As
a lifelong fan of horror movies I think back to the days of my misspent
youth- a time where I spent every Saturday evening glued to the television
watching Chiller Theater, which would broadcast a nice array of lurid
horror flicks. Of the movies that I watched on Chiller Theater, there is
one that has always stuck out in my mind, even some thirty odd years after
first seeing it. That unforgettable movie is the exploitative genre
classic- HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM ($20). As for the reason that
I’ve had such vivid memories of HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM has
everything to do with the film’s grisly opening sequence that involves a
beautiful young woman that receives a package from an unknown admirer.
Upon opening the package, she discovers a seemingly innocuous pair of
binoculars, which she eagerly tries out. What followed was forever burned
into my memory, as two spring loaded metal spikes shot out the binocular
eyepieces- through the young woman’s eyeballs and into her brain, thusly
killing her.
Of
course, HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM being a movie from 1959, all of
the graphic violence happened off screen. However, for years after seeing
the film, I could swear I saw the metal spikes puncturing that unfortunate
victim’s eyes. The rest of HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM focuses on
a continuing series of grisly murders that have left Scotland Yard
completely baffled. Horror writer Edmond Bancroft (Michael Gough) is
having a field day exploiting the crimes in newspaper column, as well as
mocking the authorities for their inability to capture the culprit.
However, we quickly learn that not everything is what it seems with the
noted author. Bancroft’s obsession with horror and murder extends to a
"Black Museum" of weapons and torture devices hidden away in the
depths of his estate. To say any more about the plot of HORRORS OF THE
BLACK MUSEUM would give away the films remaining shocking and
exploitive surprises. The cast of HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM also
features June Cunningham, Graham Curnow, Shirley Anne Field, Geoffrey
Keen, Gerald Anderson, John Warwick, Beatrice Varley and Austin Trevor.
VCI
Entertainment has made HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM available on DVD
in a 2.35:1 wide screen presentation that has been enhanced for 16:9
displays. I have to give credit to VCI for doing a remarkably good job of
transcribing this independently produced exploitation horror classic to
DVD. The film element used for the transfer is in very good shape,
displaying few blemishes or other signs of age related damage. Image
quality isn’t quite as good as a major studio "A" picture from
the same period, but HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM holds its own.
Now, if one were to compare HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM to a major
studio picture, the image would seem ever so slightly soft. That aside, I
found the picture to be generally well defined, without the mushy quality
that some original Eastmancolor elements from the same period exhibit.
Colors generally appear well saturated, with a decidedly Eastmancolor
palette, and the movie blood is rendered in quite the vibrant fashion.
Blacks are pretty accurate, as are the whites. Contrast is good and the
level of shadow detail ranges from decent to purposely muddy. Digital
compression artifacts are never a cause for concern.
HORRORS
OF THE BLACK MUSEUM comes with a perfectly serviceable Dolby Digital
monaural soundtrack that gets the job done. The mastering process has
stripped away the most glaring signs of age, leaving the track reasonably
crisp and distortion free. Dialogue is always completely understandable,
although occasionally, an errant voice will sound as though it were coming
from the bottom of a well. As expected, fidelity is a bit truncated, but
Gérard Schurmann’s musical score comes across in an effective manner. A
French language track is also encoded onto the DVD, although no subtitles
are provided.
3D
animation and sound serve to enhance the DVD’s interactive menus.
Through the menus, one has access to the standard scene selection and set
up features, as well as the DVD’s supplements. HORRORS OF THE BLACK
MUSEUM includes two running audio commentary tracks; the first is with
producer Herman Cohen (originally from the Roan Group Laserdisc), while
the second features composer Gerard Schurmann and film critic David Del
Valle. Both commentaries are interesting, although Cohen’s talk can be a
bit sparse at times. However, fans of this particular movie will find both
tracks highly rewarding. Video Tribute to Producer Herman Cohen
is a twenty minute program narrated by Cohen’s personal friend and
business associate Didier Chatelain that traces the late producer’s life
and career. The film’s original Hypno-Vista precredit sequence is also
include on the DVD, along with American and European theatrical trailers.
A phone interview with Herman Cohen, cast & crew filmographies, still
gallery and bonus trailers close out the supplemental content.
HORRORS
OF THE BLACK MUSEUM is an exploitation horror classic and a personal
favorite from my youth that I am glad to have on DVD. VCI has done a great
job with the DVD, offering a solid presentation and a strong supplemental
section. If you are a horror fan, then this DVD is a must have for your
own little black museum.
