Salem’s Lot
Directed by: Tobe Hooper
Cast: David Soul, James Mason, Lance Kerwin
Cat’s Eye
Directed by: Lewis Teague
Cast: Drew Barrymore, James Woods, Robert Hays
It
Cast: Richard Thomas, Tim Reid, Annette O’Toole, Tim Curry
Reviewed by Brian M. Sammons
It’s a three-for-one review today because, come on, you already know these movies. These are three classics (30+ years – give or take – equals a classic, right?) from the King of horror. So even if you have never seen these movies (for shame), you should know of them. But did you know Warner Brothers was re-releasing them on Blu-ray? I sure didn’t, not until I got them in for review. So consider this a heads up on this trio of terror flicks. You already know if you like them and want them in new, spiffy-looking, better-than-ever Blu-rays. But just in case, on the offhand chance you don’t know these movies, I guess I can give you the nickel tour.
Cat’s Eye is the weakest of the bunch. It’s a three story anthology, two from preexisting Stephen King short stories and one new one done just for this. None of the tales are bad, per se, but they are uneven as stories and as parts of this collection. Two of the tales are almost dark crime dramas, while the third goes off in weird fantasy land, complete with a stinker of a goblin. The linking device between the tales is a cat, which only makes sense when the third and final story comes around. Still, these are good fun and very 80s, so while I can’t say that this movie is actually all that good, I can say that it’s enjoyable.
Sticking with uneven, let’s talk about It. Based off one of King’s biggest and best loved books, this made-for-TV miniseries is as 50-50 as you can get. The first half, focusing on young kids combating a monster that can take any nightmarish shape but often appears in the guise of a killer clown, is pretty damn good with some truly spooky moments. The second half, about those same kids now all grown up returning to battle the monster one more time, is pretty damn bad with phoned-in performances by all, and none of the spooky from the first half. Oh, and don’t get me started on the ending. SPOILER! Both the spider thing, and the magic bike ride. But I digress. They are remaking this movie for the big screen, but before that happens, give this one a watch if you haven’t before. It is well worth the price of admission alone just to see Tim Curry as the killer clown, Pennywise. Even when the rest of the movie fails around him at times, he always shines.
Easily the best of the three is Salem’s Lot, another made-for-TV miniseries, but this time it’s vampires (and not Lovecraftian clowns) as the threat. It is also well directed by Tobe “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” Hooper and well-acted by the likes of David Soul, James Mason, Lance Kerwin, Bonnie Bedelia and a bunch more “hey I know them” actors from the 70s. In addition to being well done, this movie has some of the most truly terrifying moments in vampire cinema. Who can ever forget the little boy floating in the fog, scratching on the window, wanting to come in? Or when Majorie Glick “wakes up” and starts calling out for her boys? Or the first time The Master is shown? On and on I can go, but if you haven’t seen Salem’s Lot yet, then make that a top priority, as it really is that good.
As for the extras on these new Blu-rays from Warner Bros. Well, there are some here, but they are ports from the previous DVD editions. Nothing new has been done for these movies, except giving them the HD treatment, and even that isn’t all that remarkable. Sure, the colors are bright and vibrant and the blacks are dark and rich, but there still a lot of grain on the screen. Now honestly, I don’t mind all that much, as it reminds me that these were shot on actual film, and I like that. Also, the two TV movies, Salem’s Lot and It, are still formatted for old televisions. That is, they’re presented here in a box, with black bars to the right and left of the picture, and I am not such a fan of that. But as for those extras, all three movies have director’s commentaries. So yay for that.
If you already have these movies on DVD, you’ll have to ask yourself if the slightly improved picture is worth it to double dip. On the other hand, if you have yet to get any of these movies on disc, then yes, these are the versions to get. So consider them all a conditional recommendation.
