New Year's Evil Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "New Year's Evil" by Scream Factory, under the Shout! Factory imprint, features an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Despite some minimal age-related damage, the transfer is notably impressive. The colors have managed to survive the passage of time well, with reds standing out vividly, particularly in the gore scenes, which adds a striking visual element. Grain is occasionally heavy, and there is some unnatural clumping in darker club scenes where Blaze hosts her show. The level of detail fluctuates but frequently offers enhanced clarity in close-ups.

This horror slasher film is presented with a transfer that surpasses previous home video editions, offering better clarity and resolution than expected from a low-budget 80s film. The source material appears to be in excellent condition, consistently demonstrating well-balanced contrast levels. Background details are clearly visible, including distinct lettering on walls and buildings, as well as the textures of clothing. The image quality allows for the pores, wrinkles, and blemishes on the actors' faces to be seen with surprising detail. The color palette is cleanly rendered, featuring bold primary colors and warm, accurate pastels that brighten the image. Blacks are rich and opulent with strong shadow delineation, and the thin, stable grain structure provides a pleasing film-like quality.

The audio presentation of "New Year's Evil" on Blu-ray is anchored by a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono mix that provides a robust and clean auditory experience, albeit with minor clipping in the high-frequency range. Dialogues are prioritized well, coming through clearly and intelligibly, and the dated yet distinctive soundtrack integrates smoothly with the overall audio landscape. Although directionality is limited due to the mono format, the mix ensures clarity and fidelity in dialogues and sound effects.

Notably, this DTS-HD MA track also marks a considerable enhancement over previous lossy editions. The stereo soundtrack brings a more inviting and expansive presence, featuring rich mid-range detail and clear separation between music and action elements. While there are moments of music bleeding due to the original mixing, both dialogue and whispered conversations remain well-prioritized and discernible throughout. Additionally, the mix delivers adequate low-end presence, adding depth without overwhelming the main audio content.

Overall, while not as elevated as the film's impressive visual transfer, the audio track of "New Year's Evil" holds its ground exceptionally well. The soundtrack’s clarity in the mid-range, coupled with an absence of digital noise and artifacting, contributes to an effective and enjoyable auditory experience. Subtitles in English are also available for those who require additional support.

The extras on the Blu-ray release of "New Year's Evil" offer a mixed bag of content that, while extensive, might not live up to the expectations of all fans. The standout feature is the retrospective "Call Me Eeevil," where key cast members deliver engaging anecdotes, balanced with technical insights from the cinematographer. Unfortunately, the audio commentary falls short, marred by excessive silence and a lack of engaging dialogue between Bill Olsen and Emmett Alston. Additionally, the trailer offers a brief glimpse into the film's appealing chaos. Overall, these extras provide adequate insight but leave room for improvement in engagement.

Extras included in this disc:

The Making of New Year's Evil: Behind-the-scenes look at the film's production.

Trailer: Theatrical trailer in HD.

Commentary with Writer and Director Emmett Alston: Audio commentary by Emmett Alston with intermittent insights.

"New Year’s Evil" is a notable entry in the early 1980s slasher genre, arriving in the wake of "Friday the 13th." Directed by Emmett Alston and produced by Cannon Films, it stands out due to its unique premise and setting. The film revolves around Diane Sullivan (Roz Kelly), a punk rock scene personality hosting a televised New Year’s Eve countdown. The suspense builds as she receives a chilling call revealing that someone close to her will be murdered at midnight across each time zone. Unlike many slashers, the identity of the killer is disclosed early, shifting the focus to his motives and the ensuing mayhem.

The film adheres to many genre conventions, featuring unsympathetic characters, jump scares, and a twist ending. However, it diverges from typical narratives by setting the action against a Hollywood Boulevard backdrop dotted with punk subculture revelers. This change offers a fresh perspective, deviating from traditional stalk-and-slash plots centered around isolated babysitters or teens. Despite its predictability and low-budget constraints, "New Year’s Evil" leverages its distinctive environment to introduce a different type of protagonist—one driven more by selfishness than virtue.

"New Year’s Evil" integrates some creative elements within its conventional framework. The film departs from graphic gore, favoring more classical suspense techniques to deliver its thrills. Moreover, Diane is not the typical Final Girl; her strained relationship with her troubled son adds an emotional depth not commonly found in similar films of that era. Although these elements don’t entirely rescue it from genre obscurity, they imbue it with a certain novelty, rendering it an interesting watch for aficionados of 80s slashers.

Scream Factory's Blu-ray release of "New Year's Evil" shines with its top-tier transfer, elevating this otherwise formulaic and somewhat predictable horror flick. The new HD scan uncovers a surprising level of visual fidelity for a film of its age and initial quality. The film grain is evenly distributed, adding texture without intrusion. Colors, particularly the reds, come through vividly, and the skin tones appear natural. The black levels are impressively deep, avoiding any visible crush and contributing to the overall excellent shadow detail. Though minor dirt and vertical lines occasionally appear, these are minor quibbles in what is an impressively clean and sharp print.

The audio component, provided as a single English 2.0 DTS-HD track, complements the visual experience well, despite some limitations inherent in the original mix. Dialogue remains clean and intelligible throughout, while sound effects maintain a satisfying level of fidelity. However, the music mix sometimes struggles to integrate seamlessly, resulting in occasional bleed and a lack of directionality and low-end impact. Subtitles in English are available for those who require them, adding practical usability to the technical package.

In conclusion, "New Year's Evil" may not break new ground in the horror genre, but Scream Factory's Blu-ray edition ensures that fans of cult slasher films receive a top-notch presentation. The quality of the transfer breathes new life into an otherwise middling film, making it a valuable addition to any collector's library. Despite the solitary noteworthy bonus feature, this release stands out for its technical prowess and dedication to preserving a piece of horror cinema history.