Tag Archives: Tobe Hooper
The 1979 adaptation of Salem’s Lot on 4K in March
Commissions Earned
The 1979 TV miniseries adaptation of “Salem’s Lot“ is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray Limited Edition on March 31st via Arrow Video. Tobe Hooper directed the miniseries, based on the novel written by Stephen King. It starred David Soul, James Mason, Lance Kerwin, Bonnie Bedelia, Lew Ayres, Julie Cobb, and Elisha Cook Jr.
This release includes new 4K restorations of both the original two-part miniseries and the shorter theatrical cut distributed internationally. The tech specs for the 4K UHD Blu-ray include a 2160p video presentation in a 1.33:1 for the 2-part TV miniseries, a 1.85:1 aspect ratio for the theatrical cut, and lossless Mono sound for both versions. The release will come as a 2-disc set, with each version getting its own disc.
The 4K UHD Blu-ray Limited Edition is now available for preorder at Amazon, Arrow Video, and the MVD Shop. The bonus materials physically included are shown, and the entire set of supplemental materials is listed further below, sorted by disc.
Physical Extras:
- Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options
- Collectors’ perfect-bound booklet containing new writing on the film by critics Sean Abley, Sorcha Ni Fhlainn, and Richard Kadrey, plus select archival material including interviews with director Tobe Hooper, and stars Lance Kerwin and Julie Cobb
- Salem’s Lot town sign sticker
- Double-sided foldout poster featuring two original artwork options
Disc 1 (4K UHD Blu-ray):
- ORIGINAL TV MINI-SERIES VERSION
- Two viewing modes: Play as miniseries in two parts as per the original broadcast or as extended movie
- Brand new audio commentary by film critics Bill Ackerman and Amanda Reyes
- Archive audio commentary by director Tobe Hooper
- Alternate TV footage: commercial bumpers and original broadcast version of the antlers death
- Original shooting script gallery
Disc 2 (4K UHD Blu-ray):
- THEATRICAL VERSION & EXTRAS
- Brand new audio commentary by film critic Chris Alexander
- King of the Vampires, a new interview with Stephen King biographer Douglas Winter
- Second Coming, a new appreciation by author and critic Grady Hendrix
- New England Nosferatu, a new interview with filmmaker Mick Garris
- Fear Lives Here, a new featurette looking at the locations of Salem’s Lot today
- We Can All Be Heroes, a new featurette with film critic Heather Wixson, co-author of In Search of Darkness
- A Gold Standard for Small Screen Screams, a new featurette with film critics Joe Lipsett and Trace Thurman, co-hosts of the podcast Horror Queers
- Trailer
- Image gallery
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003 on 4K August
Commissions Earned
The 2003 film “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre“ receives a 4K UHD Blu-ray Limited Edition on August 26th via Arrow Video. Marcus Nispel directed the film, which Michael Bay produced and Tobe Hooper co-produced. It starred Jessica Biel, Jonathan Tucker, Erica Leerhsen, Mike Vogel, Eric Balfour, and the late R. Lee Ermey.
The tech specs for the 4K include a 2160p video presentation in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision and HDR10 forms of HDR with lossless DTS-HD Master Audio in 7.1, 5.1 surround, and 2.0 stereo configurations.
The Limited Edition 4K UHD Blu-ray is now available for preorder at Amazon and directly via Arrow Video. The bonus materials included with this limited edition set are listed below.
- NEW audio commentary with Dread Central co-founder Steve “Uncle Creepy” Barton and co-host of The Spooky Picture Show podcast Chris MacGibbon
- Archival audio commentary with director Marcus Nispel, producer Michael Bay, executive producers Brad Fuller and Andrew Form and New Line Cinema founder Robert Shaye
- Archival audio commentary with Marcus Nispel, director of photography Daniel Pearl, production designer Greg Blair, art director Scott Gallager, sound supervisor Trevor Jolly and composer Steve Jablonsky
- Archival audio commentary with Marcus Nispel, Michael Bay, writer Scott Kosar, Brad Fuller, Andrew Form and actors Jessica Biel, Erica Leerhsen, Eric Balfour Jonathan Tucker, Mike Vogel and Andrew Bryniarski
- Reimagining a Classic, a brand new interview with director Marcus Nispel
- Shadows of Yesteryear, a brand new interview with cinematographer Daniel Pearl
- The Lost Leatherface, a brand new interview with actor Brett Wagner
- Masks and Massacres, a brand new interview with makeup effects artist Scott Stoddard
- Chainsaw Symphony, a brand new interview with composer Steve Jablonsky
- Chainsaw Redux: Making A Massacre, a making-of documentary
- Ed Gein: The Ghoul of Plainfield, an in-depth look at the infamous killer who inspired the character of Leatherface
- Severed Parts, a look at the cutting room floor and some of the scenes excised from the final edit
- Deleted scenes including an alternate opening and ending
- Screen tests for Jessica Biel, Eric Balfour and Erica Leerhsen
- Behind-the-scenes featurette
- Cast and crew interviews
- Theatrical trailers and TV spots
- Concept art galleries
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Aaron Lea
- Double-sided foldout poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Aaron Lea
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Michael Gingold
1982 Tobe Hooper film Poltergeist on 4K in September
Amazon Commissions Earned
The 1982 film “Poltergeist“ is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on September 20th via Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The film, directed by Tobe Hooper and co-written & produced by Steven Spielberg, starred Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams, Dominique Dunne, Oliver Robins, Heather O’Rourke, Beatrice Straight, Martin Casella, Richard Lawson, and Zelda Rubinstein.
