Night Tide Blu-ray Review

Kino-Lorber's release of "Night Tide" on 1080p/AVC-encoded Blu-ray, sourced from the film’s 2007 restoration by the Academy Film Archive with support from The Film Foundation, showcases a praiseworthy endeavor in film preservation and presentation. Despite minor flaws such as occasional white specks, a few scratches, and slight jitteriness attributed to its age and the conditions of the original 35mm print, the video quality remains impressive. The transfer retains the film's natural grain structure without succumbing to digital noise reduction or other forms of digital manipulation. This ensures that the film’s original aesthetic and texture are preserved, maintaining a clear, detailed image that enhances the black and white cinematography's atmospheric tone. The contrast levels are commendably handled, with inky blacks and appropriate whites adding depth to the night sequences and midday scenes alike, ensuring that no detail is lost in shadows or highlights.

Grain visibility varies throughout the film, which, rather than distracting, adds to the authenticity and period feel, acknowledging its low-budget origins from over half a century ago. Some scenes may display a soft focus or slight blur, raising questions about intentional artistic choices versus limitations of the source material. Nevertheless, these instances do not detract significantly from the overall viewing experience. This release excels in bringing out fine details, whether in the nuanced expressions of the young actors or the intricate backdrops of Harrington's meticulously presented scenes. The restoration work, despite revealing some inherent artifacts and blemishes of the film's original production, broadly showcases an astute balance between cleaning up and preserving the film’s genuine character.

Kino-Lorber’s edition of "Night Tide" stands as a laudable achievement in video presentation for home media, leveraging meticulous restoration to breathe new life into this cinematic piece without erasing its historical textures and original filmmaking charms. Viewers are treated to a visual experience that is both authentic to its era and appealing to contemporary sensibilities, making it as much a joy for first-time viewers as it is for those revisiting this evocative piece of cinema history.

Kino Lorber's audio presentation of "Night Tide" on 4K UHD Blu-ray employs an uncompressed Linear PCM 2.0 mono track that aligns closely with the original source material, offering viewers an authentic auditory experience. Despite its adherence to fidelity, there are minor issues such as a soft muffling in dialogue and a slight harshness in the high frequencies during musical sequences and sound effects. However, these minor flaws do not detract from the overall audio quality. The atmosphere created by the sound design—capturing the essence of lapping waves, the cries of seabirds, and the bluster of wind—remains impressively evocative. David Raksin's haunting score, led predominantly by an oboe, despite occasional crackles in the higher registers, is presented with clarity and dynamism, significantly enhancing the film's eerie ambiance.

The LPCM 2.0 soundtrack offers a balanced and dynamic audio experience that manages to clearly deliver dialogue and integrate atmospheric sounds and music without overwhelming any single element. This suggests a recording approach that relied heavily on original on-set audio capture, with minimal post-production mixing, preserving the film's authentic aura. Notwithstanding its excellence, listeners may occasionally encounter hissing and scratching noises, alongside minor pitch issues, which while noticeable, do not severely impair the listening experience. These artifacts are emblematic of the film's age and production conditions but are overlooked in light of the soundtrack's overall quality.

In essence, the LPCM 2.0 mix succeeds in creating a cohesive auditory experience for "Night Tide," adequately compensating for its technical imperfections with a well-balanced and immersive soundscape. The decision to stick closely to the source material pays off by ensuring that dialogues remain intelligible and that the sound effects and score effectively contribute to the film's atmospheric qualities, making for a satisfactory audio presentation despite the absence of subtitle options—an area ripe for improvement in future releases.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray extra features of "Night Tide" present a fascinating blend of nostalgic reminiscences and insightful commentary that is sure to appeal to fans and cinephiles alike. Both sets of audio commentaries, featuring Dennis Hopper and director Curtis Harrington, offer a deep dive into the film’s making, from budgetary constraints to intriguing on-set anecdotes. Harrington's interviews in both HD and SD provide a thorough look at his career trajectory, focusing on his early works, including "Night Tide," and offering insights into his interests in the horror genre. The trailers included give a glimpse of the era’s cinematic landscape. Overall, these extras not only enrich the viewing experience but also serve as a valuable archive on the film's history and production dynamics.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: A rich dialogue between Dennis Hopper and Curtis Harrington, discussing various aspects of the film's production.
• Curtis Harrington Interviews (Program 1): An in-depth look at Harrington's early career with emphasis on "Night Tide."
• Curtis Harrington Interviews (Program 2): Further exploration of Harrington’s work, focusing on "Games" and his attempt to create a vehicle for Marlena Dietrich.
• Trailers for Night Tide, The Stranger, and White Zombie: A collection showcasing the promotional approach for these classic films.

