I Saw What You Did Blu-ray Review

Shout! Factory's Blu-ray presentation of "I Saw What You Did" significantly enhances the visuals of this classic thriller with a 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer. This transfer, framed at an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, effectively preserves the original theatrical experience. Although it’s based on a somewhat dated master from Universal's vault, the video boasts impressive sharpness and a solid total bitrate of 32.18 Mbps. The grayscale is exceptional, bringing excellent depth and detail to nighttime scenes, despite occasional weaknesses in daylight contrast, which can appear overly homogeneous. Unfortunately, the transfer also retains film artifacts such as white and black speckles, tramlines, scratches, and reel-change markers, somewhat detracting from an otherwise clean image.

Blacks in "I Saw What You Did" are notably rich and deep, contributing to a strongly varied grayscale that generally heightens detail levels. Shadow delineation remains robust, and no issues with crush are present, allowing for a smooth cinematic movement with significant depth. While the outdoor scenes exhibit weaker contrast and a hazy appearance, night scenes and dimly lit interior shots maintain clarity and vibrancy. Thankfully, the transfer avoids digital disturbances like noise or pixelation, providing a relatively noise-free, film-like viewing experience. Despite being far from flawless—with numerous scenes hosting dust specks and debris—this high-definition transfer brings a touch of elegance to what is inherently a low-budget production.

The audio presentation of "I Saw What You Did" on Blu-ray is provided through a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track, which offers a clear, full-bodied sound experience. Dialogue is consistently crisp, easily understandable, and well-prioritized across the film's 82-minute runtime. Despite the film's age, there are minimal instances of hiss or crackle, ensuring that age-related deterioration does not detract from the overall quality. The wide dynamic range effectively prevents distortion and accommodates Van Alexander's varied musical score, which ranges from bouncy to ominous, providing a robust auditory backdrop that fills the room convincingly.

A slight analog hiss is noticeable during the first half, especially when using headphones, but it diminishes in the latter half of the film. Some minor audio imperfections like brief patches where sound levels drop might be detected by keen audiophiles, yet these moments are rare and do not disrupt the immersive experience. The atmospheric effects integral to the film's suspenseful ambiance are well-defined and clear, reinforcing the thriller's chilling narrative.

The audio is presented in its original monaural format but spread nicely across the front channels, ensuring an evenly distributed soundscape. Overall, Shout!'s Blu-ray audio mix for this vintage B-movie complements its thrilling elements well, offering a surprisingly robust auditory experience given the film's low-budget origins.

The extras included in the Blu Ray of "I Saw What You Did" are modest but showcase intriguing historical memorabilia and promotional material. The Photo Gallery offers a well-curated slide show featuring 45 images, including cast portraits, behind-the-scenes stills, international movie posters, lobby cards, and pages from the pressbook. Images transition smoothly and are complemented by a collage backdrop. The Theatrical Trailers segment includes two clips: a standard teaser and a promotional piece featuring William Castle. In this latter part, Castle engages viewers by describing an in-theater gimmick involving seat belts to enhance the film's suspenseful experience. Although the trailers and promo have been upconverted to 1080i from analog sources, the quality remains respectable but could benefit from additional restoration and subtitling.

Extras included in this disc:

• Photo Gallery: Montage of stills, theatrical posters, lobby cards, and press book pages.
• Theatrical Trailers: Two trailers, including a special promo with William Castle.

"I Saw What You Did" exemplifies director William Castle's interplay between suspense and camp in the mid-60s. Adapted from Ursula Curtiss’ novel "Out of the Dark," the film stands out for its killer premise of teens making prank calls to unsuspecting victims until they dial Steve Marak (John Ireland), who has just killed his wife. Notably, the shower scene murder mimics Hitchcock’s "Psycho," turning the telephone—a ubiquitous tool of domesticity—into a vessel of cinematic terror. Despite lacking Castle's signature gimmicks, the movie delivers moments of genuine tension but is often interrupted by less engaging subplots, notably involving Joan Crawford’s character, Amy Nelson.

Crawford's performance, although top-billed, is ultimately secondary to the central story about teens Libby (Andi Garrett) and Kit (Sarah Lane). Despite receiving minimal screen time compared to co-stars, Crawford delivers a potent mix of melodrama and magnetic screen presence. As Amy, her role complements John Ireland’s unsettling performance as Steve. However, the campiness inherent in William McGivern's screenplay and a bouncy yet incongruous Van Alexander score sometimes undermine the suspenseful tone Castle aims to establish. This blend creates a movie filled with genuine scares and awkward tonal shifts, making it entertaining if unevenly executed.

The thematic juxtaposition of frivolous teenage pranks against the backdrop of a brutal murder attempts to convey a grim cautionary tale. However, extended scenes of teenage banter and family interactions dilute the film's suspense. While the climax in the fog-shrouded country home does recall classic horror motifs, these sequences are fleeting. "I Saw What You Did" thus remains an exemplar of Castle's unique blend, providing both chills and schlock in a single package, but ultimately struggling to maintain consistent tension throughout its 82-minute runtime.

"I Saw What You Did," directed by William Castle and starring Joan Crawford, represents a blend of suspense and schlock from the mid-1960s. While the narrative centers on an innocuous prank leading to dangerous consequences, it bears the hallmarks of Castle's typical shock-driven filmmaking. Despite its sometimes flimsy plot, the film manages to maintain tension and deliver a few effective scares. As a quintessential B-grade horror, it evokes a sense of nostalgia and showcases Crawford in her final American film role.

The Blu-ray version, presented by Shout Factory, offers decent video and audio quality, although it falls short of a full restoration. The transfer captures the visual and auditory essence of the film but still leaves room for improvement. While supplement features are sparse, the inclusion of a William Castle-led trailer adds value for collectors and fans. Overall, it doesn’t reach modern high definitions standards entirely but serves enthusiasts well with its faithful representation.

"I Saw What You Did" is a nostalgic collector’s item that will appeal primarily to fans of vintage horror, Joan Crawford, and William Castle's directorial style. Despite its narrative shortcomings and technical flaws, it provides a valuable glimpse into the era's low-budget thrillers. It delivers a moderate recommendation at a mid-range price, particularly for those interested in classic horror movie history.

I Saw What You Did is a fun ride even though it is an erratic and maligned low-budget suspense thriller. The movie still needs to receive a full restoration by removing all of the anomalies present on this transfer. The picture is okay and remains the only version available at present. I look forward to seeing more of William Castle and Joan Crawford's films come to Blu-ray. A MINOR RECOMMENDATION for I Saw What You Did and purchase it in the $13-$18 range.