Paramount Scares: Volume 1 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The "Paramount Scares: Volume 1" 4K UHD Blu Ray collection showcases an impressive range of visual quality, with each film offering unique attributes. "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" sets a high standard with its first 2160p Dolby Vision 4K transfer. Characterized by a steely, almost monochromatic color scheme, it creates a haunting atmosphere similar to Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow." While some CGI-heavy scenes, particularly the opening credits, display minor quality fluctuations, the live-action elements are pristinely clear, with inky blacks and vivid blood-reds adding intensity. The overall presentation captures the morbid aesthetics with appreciable depth and excellent contrast.

"Pet Sematary" maintains fidelity thanks to Paramount's restoration from the original camera negative, featuring a striking contrast between inky blacks and vibrant daytime colors. The brooding greens and vivid reds serve as highlights in Dolby Vision HDR, reinforcing the film's menacing atmosphere. In "Smile," the precision of Arri Alexa 65 cameras is evident, framing the film at 2.00:1. Its murky cinematography is intentional, yet it still benefits from enhanced colors and contrasts through Dolby Vision, despite not relying heavily on bright palettes.

Conversely, "Crawl," shot digitally with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, capitalizes on 4K’s abilities through crisp detail and vivid coloring. Despite an artificiality stemming from its effects-heavy scenes, it presents flawless visuals with strong shadow contrasts in dark, tension-filled settings. Meanwhile, "Rosemary’s Baby" experiences an uneven transfer quality. Although remastered for 4K, it suffers from inconsistencies due to reliance on older transfers. While certain New York exterior shots demonstrate adequate detail and color depth, overall color representation remains muted and less convincing for contemporary 4K expectations. The collection is varied in video quality but achieves remarkable highs with select films excelling in Ultra High Definition presentation.

The audio presentation of "Paramount Scares: Volume 1" on 4K UHD Blu-ray offers a compelling and high-quality experience across the included films, showcasing an array of audio formats that enhance each film's unique atmosphere. "Crawl," with its DTS-HD MA 7.1 audio, expertly utilizes surround sound to deliver an immersive experience, accentuating the tension and thrill with clear dialogue and impactful LFE that complements the on-screen action. Similarly, "Smile," enhanced by a Dolby Atmos track, stands out with its dynamic range and spatial depth, creating an intimate soundfield that amplifies the film’s chilling moments and atmospheric undertones.

For "Rosemary’s Baby," the Dolby TrueHD mono mix maintains the original audio experience, highlighting Krzysztof Komeda's evocative score with well-balanced dialogue. However, it should be noted that a line of dialogue is reported missing from the disc, with Paramount offering a replacement program. "Pet Sematary" retains its DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio from previous releases, effectively distributing eerie sound effects and delivering Elliot Goldenthal’s score with clarity, though lacking some distinct creative flair. "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" remains faithful to its original Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix; while not an upgrade from past versions, it ensures lively audio with robust vocal clarity and engaging musical staging despite the absence of an Atmos option, making for a hauntingly entertaining experience.

In summary, each film in this collection leverages its specific audio format to sustain an immersive viewing experience. The use of DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD across these titles, alongside a standout Atmos track in "Smile," underscores Paramount's dedication to preserving high-quality soundscapes, ensuring that both horror enthusiasts and audiophiles alike are catered to with this diverse range of auditory experiences.

The 4K UHD Blu Ray of "Paramount Scares: Volume 1" offers a robust collection of bonus material, providing fans numerous supplemental features across iconic horror titles. Each film's set contains previously released extras, which can be considered standard but comprehensive, such as featurettes, behind-the-scenes insights, and deleted scenes, with a specific highlight being the original short film that inspired "Smile." A well-compiled special edition of Fangoria magazine is included, adding depth with curated articles on each featured film. Additionally, each disc is complemented by high-quality packaging with unique black-and-white artwork, further enhancing the collector's appeal. This release is a treat for horror aficionados seeking engagement beyond the films themselves.

Extras included in this disc:

• Crawl: In-depth featurettes and alternate scenes exploring the film's making.
• Rosemary's Baby: Retrospectives and trailers offering historical insights.
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: Extensive features detailing production and musical elements.
• Smile: Original short film with director commentary and making-of featurettes.
• Pet Sematary: Interviews and galleries revealing the film's creation process.

"Paramount Scares: Volume 1" offers an engaging collection of horror classics and modern entries that ensure a diverse cinematic experience, now presented in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. The set includes "Rosemary's Baby," "Pet Sematary," "Crawl," "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," and "Smile," each delivered with unique thematic slipcovers complementing the physical swag of collectible pins and stickers. Particularly notable is the inclusion of a Fangoria magazine edition, enriched with insightful articles on these films.

"Rosemary's Baby" shines with a chilling yet slow-burning narrative that thrives on William Polanski's methodical directorial approach, maintaining a faithful adaptation of Ira Levin's eerie tale. "Pet Sematary," despite delivering a mixed bag of performances, struggles with its screenplay's lack of cohesion, a point of contention even for Stephen King fans. In contrast, "Smile" benefits from Sosie Bacon's compelling performance, creating an unsettling atmosphere that capitalizes on subtle horror elements. Its transition from a planned streaming release to a theatrical success underscores its robust appeal.

"The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" showcases Tim Burton's adeptness in merging musical theater with cinema. His interpretation offers vivid visual storytelling tied to Stephen Sondheim's evocative music. Despite some critiques on the singing prowess of its leads, especially Johnny Depp, the film is celebrated for its intense performances and gothic production quality. Lastly, "Crawl" stands out for its effective use of tension and credible performances, combining natural disaster thrill with primal dread in a hurricane-laden Florida setting.

Overall, Paramount’s set encapsulates a broad spectrum of horror, embedding classic narratives with contemporary treatments in stunning 4K resolution, appealing to collectors and genre enthusiasts alike. It provides a multi-layered scare fest that promises both novelty and nostalgia.

The "Paramount Scares: Volume 1" 4K UHD Blu-Ray set establishes itself as a noteworthy addition to the horror aficionado's collection, though it might not exude the class of Sony's Columbia Classics series. Handpicked from Paramount’s vast repository of cinematic horror, this collection offers a diverse array of five films, including the much-anticipated 4K debut of "Sweeney Todd." Presented in a red and black chipboard case, the set is supplemented by various collectibles like a Fangoria magazine, custom stickers, and an elegant commemorative pin, all contributing to its attractive packaging. This unique offering provides value beyond just the visual and auditory upgrade and appeals to collectors and horror fans alike.

From a technical perspective, the set showcases an array of aspect ratios and audio configurations, including Crawford’s robust English DTS-HD MA 7.1 sound mix and "Sweeney Todd's" dynamic Dolby TrueHD 5.1. Subtitles are extensively featured in numerous languages, ensuring accessibility. While “Rosemary’s Baby” receives relatively lukewarm evaluations for its video quality, the other titles uphold high standards in both audio and visual clarity, enriching the viewing experience. This release is noteworthy as it's currently the sole option to witness "Sweeney Todd" in UHD, increasing its desirability among collectors.

Conclusively, "Paramount Scares: Volume 1" is a commendable horror classic collection, with its exclusive additions enhancing its appeal. While its intrinsic value may fluctuate depending on one's existing collection, the anticipation for subsequent volumes is palpable among enthusiasts seeking further first-time 4K releases. Overall, it’s a recommended acquisition for both its cultural significance and the potential expansion of one’s horror library in unprecedented quality.