Second Sight Films (UK)

[Finch]

This was one of my fastest preorders ever from Orbit.

[brundlefly]

They couldn't get Angela Bettis to participate in this edition, but they could get Rian Johnson?

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Does anyone if this is a new scan or restoration? I'd imagine something was done since it's got a new interview with Yedlin.

[Finch]

It makes no mention of a new scan in the specs.

[M Sanderson]

I had the German blu ray of May and it was clearly something like 720p or 1080i - not quite genuine HD. Surely SS will do better than that.

[AxeYou]

The essays on Martin were so good that I caved in and ordered the LE of Texas Chainsaw from Grindhouse (Orbit is no longer taking pre-orders).

Finch, would you say a non-horror fan would also find Martin and the essays worthwhile? I’m debating whether to finally cave in and order a copy before the LE runs out everywhere.

It’s been a while since I watched Romero’s other films. IIRC I did like Night of the Living Dead for its intense focus on the various conflict among the survivors, but Dawn didn’t land as well for me, perhaps because I found it too comical.

Similarly for The Changeling and May: Much appreciated if anyone could offer some perspectives on these films. I’m interested in sampling the “classics” of the genre, but will likely pass on deeper cuts.

Thanks in advance!

[Finch]

FWIW, I never warmed to Dawn either and preferred Night. Martin is probably my favorite Romero though. It's an atypical vampire movie so a non horror fan like you might enjoy it even more.

[ianthemovie]

Similarly for The Changeling and May: Much appreciated if anyone could offer some perspectives on these films. I’m interested in sampling the “classics” of the genre, but will likely pass on deeper cuts.

I'd say The Changeling certainly qualifies as a minor horror classic. It is atmospheric, eerie, and well-acted, and contains at least one highly effective and memorable shock moment which should not be spoiled. The latter part of the movie falls apart a bit which I found disappointing. Tonally I might compare it to something like Don't Look Now, if that helps, though personally I think Don't Look Now is much more successful at working in this mode.

I'm not the biggest fan of Martin but I can appreciate its importance as a key "modern horror" film. While it is very much a vampire-killer movie, it is arguably just as interesting (if not more interesting) as a gritty 70s-urban-life movie, or as a portrait of troubled adolescence. It's less jokey than Dawn of the Dead, more character-driven, and considerably moodier.

I watched the first third or so of May some years ago and never finished it, though I do recall enjoying what I saw. As a sympathetic but disturbing study of a lonely and mentally unstable young woman it reminded me a bit of Repulsion.

All three of these are worth watching at least once if you're interested in horror cinema. I might preview them before springing for a lavish special edition UHD though.

[therewillbeblus]

We have an entire thread dedicated to May. Here are my thoughts (Spoiler: I love it)

[AxeYou]

Thanks, Finch, Ian, and twbb! I’ve already picked up Martin LE on Finch’s recommendation. The Changeling and May definitely sound interesting enough to warrant a watch, but perhaps not exactly my cup of tea. I doubt I’ll devour the booklets on those two, so I’ll go the SE route at some point.

[What A Disgrace]

It Follows, August 28

Special Features

Dual format edition including both UHD and Blu-ray with main feature and bonus features on both discs
Second Sight Films 4K master produced in conjunction with the original post production facility
Approved by Director David Robert Mitchell
UHD presented in Dolby Vision HDR
New Dolby Atmos audio track produced by Second Sight Films
New audio commentary by Joshua Grimm
Audio commentary by Danny Leigh and Mark Jancovich
Chasing Ghosts: a new interview with Actor Keir Gilchrist
Following: a new interview with Actor Olivia Luccardi
It's in the House: an interview with Producer David Kaplan
Composing a Masterpiece: an interview with Composer Rich Vreeland
A Girl's World: an interview with Production Designer Michael Perry
It Follows - The Architecture of Loneliness: a video essay by Joseph Wallace
Limited Edition Contents

Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Thinh Dinh
150 page book with new essays by ​​Anne Billson, Martyn Conterio, Kat Ellinger, Eugenio Ercolani, Matt Glasby, Kat Hughes, Jennie Kermode and Katie Rife
6 collectors' art cards

Crimes of the Future, also August 28
Special Features

Dual format edition including both UHD and Blu-ray with main feature and bonus features on both discs
UHD presented in Dolby Vision HDR
New audio commentary by Caelum Vatnsdal
Undeniably a Love Story: an interview with Director David Cronenberg
Things Change: an interview with Actor Viggo Mortensen
The Chaos Inside: an interview with Actor Léa Seydoux
The Heat and the Grime: an interview with Actor Kristen Stewart
The Bureau Man: a new interview with Actor Don McKellar
Painkiller: a new interview with Producer Robert Lantos
The Most Wonderful Dream: a new interview with Cinematographer Douglas Koch
The Code of David: an interview with Editor Christopher Donaldson
New Flesh, Future Crimes: The Body and David Cronenberg - a video essay by Leigh Singer
The Making of Crimes of the Future
Production Design Materials
Short film: The Death of David Cronenberg
Limited Edition Contents

Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Marko Manev
120 page book with new essays by ​​Reyna Cervantes, Tim Coleman, Joel Harley, Rich Johnson, Mikel J Koven, Phil Nobile Jr, Ian Schultz and Hannah Strong
6 collectors' art cards

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Crimes of the Future at last! I'm really happy with both releases actually. I'm pretty surprised there's no interview with Mitchell tho.

[mhofmann]

Unfortunately, I find the transfer used for the recent Frontier(s) release to be a major disaster.
Given Second Sight's otherwise very good reputation - Picnic at Hanging Rock aside - quite disappointing.
Screencaps here.

[Finch]

The transfer for May is not new but I found it quite watchable (encoded by Fidelity). I liked the essays in the booklet and all the interviews on disc are new and good. I had no idea that Rian Johnson was the editor and Steve Yedlin the cinematographer! I'd like to think that they tried to interview Battis and she just wasn't available in time.

[yoloswegmaster]

Second Sight have announced that they will be releasing their own 4K UHD of Possession from a new restoration supervised by camera operator Andrzej J. Jaroszewicz and Daniel Bird based on grading notes by Zulawski.

[What A Disgrace]

Hardly a huge surprise, but definitely a welcome upgrade, especially since the lettering on my otherwise lovely Mondo Vision box gas started to fade.

[therewillbeblus]

Awesome, I've been waiting for this one!

[black&huge]

The transfer for May is not new but I found it quite watchable (encoded by Fidelity). I liked the essays in the booklet and all the interviews on disc are new and good. I had no idea that Rian Johnson was the editor and Steve Yedlin the cinematographer! I'd like to think that they tried to interview Battis and she just wasn't available in time.

Does anyone know why this never got a restoration? do the original elements no longer exist? weird rights issue?

[Finch]

They also mentioned on their Facebook feed that they're done with their restoration of The Hitcher but they can't release it until early 2024 "Due to the agreement with a third party that allowed us access to the original negative certain conditions needed to be met. This included approval of release date. This is currently looking like it will be February at the earliest."

[swo17]

I just noticed Martin and Dawn of the Dead have vanished from SS's website

[therewillbeblus]

I just noticed Martin and Dawn of the Dead have vanished from SS's website

They’re both showing up for me. Maybe you identified or were logged in as a U.S. customer and they’re not showing up since they won’t ship to you?

[sabbath]

I just noticed Martin and Dawn of the Dead have vanished from SS's website

Dawn of the Dead Standard Blu-ray
Dawn of the Dead Standard 4K UHD
Martin Limited 4K UHD & Blu-ray
Martin Standard Blu-ray
Martin Standard 4K UHD

[swo17]

Huh, I swear I used to see them there and not even navigating to those links works now for me, whether I'm logged in or not. I know they only have UK rights. I thought perhaps the licenses had run out but it sounds like that's not the case

[therewillbeblus]

Maybe try incognito?

[swo17]

That did make them visible again