Universal
Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection 4K
(Dracula
(1931) / Frankenstein
(1931) / The
Invisible Man
(1933) / The
Wolfman
(1941) / 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays w/Blu-rays)
4K
Picture: A- Picture: B+ Sound: A- Extras: B Films: A-
At
long last, the classic Universal
Monsters
have made their way onto eye popping 4K UHD disc and the results are
worth the wait in this new Icons
Of Horror Collection.
These are some of the greatest and most inspirational horror films
of all time and it is very impressive to see the restoration work
that has been done here. Of course these movies have been tons of
releases over the years on various formats, but this is definitely
the end all be all version for the time being. I say that because I
thought seeing the 1080p 2012 Blu-rays (which are also included in
this set, reviewed elsewhere on this site in a larger set) was an
improvement until I saw this set and wow. It really is worth
shelling out the extra money for this set if you're a hardcore fan
for this 8-disc set from Universal.
I'm
sure the rest of the Universal Monster gang is on their way to 4K UHD
in the coming months. For now though, this four disc set will whet
your appetite and leave you wanting more.
Dracula
(1931) the Bela Lugosi / Tod Browning classic that is still one of
the best imaginings of the classic Bram Stoker text. The Spanish
Version is also included. This is the 90th anniversary of the film.
The bloodthirsty and powerful vampire, Count Dracula, heads to London
from his native home, and slowly begins to turn those around him into
his mindless victims. When he falls in love with Mina, he ends up in
a trap set by vampire hunter Van Helsing, a worthy adversary.
The
film also stars Dwight Frye, Helen Chandler, Edward Van Sloan, and
David Manners.
Frankenstein
(1931) The Boris Karloff classic directed by James Whale is simply a
masterpiece of filmmaking. A mad scientist creates a monster out of
human parts and brings him to life in his high tech laboratory. Part
German Expressionism, Mary Shelley's story is brought to life. This
is the 90th anniversary of the film.
The
film also stars Colin Clive, Dwight Frye, Mae Clarke, and Edward Von
Sloan.
The
Invisible Man
(1933) Claude Rains is The Invisible Man in the James Whale directed
film that still holds up to this day. The special effects are
remarkable for the time as is the superb filmmaking in this frantic
and perfectly executed horror thriller. Dr. Jack Griffin has made a
groundbreaking discovery in that he creates an invisible formula.
But as the Dr. experiments more and more with being invisible, he
soon starts to lose his grip on reality.
The
film also stars Gloria Stuart (Cameron's Titanic),
William Harrigan, and Una O'Connor.
The
Wolf Man
(1941) The original Lon Chaney Jr. classic has some of the greatest
special effects makeup of all time (by Jake Pierce) and remains one
of the best horror movies ever made. Chaney Jr. stars as Larry
Talbot, a man who saves a woman from a rabid werewolf after seeing a
bizarre Gypsy, and gets bitten as a result. Now, when the moon is
full and the wolfsbane blooms, Larry turns into a beastly inhuman
creature! This is the 80th anniversary of the film.
The
film also stars Bela Lugosi, Curt Siodmak, Maria Ouspenskaya, and
Claude Rains.
The
Monsters
are presented here in native 4K (2160p from new scans off of the
original 35mm nitrate negatives, et al) on 4K UHD disc with an
HEVC/H.265 codec and original aspect ratios of 1.37:1, HDR (high
dynamic range) and English DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 Mono lossless
mixes (48kHz, 24-bit). The biggest improvements over the (also
included) 2012 issued 1080p Blu-ray discs is definition and detail.
You can see some detail in the image and heavier contrast (even in
the black and white) that makes the characters pop a bit more than
the 1080p versions, but when you do direct comparisons, you can
really see the improvements. The 4K discs also boast higher bitrates
than the Blu-rays that adds an extra boost in white levels and a bit
more detail in the overall image.
Special
Features:
The
Road to Dracula
Feature
Length Audio Commentaries by David J. Skal and Stephen Haberman on
Dracula
Feature
Length Audio Commentaries by Rudy Behlmer and Christopher Frayling on
Frankenstein
Feature
Length Audio Commentary by Rudy Behlmer on Invisible
Man
Feature
Length Audio Commentary by Tom Weaver on Wolf
Man
The
Frankenstein
Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster
Karloff:
The Gentle Monster
Universal
Horror documentary
Frankenstein
Archives Boo! - short film for 100 Years Of Universal
Monster
Tracks
Monster
by Moonlight
The
Wolf Man:
From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth
and
Now
You See Him: The
Invisible Man
Revealed
These
films are timeless and thanks to modern technology, we get to see
them in greater detail as time passes by. They also remain four of
the most imitated and remade films ever. This set is truly a delight
and just in time for Halloween!
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
