This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray. The limited edition slipcover (designed by Earl Kessler Jr.) was limited to 6,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.
Ted Lonergan thought he had quit the force to pursue a career as a writer. But when someone - or something - begins stalking and viciously killing the residents of Los Angeles, Ted is asked to lend his expertise in uncovering the mystery assailant. However, things aren’t as simple as they appear, as Ted discovers that the predator he’s after is in fact a first of its kind, and a rapidly evolving genetically mutated organism known as the Syngenor. Enlisting the help of Sherry Carpenter, a scientist specializing in genetics, the unlikely duo start tracking the tedious mutant in the hope of destroying it before the body count continues to rise or even worse: before it breeds.
The first feature directed by acclaimed horror filmmaker William Malone (Creature), SCARED TO DEATH skillfully blends sci-fi and creature action with early slasher tropes all set against the grimy world of early 80s Los Angeles. Never given an official disc release and long relegated to muddy VHS copies, Vinegar Syndrome is thrilled to offer SCARED TO DEATH on Blu-ray in a beautiful new 4K restoration of its original 16mm camera negative, jam packed with newly produced extras!
directed by: William Malone
starring: John Stinson, Diana Davidson, David Moses, Toni Jannotta, Mike Muscat, Pamela Bowman
1980 / 97 min / 1.85:1 / English Mono
Additional info:
• 2-disc Region Free Blu-ray Set
• Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 16mm original camera negative
• Commentary track with writer/director William Malone, actor Bryce 'Kermit' Eller and actress Diana Davidson
• "Rise of the Syngenor" - a brand new making-of documentary featuring interviews with writer/director William Malone, actor Bryce 'Kermit' Eller, actress Diana Davidson, makeup supervisor James Suthers, effects artist Kevin Altieri, actor David Moses, actor Mike Muscat and actress Toni Jannotta
• "The Locations of Scared to Death" - a featurette revisiting the locations with William Malone
• Alternate cut and presentation of SCARED TO DEATH
• Dracula Party - Scared to Death (music video)
• Reversible sleeve artwork
• English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.1780105 / 5 from 191 reviews.
This limited edition slipcover for 'Scared to Death' features a 4K restoration with great transfer quality, impressive creature design, and a fantastic slipcover look. Special features and commentary tracks add to the overall enjoyment, though opinions on the film itself vary.
Review topics: [quality, design, looks, set, packaging, effort, sound, buy, resolution, movie, film, features, effects, creature, release, artwork, transfer, slipcover, monster, budget, flick, fun, slip, atmosphere, extras, plot, horror, deaths, slipcase, characters].
"Another solid grab Scared to Death with the great artwork on the slipcase. I love aLow-budget sci-fi horror about a genetic monster called a Syngenor stalking Los Angeles. Practical effects, glowing red eyes, screaming victims. Peak 80s B-movie entry. Cleaned-up audio, serviceable for a retro horror film."
"Fun film with beer and friends."
"There are many things in this movie that make little or no sense. But I love a creature feature and was charmed by this one’s low budget passion."
"Early 80s killer mutant. All cleaned up"
"I was interested in seeing this because it’s made by the same director as Creature, which is a movie I like. Creature was a rip-off of Alien, and this movie has a monster that’s kind of a mix between a xenomorph and the creature from the black lagoon - I guess Bill Mallone was a big Alien fan. However, the movie itself reminds me a lot more of C. H. U. D. , which came out after this. Like that movie, it involves killer creatures that live in the sewers, and features a scene of the heroes being chased through said sewers. I’d say this one is a bit better, though that’s not to say it’s amazing. It can be kind of slow, and the conclusion wasn’t all that great. It’s okay I guess. Creature is definitely better."
"Scared to Death is a solid monster movie given new life through the clarifying quality of blu-ray. The plot moves along smoothly, with several dramatic surprises. Mostly everything makes sense. Though the reason behind the hero's "breakdown" could have been fleshed out more. Alcoholism appears to be the problem. The cast uniformly lend credibility to the story. Several scenes use urban settings to their fullest to ratchet up the suspense. Particularly good and original: the skaters In the parking lot. Some of the acoustics in the hero's office identify a lower budget, but the creators behind the movie nine times out of ten employ their technical skills wisely. The creators designed a good looking monster. It's suitably vicious and exhibits some scary strength. A lot of these films lose energy and tack on a an unsatisfying ending. Not this one. The flick delivers a superb conclusion. Scared To Death is actually a two disc set. A bonus. I haven't yet looked at the director's cut of the film on disc two, only the theatrical cut struck in/from 4K."
"Happy to upgrade this. One of my long term favourites"
"Fun and worth checking out, if you’re into silly monster movies. I liked it!"
"If there is any distinguishing feature of William Mal one's directorial debut is that every charactermoves, reacts and speaks in such a lumbering manner that the actors might well be moving in a water tank filled with molasses. A typical monster on the loose film so loosely conceived that the creatures m. o. changes midstream from a roving slice and dicer to a killer using its victims as a refreshment stand. To say every performance is undistinguished is an understatement."
"What a truly bizarre 80s sci-fi creature feature flick, with elements of slasher troupes thrown in and a whole hell of a lot of fun entertainment packed into the mayhem! Transfer, as always, looks beautiful and once again, Vinegar Syndrome, knocks it out of the park!"
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