Black Friday Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "Black Friday" (AVC encoded, 1.37:1 aspect ratio) leverages a dark, suspenseful visual style, taking full advantage of shadows and nighttime scenes to enhance the eerie atmosphere. The 2K scan provides a generally acceptable view of characters and their surroundings. Facial detail is commendable, capturing the subtle nuances and emotional expressions, especially during Ridges's transformative scenes. Costuming is well-preserved, emphasizing the intricate textures of suits and evening wear. However, delineation encounters some challenges with shadow detail, resulting in occasional crush issues. The film-like grain adds authenticity, although the source material exhibits noticeable wear and tear, including scratches and speckling.

Despite the advertised 2K scan, sharpness remains inconsistent, revealing a mediocre source print. Early sequences suffer most, with vertical scratches prominently marring the upper frame for approximately 15 minutes. Minor imperfections persist but are not overly distracting. The distribution strategy employed by Shout! Factory, allocating individual discs to each film within the Universal Horror Collection, optimizes grain reproduction and ensures sufficient compression performance. Concerns arise primarily from the gray scale handling—shadows often fall into pockets of pure black, obscuring detail in already low-detail areas. While contrast management avoids extreme peaks, it maintains a delicate balance sufficient to support overall visual integrity.

The audio presentation of "Black Friday" on Blu-ray provides a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track that, despite its vintage origins, maintains an engaging listening experience with several caveats. Throughout the run-time, listeners will encounter a noticeable presence of hiss, along with intermittent pops and mild crackling. These elements are indicative of the analog charm inherent to the film. Dialogue exchanges are captured with acceptable clarity, preserving the performance nuances and showcasing vocal dynamics, particularly in Ridges's work. Sound effects, like gunshots, provide a crisp snap that adds to the action scenes without overwhelming the listener.

Admittedly, the frequent popping and occasional crackling can be a bit distracting, although they do lend a certain authenticity to the audio track that enthusiasts of older films might appreciate. The treble fluctuates slightly but manages to maintain clarity throughout. Despite the sonic imperfections, there is limited static, allowing Karloff’s rich, deep voice to shine through with smooth, active bass, remarkable for a film of this period. The scoring remains supportive and unobtrusive, enhancing the tone of the feature without dominating the soundscape. Moreover, while the atmospherics are subtle, they contribute to a somewhat immersive yet imperfect audio experience.

The Blu-ray extras for "Black Friday" impress with a mix of insightful commentary and engaging archival material. The film commentary led by Constantine Nasr provides an enriching deep dive into the film's nuances, while "A Good Game" delivers detailed insights into the final collaboration between Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi at Universal Pictures, highlighting fascinating behind-the-scenes dynamics. The "Inner Sanctum Mystery Radio Hour" features Karloff's gripping performance of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart," offering a noteworthy audio treat. Additionally, the Still Gallery and Theatrical Trailer provide visual and promotional materials that enhance appreciation of the film's historical context.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary: Insightful analysis by Constantine Nasr.
• A Good Game: Karloff and Lugosi at Universal: Part 4—'Black Friday': Detailed dissection by Gary D. Rhodes and Gregory William Mank.
• Inner Sanctum Mystery Radio Hour: Boris Karloff’s performance of "The Tell-Tale Heart."
• Still Gallery: Collection of film stills, BTS snaps, publicity shots, poster art, lobby cards, and newspaper ads.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional trailer.

"Black Friday" (1940) presents an unusual scenario where the heavily-promoted stars Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi have limited screen presence, with the lead role handed to Stanley Ridges. The film, an eccentric blend of crime drama and macabre science fiction, focuses more on the character duality explored through Ridges’ performance. It's a bizarre narrative involving a brain transplant, orchestrated by Karloff’s character, a doctor who transplants part of a criminal’s brain into his friend's dying body. The plot is less interested in convincing the audience of its scientific premise and more in weaving a tale of criminal escapades and personal transformation.

Universal’s genre-splicing encompasses mad doctor tropes, gangster elements, Jekyll and Hyde dichotomies, and faint sci-fi touches. The film, while ambitious in its thematic amalgamation, often feels familiar and underwhelming. Lugosi, unfortunately, is relegated to a minor role as an American crime underling, miscast and underutilized. Meanwhile, Karloff's portrayal of the scheming doctor lacks the thrilling madness one might expect, leaning instead towards mere greed. Ridges stands out for his ability to oscillate between an innocent professor and a vengeful gangster, providing an evocative but slightly inconsistent duality.

The storyline revolves around the quest for hidden fortune tied to the criminal brain within the professor's body. This pursuit drives much of the film's action but ultimately leads to conventional scenes of confrontation. The film culminates in a predictable climax featuring the usual urban locales like docks and apartments. In essence, "Black Friday" relies on its leading names to draw interest but mainly capitalizes on Ridges' compelling performance amidst a backdrop that feels more like public domain material.

The Blu-ray release of "Black Friday" brings a classic horror film to a modern audience with meticulous technical care. The film, starring Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff, is a quintessential example of how star power from the golden age of Hollywood can sometimes overshadow the actual standout performances within the film. While Lugosi and Karloff are prominently featured, it is Stanley Ridges who truly captivates the viewer.

Visually, the Blu-ray transfer is remarkable. The picture quality boasts significant improvements in clarity and contrast, enriching the period's noir aesthetic. The audio transfer ensures that dialogues and scores are clear and immersive, greatly enhancing the chilling atmosphere. Consistent restoration efforts have been made to keep the integrity of the original analog sounds while cleaning up any extraneous artifacts, providing an authentic yet refined auditory experience.

Stanley Ridges's dual role as both a stuffy educator and a menacing gangster adds substantial depth to the narrative. His performance is exceptional, showcasing his versatility and elevating the film beyond its b-tier status. Karloff also has laudable moments that heighten the suspense in the latter parts of the film, despite not sharing much screen time with Lugosi. This deliberate separation of heavyweight stars might create an anticlimactic expectation for some, but Ridges's performance compensates for this gap by delivering a riveting, layered portrayal.

In conclusion, while "Black Friday" may lean heavily on the iconic names of Karloff and Lugosi in its marketing, it is Ridges who delivers a compelling and memorable performance, firmly positioning him as the MVP of the film. The technical excellence of this Blu-ray release further cements it as a worthwhile addition to any horror aficionado’s collection.