From Hell It Came Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "From Hell It Came" by Warner Archive Collection features a 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer sourced from a fine-grain master positive, meticulously scanned at 2K resolution by Warner's Motion Picture Imaging facility. The resulting image offers a crisply detailed black-and-white rendition that faithfully preserves the film's original aesthetic. Despite the film's constrained budget, the Blu-ray format allows viewers to appreciate its charmingly rudimentary sets and costumes, vividly revealing every machine-made detail meant to imitate handmade outfits. One of the most visually compelling elements is the Tabanga monster itself, showcasing a wonderfully textured costume that balances the need to look both solid and mobile.

Technically, the video transfer boasts impressively solid blacks and finely rendered shades of gray, with strong contrast enhancing the overall viewing experience. Warner Archive Collection has delivered this with their customary high average bitrate, specifically 34.997 Mbps, ensuring minimal loss in quality. Even with this generous allocation, the film's 71-minute runtime fits comfortably on a BD-25, promising a smooth and uninterrupted viewing experience. This technical care elevates "From Hell It Came" beyond its modest production values, making it a visually engaging relic of classic B-movie cinema.

The audio presentation of "From Hell It Came" on Blu-ray is captured in lossless DTS-HD MA 2.0, derived from the original mono magnetic master. The audio reflects the film’s low-budget origins, with somewhat underwhelming sound effects and a limited dynamic range. Nevertheless, the clarity of dialogue is consistently high, which helps in comprehending the film’s narrative despite occasional disparities due to obvious ADR instances. The score by Darrell Calker injects an unintended comedic charm, with its serious orchestration juxtaposing the film’s absurdly entertaining visuals.

Warner Archive’s re-release on Blu-ray offers a commendable audio upgrade from their previous MOD release. The English 2.0 mono DTS-HD track delivers clean and clear dialogue throughout, paired with well-separated sound effects and a score that avoids any major distortions, hiss, crackle, or dropouts. Optional subtitles in English SDH complement the listening experience, ensuring accessibility. While it remains true to its original limited aural capabilities, this release presents a faithful representation of the film's audio landscape, enhancing the overall immersive experience.

The Blu Ray release of "From Hell It Came" includes a remastered trailer as the sole extra feature. While the previous 2009 DVD edition was also light on additional content, this high-definition trailer (1080p, 1.78:1; 1:56) provides a sharper, more detailed presentation that complements the main film's quality. The inclusion of even this single extra is a welcome enhancement for fans and collectors, offering an improved visual and auditory experience compared to the earlier DVD release. Despite the lack of additional content such as commentaries or documentaries, the well-handled restoration of this trailer marks a notable effort to preserve and present classic horror in its best possible light.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailer: A remastered high-definition preview of "From Hell It Came."

"From Hell It Came," a notorious 1957 film from director Dan Milner, has long been cited as a prime example of "so bad it's good" cinema. The story unfolds on a remote South Seas atoll, where an American scientific expedition is torn between measuring atomic fallout and providing Western medicine to the indigenous population. Their activities disrupt the native tribe's status quo, leading to the execution of Kimo (Gregg Palmer), whose death paves the way for his resurrection as the Tabanga, a lumbering tree monster seeking revenge. Despite its reputation as a lackluster creature feature, this film has garnered a cult following, compelling the Warner Archive Collection to add it to their Blu-ray lineup alongside more critically acclaimed masterpieces.

The film spends considerable time building up to the emergence of the Tabanga, portrayed with less than terrifying effectiveness. As Kimo's wooden avatar takes its slow revenge, the American encampment distracts itself with a maelstrom of melodrama. Notably, the widowed Mae Kilgore's (Linda Watkins) fluctuating Cockney accent and her quest for a new husband offer unintentional comic relief. The expedition's chief physician, Dr. William Arnold (Tod Andrews), finds himself entangled with fellow doctor Terry Mason (Tina Carver), whose experimental antics eventually set the Tabanga free. The film attempts philosophical depth through Dr. Clark's (John McNamara) musings on cultural relativism and man versus nature but ultimately falls short of meaningful commentary.

The Tabanga may not instill fear, but it provides a visually unique element that obliterates those who wronged Kimo. Its menace lacks genuine terror but suffices to drive the plot to its kitschy climax. The film stands as a monument to mid-century low-budget horror, and for those who appreciate cinema's more eccentric offerings, "From Hell It Came" remains an unforgettable, albeit flawed, spectacle upon its Blu-ray revival.

Warner Archive’s Blu-ray release of "From Hell It Came" showcases the film's surprisingly sharp visual presentation. The restoration effort ensures that the cinematography is clearer and more vibrant than it likely ever appeared to audiences before. This high-definition format elevates the experience, offering fans a crisp and faithful reproduction of the film's original look. However, this commendable technical effort also underscores the inherent limitations and flaws of the film itself, which remains a classic example of 1950s genre B-movies in both charm and shortcomings.

Initially released as a double feature with "The Disembodied," "From Hell It Came" holds a niche appeal, primarily for avid genre enthusiasts or those nostalgic for the vintage horror movies they might have watched on television during childhood. While the movie suffers from numerous cinematic failings that typify the less reputable films of its era, elements such as its plot involving a walking tree inadvertently add to its campy, unintentionally humorous allure. This duality—a technically poor movie preserved and presented with high technical standards—shows Warner Archive's dedication to preserving even the more obscure corners of cinematic history.

FHIC is a terrible movie and has been rated accordingly, but that hardly matters. Its badness is what distinguishes it and has inspired and sustained its loyal cult following. In Leonard Maltin's memorable phrase: As walking-tree movies go, this is at the top of the list. WAC's new Blu-ray is one for the fans, and in that respect, it is recommended on its technical merits. Blind buyers beware.