SOURCE-Vestron Video Blu Ray
Yep the first full movie from famous director Francis Ford Coppola. I first heard about this movie in some horror film reference book back in the early 80s. By the late 80s I found a cheap VHS copy,not knowing back then that the film was in the public domain. Grabbed this and wasn't that impressed. But that vhs looked and sounded horrible. Plus I for some reason was thinking this was going to be a proto-slasher.
This movie is one that even if it wasn't directed by someone who went on to become one of the most acclaimed directors of the last 50 years it would be remembered. Really the story feels like something out of EC's Crime Supense Stories comic. A widow is trying to convince her dead husband's family that he is still alive. She does this during the yearly memorial to the brother's dead sister who drown. But this time there is an ax carrying nutjob roaming the area.
Having had seen this movie at least 20 times before getting the blu ray,when I first put it on I put on the commentary. Which is the only extra on the disc. This commentary has Francis Ford Coppola. Great and very entertaining commentary.
It wasn't until my 3rd viewing of this blu ray,which happened today,that I saw how cleaned up this print is. I was use to Dementia 13 looking like ass. Washed out image,bad contrast levels and the sound was always bad. This time it looks pristine. Sounds great and really feels like how it did when I finally saw a good cleaned up print of Night of the Living Dead 68.
Also want to point out how this is one of the cheapest Vestron Video Blu Rays out there. I do like what Vestron is doing,putting out cult movies on nice Blu rays.But hate how for their first 10 or so releases they were wanting 35 bucks a movie. Now you can find them for 15 or so new. And Dementia 13 was 8 bucks new.
If you have never seen this movie or only saw those scratched up PD prints that were everywhere for years go look on Youtube or Archive DOT Org and find this director's cut. I have no clue what was put back in or removed for this director's cut. For me this Blu ray is worth owning cause not only is this a really good movie but this is the best it has ever looked. If you are already a fan of the film track down this blu ray. Too many companies don't want to release PD films on Blu Ray,well too many don't want to release them if they remastered the prints. Since the film is PD that means once you remaster it anyone can take your cleaned up print and release it for free.
Dementia 13 gets a B-
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