Tech specs for the release appear to include a 2160p video presentation in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 form of high dynamic range and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo lossless surround sound mixes. The release will come in the form of a “combo pack” with a Blu-ray counterpart and a digital code (copy) of the film.
UPDATE: You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon. You can also find the 4K UHD Blu-ray listed for preorder over at retailer Best Buy. It’s also worth noting that Best Buy will be getting an exclusive 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook (pictured below) which is also now available for preorder.
The title has not yet been officially announced [stateside] but you can likely expect the following bonus materials listed below to be included, based on the UK 4K UHD Blu-ray release [already announced].
- “They Are Here: The Real World of Poltergeists Pt. 1- Science of the Spirits” RT: 15:30
- “They Are Here: The Real World of Poltergeists Pt. 2- Communing with the Dead” RT: 15:31
- “The Making of Poltergeist” RT: 7:15
- Trailer RT: 2:25
Further below, after the break, you can find the official announcement by the studio about the upcoming 4K release of this film.
1985 Tobe Hooper film Lifeforce comes to 4K in May
Amazon Commissions Earned
The 1985 film “Lifeforce“ will be getting a 4K UHD Blu-ray “Collector’s Edition” release on May 24th via Scream Factory. The film, directed by Tobe Hooper, starred Steve Railsback, Peter Firth, Frank Finlay, Mathilda May, Michael Gothard, Nicholas Ball, and Patrick Stewart.
UPDATED: The exact tech specs have yet to be detailed but you can expect a 2160p video presentation in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio taken from a new “2021 4K scan of the original negative” and lossless audio. One could expect, although it has not been confirmed that this should include HDR10 form of high dynamic range on the 4K. It is known (via the artwork, pictured above) that this release will come in the form of a “combo pack” with the 4K getting its Blu-ray Disc counterpart included. In fact, this will include the theatrical cut of the film on 4K and Blu-ray as well as the “Director’s Cut” on a 3rd Blu-ray (in 1080p HD). You can find the 4K UHD Blu-ray now available for preorder over at Amazon. Below is a full list of the 3-disc sets details and bonus materials set to be included.
DISC ONE (4K UHD — THEATRICAL CUT):
- NEW 2021 4K Scan Of The Original Camera Negative
DISC TWO (BLU-RAY — THEATRICAL CUT):
- NEW 2021 4K Scan Of The Original Camera Negative
- Dangerous Beauty – An Interview With Actress Mathilda May
- Space Vampires In London – An Interview With Director Tobe Hooper
- Carlsen’s Curse – An Interview With Actor Steve Railsback
- Teaser And Theatrical Trailers
- TV Spot
- Still Gallery
DISC THREE (BLU-RAY — DIRECTOR’S CUT):
- NEW Restoration On The 2018 4K Scan Of The Interpositive
- Audio Commentary With Tobe Hooper, Moderated By Tim Sullivan
- Audio Commentary With Make-Up Effects Designer Nick Maley, Moderated By Michael Felsher
Sleepwalkers [Collector’s Edition] – Blu-ray Review
Stephen King stories turned film on Blu-ray get Steelbooks at Best Buy in October
Retailer Best Buy has three Exclusive Steelbooks on Blu-ray Disc planned for movies based on Stephen King stories. The TV mini-series “It“ (1990), TV movie “Salem’s Lot“ (1979), and film “The Shining“ (1980) will get Steelbook treatment on October 2nd via Warner. The titles are all available for PRE-ORDER over at Best Buy priced at just $12.99 each. Their art can be seen above and below, but the full-size art hasn’t appeared yet on the web side, just on the mobile app side.
These are all three re-releases already available on the Blu-ray Disc format. No new transfers or bonus materials will be found on the new Steelbooks. It’s my guess that these are just being repackaged, likely in a marketing tie-in, to go with the currently available Warner produced Hulu series “Castle Rock“ – based on Stephen King stories.