It! The Terror from Beyond Space Blu-ray Review
2K Restoration
Score: 71
from 3 reviewers
Review Date:
Kino Lorber's Blu-ray of It! The Terror From Beyond Space preserves this influential sci-fi classic with a stunning 2K master and engaging bonus features.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 79
Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release of 'It! The Terror From Beyond Space' delivers an impressive 1080p transfer from a new 2K master, offering a clean and crisp visual experience with well-preserved grain and strong grayscale. While minor flaws persist, the overall presentation significantly enhances depth and facial definition, ensuring a superior viewing experience.
Audio: 62
The Blu-ray's audio presentation features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track, offering clear dialogue and robust sound effects despite a noticeable flatness and imprecise mid-range in places. Perfectly suitable for capturing the atmospheric growls and sci-fi gadgetry, it remains free from dropouts or distortions.
Extra: 77
The impressive Blu-Ray bonus features for 'It! The Terror from Beyond Space' include three insightful audio commentaries from noted historians, with Tom Weaver's track standing out, alongside Craig Beam's engaging tidbit exploration of 1950s sci-fi horror, capped with a vintage trailer and expansive trailer gallery.
Movie: 63
It! The Terror From Beyond Space, with its pioneering narrative of isolation and fear in a confined space, is a seminal influence on countless sci-fi horror films like Alien, despite its dated creature effects. This Kino Lorber Blu-ray release honors its legacy with insightful audio commentaries and engaging supplements.
Video: 79
It! The Terror From Beyond Space" makes a visually compelling return to Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber, boasting a 1080p transfer with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded via MPEG-4 AVC. Sourced from a commendable new 2K scan of the 35mm fine grain master, this release significantly surpasses previous efforts. While a few minor blemishes and density fluctuations remain, the overall presentation is crisp and deeply immersive. Notably, facial definitions and space uniforms are sharply rendered with well-preserved grain structure, offering viewers a refined visual experience. The grayscale rendition is particularly convincing, providing substantial depth and density throughout.
The restoration work strikes an excellent balance between preserving the original film's qualities and enhancing its presentation for modern viewing. The nature of the improved scan eradicates prior processing artifacts like edge enhancement, fostering an organic appearance. Despite the occasional soft shot and some speckling, the overall feel is authentic and fresh. Shadows and black levels, vital given the film’s thematic reliance on low-light scenes, are adeptly managed, though blacks could achieve deeper richness. The film’s iconic visual effects sequences retain their vintage charm yet appear somewhat rough in comparison to the cleaner footage.
Overall, this Blu-ray release offers aficionados a substantially refined and nostalgic revisit to this classic sci-fi thriller. It skillfully enhances the visual narrative while respecting the film’s intrinsic qualities, rendering it a worthwhile acquisition for fans and collectors alike. Players must support Region A or be region-free to handle this disc effectively, underscoring the technical precision expected in home cinema setups wishing to explore or revisit "It! The Terror From Beyond Space.
Audio: 62
The audio presentation of "It! The Terror from Beyond Space" on Blu-ray comes with a single English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track that offers a generally clear and engaging listening experience, complete with optional English SDH subtitles. While the dialogue is distinctly audible and maintains clarity, certain sections exhibit a slight flatness and an unexplained shift in audio dynamics that, although not distracting, may be noticeable to discerning listeners. Despite its age, the track delivers a commendable dynamic intensity consistent with late 1950s cinema, free from dropouts or distortions.
The DTS-HD 2.0 mix, albeit on the puffier side, supports the narrative effectively. Dialogue occasionally reveals a hoarse quality, and the musical score sometimes smears into a less defined mid-range. Nonetheless, the mix remains free of static or popping, ensuring audibility across all scenes. The track successfully captures the creature's resonant growls and howls, contributing to the film's mood and atmosphere. Furthermore, the sound effects complementing the spaceship's operations enrich the soundscape with sci-fi elements like gadget sounds and the monster's forceful interactions with metallic barriers.