As
a lifelong fan of horror movies I think back to the days of my misspent
youth- a time where I spent every Saturday evening glued to the television
watching Chiller Theater, which would broadcast a nice array of lurid
horror flicks. Of the movies that I watched on Chiller Theater, there is
one that has always stuck out in my mind, even some thirty odd years after
first seeing it. That unforgettable movie is the exploitative genre
classic- HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM ($20). As for the reason that
I’ve had such vivid memories of HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM has
everything to do with the film’s grisly opening sequence that involves a
beautiful young woman that receives a package from an unknown admirer.
Upon opening the package, she discovers a seemingly innocuous pair of
binoculars, which she eagerly tries out. What followed was forever burned
into my memory, as two spring loaded metal spikes shot out the binocular
eyepieces- through the young woman’s eyeballs and into her brain, thusly
killing her.
Of
course, HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM being a movie from 1959, all of
the graphic violence happened off screen. However, for years after seeing
the film, I could swear I saw the metal spikes puncturing that unfortunate
victim’s eyes. The rest of HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM focuses on
a continuing series of grisly murders that have left Scotland Yard
completely baffled. Horror writer Edmond Bancroft (Michael Gough) is
having a field day exploiting the crimes in newspaper column, as well as
mocking the authorities for their inability to capture the culprit.
However, we quickly learn that not everything is what it seems with the
noted author. Bancroft’s obsession with horror and murder extends to a
"Black Museum" of weapons and torture devices hidden away in the
depths of his estate. To say any more about the plot of HORRORS OF THE
BLACK MUSEUM would give away the films remaining shocking and
exploitive surprises. The cast of HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM also
features June Cunningham, Graham Curnow, Shirley Anne Field, Geoffrey
Keen, Gerald Anderson, John Warwick, Beatrice Varley and Austin Trevor.
VCI
Entertainment has made HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM available on DVD
in a 2.35:1 wide screen presentation that has been enhanced for 16:9
displays. I have to give credit to VCI for doing a remarkably good job of
transcribing this independently produced exploitation horror classic to
DVD. The film element used for the transfer is in very good shape,
displaying few blemishes or other signs of age related damage. Image
quality isn’t quite as good as a major studio "A" picture from
the same period, but HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM holds its own.
Now, if one were to compare HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM to a major
studio picture, the image would seem ever so slightly soft. That aside, I
found the picture to be generally well defined, without the mushy quality
that some original Eastmancolor elements from the same period exhibit.
Colors generally appear well saturated, with a decidedly Eastmancolor
palette, and the movie blood is rendered in quite the vibrant fashion.
Blacks are pretty accurate, as are the whites. Contrast is good and the
level of shadow detail ranges from decent to purposely muddy. Digital
compression artifacts are never a cause for concern.
HORRORS
OF THE BLACK MUSEUM comes with a perfectly serviceable Dolby Digital
monaural soundtrack that gets the job done. The mastering process has
stripped away the most glaring signs of age, leaving the track reasonably
crisp and distortion free. Dialogue is always completely understandable,
although occasionally, an errant voice will sound as though it were coming
from the bottom of a well. As expected, fidelity is a bit truncated, but
Gérard Schurmann’s musical score comes across in an effective manner. A
French language track is also encoded onto the DVD, although no subtitles
are provided.
3D
animation and sound serve to enhance the DVD’s interactive menus.
Through the menus, one has access to the standard scene selection and set
up features, as well as the DVD’s supplements. HORRORS OF THE BLACK
MUSEUM includes two running audio commentary tracks; the first is with
producer Herman Cohen (originally from the Roan Group Laserdisc), while
the second features composer Gerard Schurmann and film critic David Del
Valle. Both commentaries are interesting, although Cohen’s talk can be a
bit sparse at times. However, fans of this particular movie will find both
tracks highly rewarding. Video Tribute to Producer Herman Cohen
is a twenty minute program narrated by Cohen’s personal friend and
business associate Didier Chatelain that traces the late producer’s life
and career. The film’s original Hypno-Vista precredit sequence is also
include on the DVD, along with American and European theatrical trailers.
A phone interview with Herman Cohen, cast & crew filmographies, still
gallery and bonus trailers close out the supplemental content.
HORRORS
OF THE BLACK MUSEUM is an exploitation horror classic and a personal
favorite from my youth that I am glad to have on DVD. VCI has done a great
job with the DVD, offering a solid presentation and a strong supplemental
section. If you are a horror fan, then this DVD is a must have for your
own little black museum.
