Universal’s history can be traced back to Polidori’s The Vampire, and the very first motion picture on the subject, the 1931 Dracula.
Here, the creators have taken vampire lore, both olde and new, and combined with bits of the 2009 The Orphan, Home Alone, and a nod to the great Agatha Christie, to create a rather wonderful entertainment, that keeps un-peeling the onion.
The young lady in the lead is Alisha Weir, a young Irish actress (the film was shot in Ireland), and fast-tracked from inception to release in less than a year.
The film was shot in 4k, and Universal’s new Blu-ray (no 4k released) proves once again, that a modern Blu-ray from a more highly resolved source, can more than fit the bill to create a superb 2k offering, allowing the 4k pipeline to be used for more needy productions.
Color, densities, black levels here are all quite beautiful, and track in Dolby TrueHD 7.1 does a great job of keeping our nerves on edge.
As to all-important slip, it’s a simple but elegant affair, with young Ms Weir centered on the obverse in full ballet regalia, with the title above, embossed in red. All in a matte finish. Recent investment polls have found that slips that are embossed or far more likely to end up as investment quality via their first printings than those that use reflective or metallic surfaces.
If you’re seeking a serious drama, this isn’t it. Reviews were far from stellar. But for a film at less than two hours, and fun escapist entertainment in the horror/ horror-comedy mode, the film is a fun exercise. In an odd way, I can equate it to the Corman horror classics via AIP in the 1960s.
Comes with plenty of quality extras, a DVD and digital code.
Image
Forensic – 9
NSD – 10
Audio – 10 (Dolby TrueHD 7.1)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors – Yes
Worth your attention – 7.5
Slipcover rating – 4
Recommended
RAH
Robert has been known in the film industry for his unmatched skill and passion in film preservation. Growing up around photography, his first home theater experience began at age ten with 16mm. Years later he was running 35 and 70mm at home.
His restoration projects have breathed new life into classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, My Fair Lady, Spartacus, and The Godfather series. Beyond his restoration work, he has also shared his expertise through publications, contributing to the academic discourse on film restoration. The Academy Film Archive houses the Robert A. Harris Collection, a testament to his significant contributions to film preservation.
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