In conclusion, while the audio track isn't flawless and shows minor limitations typical of its era, it remains a solid representation of the film’s original sound design. The combination of clear dialogue, immersive effects, and subtle musical cues provides an appropriately atmospheric backdrop to the film's suspenseful sci-fi narrative.
Extras: 77
The Blu-ray extras for "It! The Terror from Beyond Space" are a comprehensive exploration of the film's legacy and its genre. The standout is a trio of audio commentaries that provide rich insights into the movie's creative decisions, historical context, and thematic resonance. Tom Weaver, along with Bob Burns, Larry Blamire, and David Schecter, delivers a particularly engaging commentary focused on the film's initial impact and its production nuances. Meanwhile, Craig Beam offers an analytical take on script evolution and technical choices, while Gary Gerani explores the film's influence on subsequent genre works. Additionally, Craig Beam contributes to an informative featurette that looks at sci-fi horror evolution, alongside a vintage trailer adding nostalgic value. These thoughtful and well-researched extras are essential for enthusiasts seeking a deeper understanding of this iconic film.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary featuring Tom Weaver, Bob Burns, Larry Blamire, and David Schecter: Insightful track covering the film’s genesis.
- Audio Commentary featuring Craig Beam: Analytical discussion on script and technical choices.
- Audio Commentary featuring Gary Gerani: Examination of the film’s genre influence.
- tidbITs: Ephemera From Beyond Space: Craig Beam discusses 1950s sci-fi horror evolution.
- Trailer: Vintage U.S. trailer offering a nostalgic glimpse into the film’s original presentation.
- KLSC Trailer Gallery: Collection of trailers from related genre films.
Movie: 63
Edward L. Cahn's "It! The Terror From Beyond Space" serves as a seminal piece of sci-fi cinema, setting a foundation upon which many modern classics have built. This 1958 film is often cited for significantly influencing later films such as "Alien," and it stands as a crucial point of reference in the genre's history. The film's narrative simplicity—an alien entity sabotaging a crew aboard a spaceship—provides a compelling framework that has been replicated and evolved in numerous sci-fi narratives. Despite its brevity at just 69 minutes, the movie effectively harnesses fear through its claustrophobic setting and taps into space-era anxieties, ensuring an engaging experience for viewers. Its themes of isolation and survival continue to resonate, underscored by a strong sense of patriotism as the crew operates with military precision.
Visually, the creature design, portrayed by Ray "Crash" Corrigan, is both a strength and a limitation. While Corrigan brings a certain gravitas to the role, the suit's fit often betrays its intended menace, stripping away some plausibility for a modern audience. The constraints of its era are evident, with the creature's portrayal often relying on atmospheric back-lighting to maintain suspense. Nonetheless, for its time, the film plays with psychological horror, managing to leave audiences spellbound with its portrayal of suspense and terror that stems from being pursued in such confined quarters.
"It! The Terror From Beyond Space" continues to be celebrated as an enduring piece of cinematic history. It's replete with archetypal elements that have sustained the genre’s evolution over decades. While its plot may lack the complexity of contemporary narratives, its influence is unmistakable. This Blu-ray release by Kino Lorber enables today's audiences to revisit this classic piece of sci-fi lore with appreciation for its historical significance and its establishment of enduring genre conventions.
Total: 71
"It! The Terror from Beyond Space" is a seminal sci-fi film that laid the groundwork for many space horror narratives. Its influence is evident in iconic films like "Alien" and "The Thing," owing to its timeless concept of fear and survival against an unknown threat. The film, with its brisk pace, introduces the terrifying creature mere minutes into the runtime, capturing the era’s classic sci-fi charm. The cast's dedicated performances invigorate the well-trodden material, enhancing its enduring appeal. As a piece of pre-space travel nostalgia, it effectively sets up a narrative formula that resonates across decades.
