The Premature Burial Blu-ray Review

The AVC-encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation of "The Premature Burial" skillfully captures the film’s atmospheric quality, largely due to its soft cinematography and frequent use of fog. This results in a slight dilution of sharpness, although fine detail is not entirely lost. Textures on period costumes and estate surroundings remain passable, and facial features are adequately defined in close-ups. The set-bound production does not emphasize depth, and grain exhibits a slightly noisy presence. Colors are robust and vibrant, particularly the reds that enliven costumes and menacing hues. However, print quality shows minor imperfections such as discoloration spots, scratches, and speckling.

The high-definition transfer is commendable for this Blu-ray release, surpassing earlier editions in quality. While the source material may not have been fully restored—evidenced by occasional light white specks and a faint yellowish hue due to age—the transfer delivers excellent definition and clarity. Notable details include the elaborate woodwork in furniture and meticulous threading in Victorian costumes. Facial complexions appear healthy with visible details and lifelike textures in close-ups, although some scenes remain poorly resolved and blurrier than others. The contrast and brightness are well-managed, offering crisp whites and deep blacks that enhance the image’s sense of depth. The color palette leans towards earth tones but maintains vivid primaries and accurately rendered secondary hues.

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix of "The Premature Burial" brings atmospheric horror elements to life with a balanced and immersive auditory experience. Dialogue exchanges are tight and crisp, ensuring clarity even during heightened emotional moments, such as hysteria and screams. The soundtrack is contained to the center of the screen but manages to create a wide and spacious imaging feel, offering an excellent sense of presence and warmth throughout. Hiss remains minimal, while dynamic range is surprisingly extensive. Thundering crashes and high-pitched screams showcase the system's ability to handle both extremes of the audio spectrum.

Detailing within the DTS-HD Master Audio mono track brings a palpable sense of realism to quieter scenes, capturing subtle nuances such as rustling clothes and jingling trinkets with remarkable clarity. The musical score is one of the presentation’s highlights, boasting excellent fidelity and detailed orchestration, enriched further by a throaty and weighty low-end. Despite the pronounced scoring, it's respectfully balanced, ensuring it never overshadows the dramatic elements. Overall, dialogue reproduction remains well-prioritized and intelligible throughout, cementing this audio delivery as both effective and enjoyable for the viewer.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Premature Burial" are comprehensive and engaging, providing valuable insights into the film's place within Roger Corman’s iconic Poe Cycle. Joe Dante offers a heartfelt appreciation of the film, sharing personal anecdotes from his childhood and illustrating the movie's unique standing in Corman’s oeuvre. Roger Corman recounts intriguing production anecdotes, distribution peculiarities, and reflections on the film's casting. Complementing these interviews are the Trailers from Hell segment and the original Theatrical Trailer, all presented in high definition, offering a nostalgic look into the film’s legacy.

Extras included in this disc:

• Interview with Joe Dante: Filmmaker shares memories and discusses the film’s role in Corman’s Poe Cycle.
• Interview with Roger Corman: Director discusses production challenges and casting strengths.
• Trailers from Hell: Corman provides additional insights into the making of the film.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional trailer in HD.

Roger Corman’s 1962 adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Premature Burial" stands out in the director's notable Poe Cycle, featuring Ray Milland instead of the regular lead, Vincent Price. Milland steps into the role of Guy Carrell, a Victorian gentleman tormented by a consuming fear of being buried alive, due to his affliction with catalepsy. Corman manages to stretch a short story into a feature-length narrative, suffusing it with his trademark spooky atmosphere and atmospherically heightened performances. Although the film treads into somewhat ridiculous territory with its plot, Milland's performance gracefully conveys both panic and menace.

Without Price's characteristic campiness and scene-chewing gravitas, Milland’s performance brings a different flavor to the Corman-Poe filmography, navigating through the tale’s inherent silliness with remarkable dramatic flair. His portrayal of the paranoid and beleaguered Guy is subtly nuanced, even if it lacks the histrionics one might expect from Price. The interplay between Guy and those around him, including his fiancée Emily (Hazel Court) and his sister (Heather Angel), is underscored by an eerie omnipresence of death and decay, effectively captured by cinematographer Floyd Crosby. The film's foreboding atmosphere is further heightened through theatrical monologues and meticulously vivid visuals, drenched in shadowy hues, making the viewer palpably feel Guy’s dread.

Overall, "The Premature Burial" offers a unique addition to the collection of Poe adaptations, supported by a script that interweaves morose humor with a deeper underlying mystery which culminates in a surprising twist. The combination of Corman’s direction, atmospheric cinematography, and Milland’s intensifying performance results in a hauntingly captivating experience that holds its own despite the absence of Vincent Price.

Roger Corman's "The Premature Burial" is a distinctive entry in his Poe adaptation series, notable for the absence of Vincent Price, a staple in Corman's productions. The film excels in creating a gothic atmosphere, leveraging fog-filled frames and eerie sound effects, effectively immersing viewers in a chilling ambiance. The titular theme, a fear of being buried alive, is portrayed through clever scenarios and an extended green-tinted nightmare sequence, adding layers of psychological discomfort. Despite these strengths, the narrative occasionally struggles, resulting in inconsistencies in suspense and pacing.

Technically, the Blu-ray presentation of "The Premature Burial" is robust. The video quality showcases detailed textures and maintains the integrity of Corman's atmospheric cinematography. The audio reproduction is equally commendable, preserving the film's original sound design and enhancing the eerie whistling and atmospheric noises that characterize key scenes. The Blu-ray's supplement section is relatively sparse, providing minimal additional content for enthusiasts. However, the quality of the primary viewing experience compensates for these deficiencies.

In conclusion, while "The Premature Burial" has its moments of brilliance and a well-maintained gothic setting, it falls short of being a consistently thrilling horror film, and it sometimes feels padded between major plot points. Nevertheless, the stellar audio-visual presentation on Blu-ray makes it a worthwhile addition for collectors and fans of Roger Corman’s work.