SCARED STIFF Blu-ray Review – You Won’t Be
Starring Andrew Stevens, Mary Page Keller, David Ramsey, Josh Segal
Directed by Richard Friedman
Distributed by Arrow Video
Last year, Arrow Video brought director Richard Friedman’s unintentionally (?) awful Doom Asylum (1988) to Blu-ray, giving it the standard spit-and-polish treatment and now, in 2019, Arrow has resurrected another one of Friedman’s early efforts – his first feature directing credit – the equally inept Scared Stiff (1987). This flashback-heavy haunter is packed with non-sequiturs scene and developments that just… never finish developing. The original script was penned by Mark Frost – yes, that one – though subsequent rewrites diluted his more serious vision into the schizo mess it became. Friedman’s film lacks clear direction and a cogent story, though it manages to retain some viewer interest with decent performances and a thick, cloaking atmosphere of Southern Gothic standards.
Psychologist David (Andrew Stevens) has just purchased a dilapidated Gothic mansion in the South, hoping to move in his patient/girlfriend, Kate (Mary Page Keller), a formerly-hot singer, and her son, Jason (Josh Segal). As flashbacks inform, the home was once owned by George Masterson (David Ramsey), a ruthless slave owner who tortured his “property” and was involved in… some kind of black magic voodoo shit; this, a seemingly salient plot point, is largely unclear. David’s home is inhabited by the spirits of those tormented souls – Masterson included – and eventually the spirits’ influence extends into reality when the good doctor finds himself not-so-good and completely possessed. Meanwhile, Kate and Jason have problems of their own, as visions of dead bodies and a strange ritualistic mask suggest someone supernatural is afoot.
Most of this film is not great… but that climax is a doozy. I do like the progression of David’s possession, eventually transforming the classy doctor into a deranged mutant. The impressive FX work shows up near the end, of course, with the best gag being a skull cap that zips off to reveal a pulsating brain. Great stuff. The ending also gets trippy, jumping through space and having different planes of existence converge and interact. It felt far more ambitious than the preceding 75-or-so minutes had been. Friedman does provide ample atmosphere – when we’re in the house, which is a character in itself. The walls are aged and rotting; the roof is in disrepair; and there’s a creaky old attic hidden behind some wallpaper. All the elements of a haunted house adventure are present, and even if the film isn’t entirely successful in telling a story… I didn’t have a terrible time watching it all unfold either.
Never one to slouch in the a/v department, Arrow Video graces Scared Stiff with a 2K restoration of the original 35mm negative, resulting in a clean 1.85:1 1080p image that is in line with the level of quality fans know to expect from this line. Any evidence of print damage of dirt & debris has been almost entirely removed, leaving the picture looking fresh and unblemished. Film grain is heavy, often swallowing up shadow details at night, and it is rather consistent in its thickness. Daylight scenes, on the other hand, have some punch and offer up the strongest examples of crispness and finer details.
The English LPCM 1.0 mono soundtrack is a limited affair, with minimal scoring and a wealth of dialogue. There are no major issues to be heard and the track offers a pleasant listening experience. Subtitles are available in English SDH.
Special Features:
- BRAND NEW 2K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
- Original uncompressed Stereo audio English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Brand new audio commentary with director Richard Friedman, producer Dan Bacaner and film historian Robert Ehlinger
- Mansion of the Doomed: The Making of Scared Stiff – brand new documentary featuring interviews with Richard Friedman, Dan Bacaner, Robert Ehlinger, actors Andrew Stevens and Joshua Segal, special effects supervisor Tyler Smith and special effects assistants Jerry Macaluso and Barry Anderson
- Brand new interview with composer Billy Barber
- Image Gallery
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options
- First pressing only: Fully illustrated collector’s booklet with new writing on the film by James Oliver
Summary
Despite a lack of scares and serious humor, Scared Stiff does manage to maintain some interest due to the curiosity factor of wondering just what in the hell will happen next. Arrow Video, to their credit, has once again given a B-grade film the deluxe treatment, with great a/v quality and some worthy supplements.
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