The Mangler Blu-ray Review

Scream Factory's Blu-ray release of "The Mangler" displays a 2K remaster of the original camera negative, contrary to initial announcements of a 4K restoration. The film, encoded in an MPEG-4 AVC format on a BD-50 disc, retains its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, reflecting the theatrical presentation. The remaster is remarkable, presenting a digital transfer brimming with fine details amidst its dark and grainy aesthetic—perfectly encapsulating Stephen King's macabre world. The dark and murky visuals are effectively rendered, with no significant issues concerning digital artifacts or compression. Grain is consistently managed throughout, albeit with minor spikes in a few scenes. Color rendering—particularly the eerie neon blues and deep reds—stands out, highlighting various elements, from Robert Englund's prosthetics to visceral gore effects, all impeccably detailed.

The meticulous color timing and encoding, maintained at an average bitrate of 32,000 kbps, ensure skin tones are natural and consistent. This presentation allows small details, such as clothing texture and intimate facial features, to emerge with clarity. Although the black levels can occasionally appear murky in isolated instances, the overall transfer maintains a filmic quality that is both nostalgic and visually satisfying. Blood reds and primary colors pop brilliantly, while the iconic matte painting by Paul Lasaine deserves special mention for its restoration. Even minor smudges don't detract from the superb quality of this transfer. Overall, despite minor imperfections, "The Mangler" on Blu-ray delivers a visually impressive experience far surpassing earlier VHS and DVD renditions, making it a definitive upgrade for fans of 90s horror cinema.

Scream Factory delivers exemplary audio mixes for "The Mangler" Blu-ray with both DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo options, each supporting 24-bit depth. The 5.1 mix stands out, providing a rich, immersive experience that surpasses the 2.0 track in capturing the movie’s horror ambiance. The surround channels proficiently envelop the listener with realistic sounds of thudding machinery and eerie music, while dialogue remains crisp and clear. However, Ted Levine’s intentionally garbled speech may necessitate enabling the optional English SDH for clarity.

The film’s score evolves from a direct-to-video aesthetic to an engaging symphonic arrangement, enhancing the overall auditory experience. The low-end frequencies during the climactic machine confrontation are particularly impactful, making this a robust mix for a 90s low-budget horror film. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 track leverages robust surround effects, notably during intense scenes that combine screaming, mechanical smashing, and bone crunching—a testament to meticulous sound design. Conversely, the DTS-HD MA 2.0 track offers a nostalgic, retro feel akin to VHS tape audio but lacks the spatial depth and dynamism of its multidirectional counterpart.

In essence, while both audio options deliver decent performance for genre enthusiasts, the 5.1 mix unequivocally provides a superior auditory experience with fuller soundscapes and enhanced atmospheric tension.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Mangler" provide an engaging and insightful look into the making of this cult classic. The standout feature is the audio commentary with co-writer Stephen David Brooks, moderated by film critic Nathaniel Thompson, where fans can delve into behind-the-scenes trivia and production anecdotes, despite a few lulls in the discussion. Another highlight is the in-depth interview with star Robert Englund, who recalls his experiences and the challenges faced during production. The additional behind-the-scenes footage offers a fascinating glimpse into the film's creation process, supplemented by promotional materials like the theatrical trailer and TV spot. The Scream Factory has done a commendable job in compiling these features, making it a valuable addition for collectors and aficionados alike.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Co-writer Stephen David Brooks discusses production with Nathaniel Thompson.
• Hell's Bells – Interview with Robert Englund: Englund shares memories and insights.
• Behind-the-Scenes Footage: B-roll footage from the set.
• Theatrical Trailer: Short promotional trailer.
• TV Spot: TV advertisement clip.

"The Mangler," directed by Tobe Hooper, is a horror film adaptation of Stephen King's short story, notorious for its bizarre and overly ambitious storyline. Set in Rikers Valley, Maine, the film revolves around the Blue Ribbon Laundry, where a demonic laundry machine claims the lives of multiple workers. The movie features two horror heavyweights, Robert Englund and Ted Levine, in leading roles. Despite their efforts, the film's limited theatrical release and harsh critical reviews led to its commercial failure. Critics largely panned the film for its weak plot and overreliance on gore and early CGI effects, although some appreciated its sick humor and the dynamic performances of Levine and Matmor.

The narrative begins when an old worker at the Blue Ribbon Laundry is gruesomely killed by the industrial pressing machine known as "The Mangler." Detective John Hunton (Levine) is called to investigate but quickly encounters resistance from the company's corrupt owner, William Gartley (Englund), and his foremen. As the investigation unfolds, with help from his parapsychologist brother-in-law, Hunton discovers a hidden secret involving demonic possession and ancient rituals. Despite its intriguing premise, the film suffers from its overly convoluted third act, which introduces subplots and historical elements that are never fully developed.

"The Mangler" has its share of entertainingly absurd moments, including a possessed icebox and a climactic battle between man and machine. Englund's portrayal of the villainous Gartley is a highlight, showcasing his talent for over-the-top performances. However, the movie ultimately falls short due to its ambitious yet poorly executed plot. Although it may not be a standout in Hooper's filmography or King's adaptations, "The Mangler" offers a unique blend of horror and camp that entertains those who appreciate schlocky genre films.

"The Mangler" delivers a peculiar blend of horror and dark comedy that should not be taken too seriously, even though it was intended as a serious film. The premise itself is absurd, focusing on a possessed industrial laundry machine, but what elevates the cheesiness is the deadly serious acting throughout. Robert Englund's portrayal of a crippled, malevolent capitalist turns up the cheese factor to eleven, while Ted Levine plays a world-weary detective with an almost comical intensity. The result is a film that, despite its grim tone, evokes giggles and chuckles due to its bizarrely earnest performances. Additionally, the movie stands out for its gore, featuring plentiful amounts of fake blood and gruesome scenes that typify 1990s horror.

Scream Factory's Blu-ray release of "The Mangler" does the film justice with a meticulously done 2K remaster sourced from Warner Brothers, known for their exceptional restoration work. The new transfer breathes fresh life into the film, offering a visual and auditory upgrade that will make fans want to retire their old VHS tapes and DVDs. The aspect ratio is set at 1.85:1 with English DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0 audio options, providing a robust and enveloping sound experience. The extras included in this release might not be extensive but are substantial enough to make this edition stand out among previous releases, particularly compared to NSM Records' mediabooks.

In conclusion, "The Mangler" really shouldn’t be taken seriously, although it was meant to be a serious film. The premise is beyond absurd, but what really sells the cheesiness of it all is that everyone was DEADLY serious in their acting. Robert Englund cheesees it up to level 11 with his portrayal of a crippled, evil, Rockefeller-type capitalist, and Ted Levine as the tortured detective. You’d think that they would give a wink and nod at the camera, but things play out with a sort of comical seriousness that you can’t help but giggle and chuckle along with the bizarre film. The other saving grace is that the movie is really a gorefest for the 1990s productions. People get mangled, chopped, crushed, and more fake blood squirts around than water in the Potomac. All in all, this is an awful film that is almost awesome simply due to how incredibly over the top it is. Scream Factory has also given the film a nice 2K remaster (that was supposedly sourced from Warner Brothers, who does fantastic restoration work) and tossed in a few extras to make this release hit much higher than it should. Definitely worth it as a fun watch for cult horror fanatics.