TREMORS, ARMY OF DARKNESS, BEASTMASTER Headed to 4K UHD

[AndyDursin]

Good times ahead for 4K owners, Arrow doing TREMORS and Shout producing their own ARMY OF DARKNESS.

[Monterey Jack]

Now, if we could just get a spruced-up 4K Darkman...

[AndyDursin]

Cult following's not nearly as strong with that one, but you are right, certainly a remaster would be nice to see. Blu-Ray would be fine too, that master is ages old. Same deal as TREMORS.

[Monterey Jack]

Neeson has a MUCH bigger profile these days as an action star, plus with the glut of superhero movies, Darkman would be a great title to re-visit with a much improved transfer. I remember showing that to my nephew a few years back, and he was like, "There was a superhero movie with Liam Neeson?! We're totally watching this...!"

Just a shame the footage that Universal insisted be cut from the film (mainly a lot of crazy "Inside the mind of Peyton Westlake" stuff) has supposedly been lost over the last 30 years.

[AndyDursin]

Neeson definitely has a higher profile but it's funny, DARKMAN really has never become a bona-fide cult movie. It is what it always was -- a decent little Universal summer of '90 sleeper that netted a few good reviews and did OK business, but even with Raimi having directed it, that's kind of been it. I always liked it, but it's superficially drawn and never really has compelled me to revisit it all that often (always liked Elfman's score though from that Golden era of his).

TREMORS has a much larger fan base (they still make made for video sequels -- even now!) and so does ARMY, obviously. But I hope they can give DARKMAN a fresh scan at some point, even if it's Blu-Ray only, that master is in serious need of improvement!

[AndyDursin]

Wow, 'tis the weekend for genre faves in 4K UHD -- BEASTMASTER (still not on Blu in the U.S.!) was a surprise announcement from Vinegar Syndrome late today also!

I'm not a big fan of this the way some folks are, but I'll bite. I bought their 4K UHD of RAD (1986) and it goes for $100-$200 already on the secondary market, and apparently isn't ever going to be repressed.

https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collections ... eastmaster

[AndyDursin]

Notes on the restoration (this is also coming to Blu-Ray also):

For the first VSU release, we’re unleashing the worldwide UHD and North American Blu-ray debut of acclaimed genre filmmaker Don Coscarelli’s 1982 supernatural/fantasy/action blockbuster, THE BEASTMASTER, presented in a brand new 4K restoration, along with an exclusive, multi-part, feature length making-of documentary, 40 page bound book, and a stunning new case designed by Earl Kess.

Quote from director Don Coscarelli:
I am happy to report that Vinegar Syndrome has embarked on a meticulous restoration of my film The Beastmaster that it has always deserved. Vinegar Syndrome has done commendable legwork and tracked down a pristine printing element, a high quality Interpositive, in the Warner Bros. vaults. VS has also assembled a plethora of fascinating new supplemental materials that I cannot wait to share with fans. I am so excited that finally The Beastmaster will be released on 4k Ultra HD and Blu-ray in North America.

Directed by legendary genre filmmaker Don Coscarelli (Phantasm, Bubba Ho-Tep) and co-starring Tanya Roberts (Sheena), John Amos (Coming to America), and Rod Loomis (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure), THE BEASTMASTER is a thrilling mix of fantasy, action, and adventure, with touches of horror. Photographed by Academy Award winning cinematographer John Alcott (Barry Lyndon, A Clockwork Orange) and featuring incredible production design by Conrad Angone, Vinegar Syndrome Ultra brings THE BEASTMASTER to UHD and Blu-ray in a brand new 4K restoration!

Directed by: Don Coscarelli
Starring: Marc Singer, Rip Torn, Tanya Roberts, John Amos, Rod Loomis
1982 / 118 min / 1.85:1 / English 5.1

Additional info:
• Region Free 4k Ultra HD / Blu-ray combo
• Newly scanned & restored in 4k from its 35mm interpositive
• 4k UHD presented in HDR
• Limited edition VSU magnet clasp hard case containing a Slipcover and a 40-page bound book
• Newly produced multi-part feature length making-of documentary
• Select extras ported over from previous DVD releases
• Additional extras to be announced
• Reversible Blu-ray sleeve cover artwork
• English SDH subtitles

And don’t forget! By pre-ordering these now, your package will be first to ship (after our subscribers) following our Black Friday sale: November 27th - November 30th!

[Monterey Jack]

I watched Beastmaster for the first time recently on Amazon Prime, and while it's an enjoyably cheesy time capsule of the sword & sorcery 80's (with a nice Lee Holdridge score), I wouldn't spend $40 or $50 dollars on it.

[AndyDursin]

Craziest thing is the one genre movie from that same summer nobody ever talks about anymore -- THE SWORD AND THE SORCERER -- basically grossed the exact same U.S. amount as CONAN, and it's never been released on Blu-Ray either.

I don't love BEASTMASTER but I'll bite for $36, watch it once or twice, then sell it off with the slip for 5X the price in a few years lol. It'd be nice to see it in a genuinely good transfer also, which I never have. I bought a couple of the European/Australian Blu-Rays and the transfer sucked, which is undoubtedly why it took so long for this to show up here.

[Monterey Jack]

I don't love BEASTMASTER but I'll bite for $36, watch it once or twice, then sell it off with the slip for 5X the price in a few years lol.

You won't get 5x the price unless it's sealed and mint.

[AndyDursin]

Usually you'd be right, but if it has the slip, you might in this case. Vinegar Syndrome seems to attract a following for whatever reason and their limited runs are actually limited. Plus BEASTMASTER is one of the biggest cult films of the 1980s.

My guess is they will do a larger run than RAD but if they don't, this will be a very healthy seller. Either way, I like it enough to want to check the 4K out.

Good job by them, Shout, Arrow, and Kino for bringing us some 4K UHD catalog titles. Hopefully they sell!

[John Johnson]

With Beastmaster also Region Free, this will make it more attractive to buyers outside the US.