Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

Theatrical and Composite Cut:

LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

Behind the Scenes gallery - motion still gallery featuring rare behind-the-scenes make-up photos (4:31)

BLU-RAY DISC 2 - NIGHTMARE AT SHADOW WOODS [LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE]
• Nightmare at Shadow Woods the re-edited 1987 theatrical cut featuring footage not seen in the Blood Rage home video version
• Alternate composite cut of the feature combining footage from the home video and theatrical versions
• Never-before-seen outtakes (26:39 - no audio)
 

Bitrate:

Blood Rage  (Home Video version - Slasher title card)

 

Nightmare at Shadow Woods (theatrical cut)

 

 

Alternate composite cut

 

 

Description: What do you get if you combine Thanksgiving, American TV star Louise Lasser (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman), killer 80s synths and some of the most gruesome special effects in all of slasher history courtesy of Ed (Terminator 2) French. Why, it s Blood Rage of course!

Twins Todd and Terry seem like sweet boys that is, until one of them takes an axe to face of a fellow patron at the local drive-in. Todd is blamed for the bloody crime and institutionalised, whilst twin brother Terry goes free. Ten years later and, as the family gathers around the table for a Thanksgiving meal, the news comes in that Todd has escaped. But has the real killer in fact been in their midst all along? One thing s for sure, there will be blood and rage!

Shot in 1983 but not released until 1987, Blood Rage (re-cut and shown in theatres as Nightmare at Shadow Woods) is a gloriously gruesome slice of 80s slasher heaven now lovingly restored (in 3 versions no less!) from original vault elements for its first ever official home video release.

 

 

 

The Film:

Excerpt from RockNReelReviews located HERE

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

This is the another Arrow Blu-ray release that is being simultaneously released in both region 'A' (US) and 'B' (UK). It is the exact same package on both sides of the pond beyond minor cosmetic differences on the disc labels and sleeve to do with differing copyright info and barcodes, and the US release doesn't have BBFC logos.

NOTE: We call this region FREE . although technically it is region 'A' + 'B'. I've yet to see a region 'C'-locked Blu-ray so most will also consider this region FREE.

Blood Rage joins an all-encompassing double Blu-ray, single DVD, package from Arrow.  We get three version of this eighties, horror, slasher flic. Disc one is a brand new 2K restoration of the hard home video version, transferred from the camera negative, director-approved and featuring the original title card Slasher (see above.) The second Blu-ray has Nightmare at Shadow Woods the re-edited 1987 theatrical cut featuring footage not seen in the Blood Rage home video version. Blood Rage was re-edited and released theatrically in 1987 as Nightmare at Shadow Woods. The Arrow presentation of this cut comprises the newly restored Blood Rage footage combined with unique footage transferred from the best available 35mm print element. Because of the significant variations between the two elements used, the differences remain noticeable. All three are in 1080P and aside from some acceptable variations - have the same bitrates and look very similar with plenty of appealing grain. I've only produced captures of the restored Home Video version - and it looks surprisingly good. This Blu-rays are in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio and the image quality is far in advance of what any fan of the film(s) could have hoped for.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All three version use a linear PCM 2.0 channel at 1536 kbps (16-bit). They sound about as you might anticipate and a generally accurate representation of the original film production. Not dynamic - but serviceable - clear dialogue with no, definitive, effect separation. The score is by Richard Einhorn (Carl Th. Dreyer’s The Passion of Joan of Arc, Joseph Zito's The Prowler, Eyes of a Stranger, Shock Waves). It's flat without significant depth for the effects but seems true to source and sounds generally tense and suspenseful - as well as consistent. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles (see sample above) for all three versions and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A' and 'B'-locked.

Extras :

 

 

Blu-ray 2

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
While Blood Rage is not my cup-of-tea - I can see the appeal. And you have to marvel at Arrow's incredibly complete package. The film definitely has some kitsch charisma and nostalgia value.  The Arrow Blu-ray provides a very authentic and worthy a/v presentation with plenty of supplements, and alternate version, to investigate. For fans of this genre - it really doesn't get any better. An 80's, quintessential, slasher horror - twins, gore and decapitated co-eds. At times, so in-your-face, its almost amusing. A late Friday night classic. 

Gary Tooze

December 2nd, 2015

 

Re-Released January 2017