Blu-Ray Review: ‘Fall of Fear’ HD Titles Including ‘Army of Darkness,’ ‘Shaun of the Dead,’ More

Submitted by BrianTT on September 16, 2009 - 3:03pm

CHICAGO – Universal is getting an early jump on the annual wave of horror-themed titles that usually hit stores in the week before Halloween with new Blu-Ray editions of three horror-comedy classics and, well, one stinker that surely looks good in HD if nothing else. Add “An American Werewolf in London,” “Army of Darkness,” “Shaun of the Dead,” and “Van Helsing” to your collection.

The “Fall of Fear” promotions actually includes 31 re-promoted titles with Halloween-themed wrap but only four are available on Blu-Ray and were sent for review. But the standard releases include reissues by two of our favorite directors and influential filmmakers in the genre - John Carpenter and Wes Craven.

For Carpenter, repackaged titles include “The Thing,” “Prince of Darkness,” “They Live,” and “Village of the Damned”. Personally, we would suggest picking them up in that order. As for Craven, the titles are “The Serpent and the Rainbow,” “Shocker,” and “The People Under the Stairs”. “Serpent” is the best of the three but the other two have their moments, especially for hardcore fans of the genre.

Other titles in the “Fall of Fear” repackagings include “The Bride of Frankenstein,” “Cat People,” “Cape Fear” (1991), “Chucky: The Killer DVD Collection,” “Creature From the Black Lagoon,” “Dead Silence,” “Dracula” (1931), “Dracula” (1979), “Frankenstein,” “Frankenstein: The True Story,” “The Frighteners,” “George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead,” “Hellboy II: The Golden Army,” “The Hitcher,” “The Invisible Man,” “The Legacy,” “The Mummy” (1932), “The Mummy’s Collector’s Set,” “Phantasm II,” “Phantom of the Opera” (1943), “Psycho: Collector’s Edition,” “The Sentinel,” “The Skeleton Key,” “The Skulls Trilogy,” “Slither,” “Ssssss,” “Universal Horror: Classic Movie Archive,” “White Noise,” and “The Wolf Man”.

Now on to the good stuff. The four titles on Blu-Ray in the new wave include a new “Full Moon Edition” of “An American Werewolf in London,” a “Screwhead Edition” of “Army of Darkness,” and untitled editions of “Shaun of the Dead” and “Van Helsing”.

“An American Werewolf in London: Full Moon Edition”

An American Werewolf in London was released on Blu-Ray on September 15th, 2009.
Photo credit: Universal Home Video

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

Arguably the biggest draw of the new collection due to its 2 hours of brand new bonus features, “American Werewolf in London” has a loyal, rapid following who will love to finally have one of their faves in HD. This cult classic that redefined modern makeup usage in the genre shows its age a bit in 1080p but the storytelling has held up very well in this macabre comedy with a wicked, clever sense of humor. “American Werewolf” is the ancestor to a number of modern horror-comedies and is a must-see for anyone new to the genre or unfamiliar with this modern classic.

The new featurettes include “I Walked With a Werewolf,” an interview with the legendary, Academy-award winning Rick Baker who reflects on both the making of “An American Werewolf in London” and talks about his work on the upcoming “The Wolfman,” and “Beware the Moon,” a new feature-length documentary with the cast and crew including director John Landis and make-up artist Rick Baker. Previously available, imported special features include Making An American Werewolf in London, An Interview with John Landis, Make-Up Artist Rick Baker On An American Werewolf in London, Casting of the Hand, Outtakes, Storyboards, Photograph Montage, and Feature Commentary.

With a feature-length commentary and the previously available additional features to join the HD presentation of the film, this is one of the most complete and necessary Blu-Ray releases for horror fans this season.

As for the film, it’s presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen with a 1.85:1 aspect ration and accompanied by a fantastic English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.

“Army of Darkness: Screwhead Edition”

Army of Darkness was released on Blu-Ray on September 15th, 2009.
Photo credit: Universal Home Video

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.0/5.0

Any fan of the “Evil Dead” franchise can tell you that it’s been one of the most double and triple-dipped series of films in the history of DVD. Now the films have been unleashed on Blu-Ray and it’s time to begin the journey all over again with the “Screwhead Edition” of “Army of Darkness”. Apparently, “Screwhead Edition” refers to what this release will do to serious fans of the film - screw with your head.

Previous editions have included as much as fifteen minutes of deleted scenes, a director’s storyboard, featurettes, and even an audio commentary with Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and Ivan Raimi (on the best edition, the “Official Bootleg” from 2001).

What made the trip to Blu-Ray? This is the ultimate, definitive edition, right? It must be if the film is in HD? If you’re asking those questions, you haven’t been burned by the multiple releases of Raimi’s films. Nope, all that makes the trip is “Creating the Deadites,” an HD featurettes about the visual effects, and the alternate ending. Of course, having the film in HD and the “Deadites” featurette will make completists have to leave more than one version of “Army of Darkness” on their shelf. Luckily, we’re used to it by now.

The film itself is presented in beautiful 1080p High Definition Widescreen with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.

“Shaun of the Dead”

Shaun of the Dead was released on Blu-Ray on September 15th, 2009.
Photo credit: Universal Home Video

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

One of the best horror-comedies ever, Edgar Wright’s fantastic “Shaun of the Dead” gets funnier, more clever, and more enjoyable every time I see it. Announcing the arrival of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost to the world, “Shaun of the Dead” is a film for horror nuts made BY horror nuts. It works so well because it’s practically a love letter to the films, mostly ones by George A. Romero, that inspired it. A brain-splattered love letter, but a love letter nonetheless.

Luckily, the important special features have made the trip with Shaun, Ed, and their zombie friends with a great, uncensored commentary track, outtakes, deleted scenes, casting tapes, Simon Pegg’s video diary, special effects comparisons, TV bits, galleries, and even usage of the wonderful U-Control, which allows storyboards and trivia to play during the film picture-in-picture. A truly complete and ultimate edition of a modern classic, “Shaun of the Dead” is a must-own.

The film is presented in wonderful 1080p High Definition Widescreen with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.

“Van Helsing”

Van Helsing was released on Blu-Ray on September 15th, 2009.
Photo credit: Universal Home Video

Blu-Ray Rating: 2.0/5.0

Finally, we get to “Van Helsing”. Hugh Jackman is more than charismatic enough to play an action lead and no one looks better in tight pants than Kate Beckinsale, but “Van Helsing” is an undeniable mess - a film of conflicting tones that doesn’t work as action, horror, or comedy. The one thing that does works about “Van Helsing” are the mesmerizingly conceived visuals, a great thing to have in HD.

And the special features on “Van Helsing” have been expertly conceived and presented including “Van Helsing: The Story, The Life, The Legend,” “Track the Adventure,” “Bringing the Monsters to Life,” “Dracula’s Lair is Transformed,” “The Music of Van Helsing,” “The Art of Van Helsing,” Two Feature Commentaries, and picture-in-picture/U-Control access to cast and crew interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. Say what you will about Stephen Sommers’ actual film but that’s an unassailable collection of bonus material.

The film is presented in striking 1080p High Definition Widescreen with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.