The Blu-ray release by Kino Lorber revitalizes this classic with a stunning new 2K master, significantly enhancing the audio and visual experience. This meticulous restoration breathes new life into the film’s vintage aesthetics, ensuring that modern audiences can appreciate its original ambiance. Complementing the superior A/V quality is a robust selection of exclusive bonus features, which delve deeper into the film’s creation and legacy, offering fans both insight and entertainment.
In conclusion, "It! The Terror from Beyond Space" remains a fun and engaging film that captures the essence of 1950s sci-fi horror. Its influence on subsequent genres is unmistakable, and Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release does an exemplary job of preserving and celebrating this influence. Whether you are a collector or a casual viewer, this release is highly recommended for its historical significance and outstanding presentation.
Blu-ray.com review by Dr. Svet AtanasovRead review here
Video: 90
I did notice a couple of small blemishes, but overall the surface of the visuals is very clean and very, very attractive....
Audio: 80
However, in a couple of different segments, I noticed flatness that I am not convinced is inherited....
Extras: 80
The Terror From Beyond Space has had on other genre films, the casting choices that were made for it, how Col. Edward Carruthers' guilt is established and debated, some of the supposedly illogical details...
Movie: 80
The Terror From Beyond Space, or did they accidentally replicate thematic material and visual qualities that are present in It!...
Total: 80
The Terror From Beyond Space operates with what is essentially a timeless concept of fear, so any other film like it must imitate or borrow something from it....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 80
It’s consistent in this regard too, providing the needed brightness early, and later as the ship goes dark and relies on shadows, the black levels work miracles....
Audio: 60
...
Extras: 80
Audio commentaries in triplicate, beginning with the always great Tom Weaver, joined by Bob Burns, Larry Blamire, and David Schecter....
Movie: 60
That said, isolation is a powerful motivator, and in doing so, forces the crew to continue retreating upward in the vertically oriented rocket, reducing their chances each time....
Total: 70
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High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
Not perfect mind you, there are still some soft shots that can look a bit out of place and some lingering speckling holds on, but it’s overall a very good-looking release....
Audio: 60
The music cues are right on point and the sound effects for all of the spaceship shenanigans add plenty of mood and atmosphere to the flick....
Extras: 80
While the video transfer may be the draw to upgrade for some, the impressive collection of bonus features is well worth the attention....
Movie: 60
There’s a brief amount of character tension between Carruthers and the rescue crew doubting his story, but that’s all mitigated mere minutes into the film....
Total: 60
The film is so quick and to the point that the creature makes its first shadowy appearance within five minutes....
Director: Edward L. Cahn
Actors: Marshall Thompson, Shirley Patterson, Kim Spalding
PlotA rescue mission is dispatched to Mars following a failed expedition, suspecting that the sole survivor, Colonel Edward Carruthers, may have murdered his crew. Carruthers insists that an unknown creature ambushed and killed everyone else. Skeptical of his claims, the rescue team takes Carruthers aboard their spacecraft for the return trip to Earth, intending to investigate further. Unbeknownst to them, a monstrous extraterrestrial has stowed away on their ship. As the journey begins, mysterious incidents and disappearances spark fear and tension among the crew, leading them to realize that something deadly lurks within the vessel.
Amidst rising panic, the crew finds themselves in a dire battle against the stowaway creature, driven by instinctual hunger. Their efforts to stop it are complicated by limited resources and the confines of space. The close quarters of the ship make evading the creature nearly impossible while forcing the team to work together despite initial distrust and fear. With every failed attempt to subdue or kill the monster, their predicament becomes more desperate. The crew must strategize creatively to survive--balancing their dwindling hope with determination to return to Earth safely. As danger escalates, friendships are tested, alliances form out of necessity, and the mission’s true nature is revealed through intense confrontations and perilous attempts at survival.
Writers: Jerome Bixby
Release Date: 09 Nov 1958
Runtime: 69 min
Rating: Approved
Country: United States
Language: English