Castle Freak [Blu-Ray] [1995]

Using H.P. Lovecraft's "The Outsider" as a starting point, Stuart Gordon again teams with actors Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton, writer Dennis Paoli, exec. producer Charles Band and composer Richard Band to complete a loose trilogy of H.P. Lovecraft adaptations that began with the excellent Re-Animator and continued with the underrated and memorable From Beyond (notably, original producer Brian Yuzna was directing his own features at this point and did not return, but he did do a third Lovecraft picture with Gordon and Paoli in 2001's DAGON).Castle Freak is a direct to video release, unlike Re-Animator and From Beyond, but don't let that fool you - it's definitely a great film from a great genre director. The black comedy which purveyed through Re-Animator, and lessened slightly in From Beyond is now pitch black, when apparent, in Castle Freak. This one is grim, intimate and extremely unpleasant at points. It's also well plotted and very well acted (the actress playing the daughter is not that great, though). I highly recommend it if you're already a fan, but I would definitely point you to Re-Animator and From Beyond first. Re-Animator has a lovely edition out in the US from Elite labelled the MILLENNIUM EDITION and remains one of the best DVDs I own. From Beyond was restored to it's director's cut and released by MGM a couple of years back, again in the US.However, Full Moon's US DVD of Castle Freak is from the same ugly master they used for the VHS and laserdisc releases. 88 Films' lovely new DVD is, while obviously still from the same negs (faded blacks here and there), a lot sharper and more detailed and now in widescreen, which suits the film perfectly, actually, though I don't believe it was displayed theatrically in this ratio anywhere but a few festivals. Audio sounds a bit cleaner too. Extras are pretty much the same - Videozone and a trailer, but here we also have a lot of trailers for other Empire/Full Moon releases 88 films will be putting out. It's laid out a bit awkward but it's a nice effort.The cover is also reversable, so the ugly one it comes with can be replaced with the original laserdisc cover (though I think I still prefer the US VHS/DVD cover, with the monster's face, even if it does spoil the film!). I suppose 88 films will be taking these cues from Arrow and Scream Factory in the US? Sounds good. Hopefully they will put the Trancers sequels out in widescreen (and Blu-Ray, hopefully!)Note: a blu-ray is out now and is even better!

Stuart Gordon redressed his pointless and woeful attempt at the vampire genre from 1987 with 'Daughter Of Darkness' and came thundering back at the start of the 90s with his pleasingly nasty take on 'The Pit And The Pendulum' and then this, the moody and creeping 'Castle Freak', and while it doesn't quite touch his perfect 80s horror trilogy of 'Re-Animator', 'From Beyond' and 'Dolls', this creepy, claustrophobic nerve-tingler frays the nerves, pounds the stomach and delivers atmopshere, shocks and horror with pleasing reliability.Gordon's stalwarts Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton are a married couple on permanent edge due to his drinking and a car accident that took their young son away and blinded their daughter. These three inherit a castle in Italy-and sadly something comes with it...something crazily angry, brutalised, savage, strong and with a taste for freedom-and flesh.It's lovely to have this transfered to DVD-especially as the old VHS copy I had had several key scenes of delightful nastiness spliced-how rude! When a film is as intense as a Stuart Gordon one, you know you are not going to get a happy ending but the ride will be a worthy one. There's even a little bit of chit-chat and FX leftover for an extras gift on the disc-this will come up on the menu; there is no mention of it on the back of the DVD case.This is a good price and a decent movie with a cool monster and a nice wallow in proper horror when it meant so much more than the stanglehold of neverending non-horror slashers, cannibals, A-listers being dead-and-not-knowing-it, remakes, biopics of serial killers, and now stupid asbo-brat yobbo culture masquerading as terror today!

I have to say I don't know if I am pleased or annoyed about this blu ray release of Castle Freak. The film isn't my favourite Stuart Gordon schlocker, I find it rather weak in story and concept (and having seen one of the extras in which Gordon talks about how the film came about, I can see why). But it has its moments. Sadly, the print has not been cleaned up before transfer or after, and I noticed several scratches and blemishes on the picture. The sound has also been left pretty much untouched, so the quality isn't great. Maybe they didn't think it worth making much effort over something with a limited market appeal, but then why bother with blu ray at all? Still, I was delighted to see the rediscovered treasure The Evil Clergyman on the disc, with some other very interesting extras. The Evil Clergyman is average to poor in picture and sound quality but given the history of the material it's a miracle to have it in any condition, and it is very enjoyable pulp horror. On the whole I would say that if you can get the dvd issue with this as an extra, it isn't worth spending more to get the blu ray.

yet another classic from 80's horror director stuart gordon a foremost king of lovecraftian gore. like re-animator, from beyond this one too has a great storyline, the arguements between john(jeffrey combs) and susan (barbara crampton - soap actoress), felt very much like a soap scene but nastier.i am just so happy to finally (after all these years) have my copy of this directos cut version which NOW makes complete sense!i sincerily do miss the horror studio's of the 1980's and Full Moon Productions is one of them, whom made this film. just glad i own a multi-region dvd player. thumbs up!

did enjoy it as I watched it years ago at the (Bughut) cinema

Delivery came really fast.The item is as described.This title is classic from 90's.Picture and sound quality are perfect.There's double-side cover , really usefull booklet and lot of extras on the disk."88 Films'' did GREAT job AS USUAL.If You are horror fan this is must-have.Buy it - it's worth every penny and check out the catalog of ''88 Films'' - You'll find something for Yourself.