The Strangeness Blu-ray - Terri Berland

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by David Michael Hillman aka Melanie Anne Phillips
USA 1985

A man and woman sneak up to an abandoned mine at night to blow it open and are picked off - as is oft to happen to pre-credits characters - by an unseen force. After the credits, the mismatched group of miners (geologist, writer, photographer, professional miners, storied guide, and grumpy, suspicious corporate representative who knows more than he lets on and will be most deserving of a gruesome death) venture into the Golden Spike Mine to see if there is enough gold left to re-open. No sooner are all of them inside the mine is the rope cut and a cave in soon follows. The only way to get out is to break through the barrier put up by the miners in 1883 to seal in whatever was picking them off. Stories of missing hikers and miners are dismissed by all but the nerdy writer (Mark Sawicki, who also worked on the visual effects) but the audience knows better even before the shadowy glimpses of a stop-motion creature with wavy tentacles.

THE STRANGENESS is somewhere between a modern horror film with characters being picked off in an enclosed location (playing on the audience anticipation of gory deaths but not always delivering) and some of the old monster movies Sawicki and Huntley grew up watching (Harryhausen is mentioned by both as an influence). Acting is variable but decent overall for a low-budget film. The cinematography (making use of the fastest film available at the time in 16mm) looks typically dark and grainy in the natural light scenes while the scenes with artificial light are cleaner and pleasing (even if the commentators think they look fake). Overall, an entertaining little flick for those of us who can look past old-fashioned special effects (the gender-changed director denies any input into the monster design) and cardboard characters.

Eric Cotenas

Posters

Theatrical Release: October 21st, 1985

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Comparison:

Code Red - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover		Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Code Red - Region 0 - NTSC	Code Red - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:32:20	1:32:32.547
Video	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.61 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.78:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 24,491,593,303 bytes Feature: 20,434,808,832 bytes Video Bitrate: 25.82 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1848 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1848 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	None	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Code Red DVD Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Audio commentary with director Melanie Anne Phillips and actors/effects techs Mark Sawicki and Chris Huntley moderated by Jeff McKay • Interview with Melanie Anne Phillips (4:3; 15:11) • Interview with Mark Sawicki (4:3; 8:54) • Interview with Chris Huntley (4:3; 12:25) • Short film ORIGINS (16:9; 7:03) • Short film EAT AT JOE'S (16:9; 0:40) • Short film IT STALKED THE NIGHT (16:9; 6:38) • Short film GRAVE SIGHT (16:9; 6:42) • Short film DADDY'S GONE A HUNTING (16:9; 3:42) • Short film THE END (16:9; 1:54) • Still Gallery • Binky (4:3; 0:06) • Trailers for BRUTE CORPS (16:9; 1:57); THE STATUE (16:9; 2:27) • TRAPPED (16:9; 1:36); THE VISITOR (4:3; 3:13); NIGHT WARNING (16:9; 1:28); • THE WEEKEND MURDERS (16:9; 2:19); and STUNT ROCK (16:9; 2:25) DVD Release Date: 18 August 2009 Amaray Chapters 18	Release Information: Studio: Code Red 1.78:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 24,491,593,303 bytes Feature: 20,434,808,832 bytes Video Bitrate: 25.82 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Audio Commentary with Director Melanie Anne Phillips with Actors Mark Sawicki and Chris Huntley, Moderated Jeff McKay • Interview with Director Melanie Anne Phillips and Actors Mark Sawicki and Chris Huntley (36:34) • 6 Short Films by Mark Sawicki and Chris Huntley (26:44) Bucket list (1:34, 1:21) Blu-ray Release Date: June 22nd, 2021 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 12

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Code Red Blu-ray (May 2021): Code Red have re-released "The Strangeness". It is still on a single-layered Blu-ray. It was originally released in 2016 by Code Red as a 'Limited Edition' (1000 copies) see HERE. This is said to be remastered from the original 16mm vault elements, though the rare damage marks or cigarette burns are identical to the older SD DVD, so this is probably from the same source, just now in 1080P. The 16mm film has a supportive bitrate on this Blu-ray from Code Red. There is also just a tiny bit more information on the top and bottom of the 1.78:1 HD frame, showing that the previous SD image was slightly blown up to fill the frame. With the typical 16mm caveats (larger grain, typically less fine detail than 35mm, etc) this image improves upon the SD in most aspects, from the moderate boost in detail, to skintones looking more appropriately rosy and flushed (less orange). What is most important to this film that almost entirely takes place in a cave, is the contrast levels. Blacks are still somewhat crushed though nowhere near as poorly as the DVD. Some of this lack of definition in the dark and shadows is most likely intentional, due in part to the low budget and creepiness aspects. Once the monster shows up, it is nicely cloaked in shadows, thus hiding any budgetary shortcomings. Gotta love the stop-motion and creature effects, Ray Harryhausen would be proud.

NOTE: We have added 12 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

The 2.0 Dolby digital 2.0 mono is similar to the DVD release, here in 24-bit DTS-HD Master audio. Chris Huntley and director Melanie Anne Phillips. Sadly there are no subtitles on this Region 'Free' Blu-ray from Code Red.

All of the DVD's extra features are ported over for this new Blu-ray release from Code Red. This includes; the audio commentary with director Melanie Anne Phillips with actors Mark Sawicki and Chris Huntley (moderated by Jeff McKay), the interview with director Phillips and actors Sawicki and Huntley, 6 short films by Sawicki and Huntley, and the choice to play the film in "Bucket List Theatre" which consists of a minute-long introduction and a minute-long after-credits sequence. Though listed, there are no stills gallery, or trailers to be found.

Code Red's Blu-ray of "The Strangeness" (remastered from the original 16mm vault elements) should be something for genre fans to pick up after the original Blu-ray is out-of-print. The slightly improved image may make this a worthy upgrade for some that already have the 2009 out-of-print DVD from years back. It's been quite hard to see on digital or video releases. The film works wonders with its limited budget and setting, I could almost swear that Neil Marshall's "The Descent" may even have a few nods to this picture. Recommended.