny Agutter 20-minute interview entitled A Kickstart: Jenny Agutter Remembers I Start Counting where she discusses her memories of the film and her early career. Loss of Innocence is a 7.5 minute video essay on I Start Counting by Chris O'Neill is also still here, as well as a trailer and image gallery. New for the BFI Blu-ray are An Apprentice with a Master's Ticket - a new (2021) 40-minute interview with acclaimed screenwriter Richard Harris who looks back over an eclectic career in television and film, ranging from The Avengers to A Touch of Frost, Worlds Within Worlds is also new and spends 1/2 hour with Jonny Trunk, founder of cult label Trunk Records, who revisits the life and art of ambient music pioneer Basil Kirchin. I Start Building is a 1/2 hour a selection of three rare archive films recalling the 'New Town' dream. I enjoyed the 1980, hour long Children's Film Foundation video, Danger on Dartmoor about plucky kids who face peril - written by Audrey Erskine Lindop. Funny is Don't Be Like Brenda from 1973 focusing on the perennial problem of teenage promiscuity is explored in this cautionary film designed for adolescent viewers. For the first-pressing only is a fully illustrated booklet with a new essay on the film by the BFI's Jo Botting and writing on the cast and director by Jon Dear.

So, it looks like the BFI have advanced upon the Fun City Blu-ray edition with a slightly improved video and more supplements. Double-dipping would depend on how you feel about the film, but the big bonus is the Samm Deighan commentary, which is available on both. Region 'B'-locked audiences should definitely indulge. Great film, super Blu-ray package.        

***

ADDITION: Fun City Editions Blu-ray (November 2020): Fun City Editions have transferred David Greene's I Start Counting to Blu-ray. It is cited as being "Newly scanned & restored in 2k from its 35mm interpositive". More a function of the production, the beginning of the film looks inferior, with softness, to the rest of the 1080P presentation which has impressive moments. I should say that I was very keen on the inventive cinematography of Alex Thomson (who worked in many fantasy films) that has unique angles and vantage points that add to the film experience and its impact. As for the source, it has plenty of speckles/small marks but looks stable in-motion with it improving as the film runs. I saw no untoward digitization or damage or fatal flaws with the HD presentation. 

NOTE: We have added 68 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Fun City Editions use a DTS-HD Master dual-track (24-bit) in the original English language. It supports the film's effects, score by Basil Kirchin (Primitive London, The Abominable Dr. Phibes ) using some experimental sounds... and the rather dreadful I Start Counting theme song sung by Lindsey Moore. It sounds clean and clear without audio flaws. Fun City Editions offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Fun City Editions Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Samm Deighan. She identifies the tension between sex and violence in the film with examples, how it is unusual to have a female as the protagonist in a serial-killer film (and how this is also a coming-of-age film), she observantly finds a comparisons with Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt and goes on to discuss Powell's Peeping Tom and Hitch's Psycho. She intelligently supports her own analysis with plenty of references. It is at her usual excellent level. What I also enjoyed was participation by the lovely Jenny Agutter who does a brief introduction as well as a 20-minute interview entitled A Kickstart: Jenny Agutter Remembers I Start Counting where she discusses her memories of the film and her early career. Delightful. Loss of Innocence is a 7.5 minute video essay on I Start Counting by Chris O'Neill making salient points as select scenes run simultaneously. There is a trailer and image gallery plus the package has a 12-page booklet with essays; I Start Directing: David Greene's Complicated Family Stories by Amanda Reyes and Remembrances of Basil Kirchin, David Green and I Start Counting by Matt Stephenson. 

David Greene's I Start Counting is a very interesting film. It deviates from a typical serial-killer effort although the tension is always present. We have juvenile infatuation, fantasy and sexual maturity with the subtext of an ever-present crime mystery. With the 'relative' being a major suspect very aptly identified by Samm Deighan by comparing it to Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt. I had never seen I Start Counting before and found it immensely satisfying - there is plenty of depth to this film. This also marks the first Fun City Editions Blu-ray I've reviewed and I'm extremely pleased with their work on this package - a exceptional film choice, a great commentary, and visual essay plus the participation of Jenny Agutter (a favorite actress.) This get a high recommendation. Don't miss it!

Gary Tooze