Curtis Harrington's "Night Tide," now presented in a 4K UHD Blu-ray, embodies a transitionary period for the director, blending his avant-garde roots with the eerie enchantments of the horror genre. The film, leveraging a modest budget of approximately $50,000 thanks to the support of Roger Corman post-completion, resonates with both historical cinematic movements and Harrington’s distinct narrative style. This 1961 thriller stars a young Dennis Hopper as Johnny Drake, a sailor drawn into a mysterious and possibly supernatural romance with Mora (Linda Lawson), a woman who performs as a mermaid in a sideshow act, blurring the lines between reality and myth in the foggy backdrop of the Venice Boardwalk.

"Night Tide" defies simple genre classification, oscillating between psychological thriller and romantic mystery, underpinned by hauntingly dreamlike imagery and performances that move with a subdued intensity. The film's engagement with themes of isolation, otherness, and the nebulous boundaries between human and mythological identities leverages its B-movie aesthetics to explore deeper existential quandaries. Harrington's directorial approach, informed by his extensive background in experimental cinema and his poignant narrative leanings, crafts a film environment where every frame suggests more beneath its surface. The chemistry between Hopper and Lawson adds layers to this enigma, with their relationship serving as both the anchor and the sail through the film's undulating narrative seas.

Harrington's work on "Night Tide" stands as a testament to his capability to weave complex themes within the constraints of genre and budget limitations. The film showcases his skill in creating an atmospheric piece that resonates with eerie beauty and unsettling questions about identity, love, and the lure of the unknown. Despite its indie movie lineage and B-movie trappings, "Night Tide" emerges as a memorable piece of cinematic artistry, a merging of Harrington's avant-garde sensibilities with mainstream filmmaking that both captivates and challenges its audience.

Curtis Harrington's "Night Tide," a somewhat underappreciated gem in the canon of independent 1960s horror, offers a unique blend of mystery, B-movie charm, and an aesthetic reminiscent of the French New Wave. Starring a pre-Easy Rider Dennis Hopper in a role that showcases a different, more tender side of the actor, the film stands out not just for its performances but for its palpable atmosphere—a concoction of boardwalk nostalgia, jazz tunes, and a dash of magical realism that truly sets it apart. Kino-Lorber’s 4K UHD Blu-ray release enhances this experience significantly, presenting the film in the best quality seen to date. The inclusion of thoughtful audio commentary by Harrington and Hopper, alongside extended interviews with Harrington, make this edition a valuable piece for both new audiences and longtime fans seeking deeper insights into the film’s creation.

This release is enriched by several key extras, including two episodes of "Sinister Images" where Harrington discusses both "Night Tide" and his subsequent career, offering viewers a comprehensive look at the filmmaker's legacy. The enjoyable commentary track, featuring both Harrington and Hopper, provides additional layers to the movie's understanding and enjoyment, particularly for aficionados familiar with its nuances. Furthermore, the package is rounded out with a theatrical trailer and trailers for other Kino BD releases, enhancing its appeal as a collector’s item.

In conclusion, this 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of "Night Tide" not only revitalizes an often-overlooked piece of cinematic history but also serves as a testament to the enduring legacies of Curtis Harrington and Dennis Hopper. Its superior visual and audio restoration, coupled with a well-curated selection of special features, makes it a commendable addition to any film enthusiast's collection. Whether for its historical significance in independent filmmaking or its atmospheric and stylistic innovations, this release comes highly recommended, capturing the spirit and creativity that define a bygone era of cinema.