Distributor: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: September 25, 2018
Region: Region A
Length:
Strait-Jacket – 01:32:52
Berserk! – 01:36:18
Video: 1080P (MPEG-4, AVC)
Main Audio: 1.0 English Mono Uncompressed PCM Audio
Subtitles: English SDH
Ratio: 1.85:1
Notes: “Strait-Jacket” was recently given its own individual release from Shout! Factory (which used a slightly different encoding of the same transfer). The biggest difference between the two discs is that Shout! Factory included supplemental features and this disc includes “Berserk!”
Strait-Jacket (1964)
Strait-Jacket proves once again that William Castle has nothing in common with Alfred Hitchcock. Robert Bloch was commissioned to write the screenplay, but it never approaches the brilliance of Psycho. Alfred Hitchcock’s cinematic prowess elevated the material contained within Bloch’s novel, and Castle simply doesn’t have what it takes to elevate the pedestrian nature of Bloch’s screenplay for Strait-Jacket. They are obviously making a terrific effort to capitalize on the enormous success of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?—but Robert Aldrich’s cult classic is also far superior to anything that Castle ever directed. However, Strait-Jacket is much better than most of his other horror endeavors. The viewer is spared the ham-fisted gimmickry that tended to interrupt the flow of his films, and Crawford’s performance is (at the very least) interesting. There is quite a bit of campy fun to be had in these ninety-two minutes.
Berserk! (1967)
The same cannot be said for Berserk! This is the sort of easy-to-solve “whodunit” that one might expect to see on episodic television (or in a made-for-television movie), but the real trouble isn’t the paint-by-numbers nature of the mystery formula. It is the filmmaker’s complete disregard for tone and pacing. Jim O’Connolly seems much too enamored with the circus acts as countless routines pad the film’s length to approximately 96 minutes. Sure, it is nice to see the trained poodles, elephants, lions, and other diversions out of context, but this slows the story down to an infuriating crawl. Of course, it is quite possibly just as well that these interruptions were included. Some of these acts were more engaging than the film’s plot.
The Presentation:
3.5 of 5 Stars
Mill Creek Entertainment houses their Blu-ray disc in a standard Blu-ray case that features a sleeve with reasonably attractive film-related artwork.
The disc’s static menu is also attractive and should be intuitive for the viewer to navigate.
Picture Quality:
Strait-Jacket: 4 of 5 Stars
Two different Blu-ray releases of Strait-Jacket hit shelves within weeks of one another, and the good news is that both of these discs used the same high definition image master (albeit with slightly different disc encoding).
The biggest difference between these two transfers is that Mill Creek has presented the film in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio while Shout! Factory offered a 1.78:1 transfer. This means that the top and bottom of the image contains a bit more information on the other disc, but this is more in line with what the audiences saw in theaters upon its release. An occasional blemish (usually white speckling) can be found throughout both transfers, but this is never distracting. Grain resolves adequately here on this disc, and the backs seem darker throughout the film. Contrast is reasonably well handled here, and the overall image showcases more detail than could be found on previous DVD releases.
Berserk: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Mill Creek’s master for Berserk! appears to be less attractive but it is certainly watchable. One does at least feel that they are watching a Blu-ray. There is a decent amount of fine detail, contrast is reasonably well handled, and clarity is okay (though not particularly impressive). Color seems accurate but one wonders if the film wouldn’t have been better in black and white. There is some dirt and white speckling evident, but neither issue is ever distracting.
Sound Quality:
Strait-Jacket: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Mill Creek includes a Linear PCM audio track in the film’s original mono, and the result is a solid rendering of the film’s original mix. It is obviously somewhat flat, but it would really be unreasonable to expect anything better. Those who refrain from comparing it with more recent sound mixes should find no fault here as all of the various elements come across clearly (including the music) as the lossless nature of the transfer gives it plenty of breathing room.
Berserk: 3 of 5 Stars
Berserk! is also given a Linear PCM audio track in its original mono, but it doesn’t come across as strongly as the one for Strait-Jacket. It sometimes sounds boxed-in and seems to need more breathing room. It is impossible to say whether this is an issue with the transfer or if the original sound elements leave something to be desired. It never really becomes a problem in any case.
Special Features:
0 of 5 Stars
There are no supplemental features included on the disc.
Final Words:
Wouldn’t Strait-Jacket and I Saw What You Did make a more appropriate double feature? Both films were directed by William Castle and star Joan Crawford in “over the top” performances, and Mill Creek has released at least two double feature discs devoted to William Castle in the past. This could have fallen in line with those releases. Neither of these films could be called a “masterpiece,” but Strait-Jacket does at least engage the viewer. The same cannot be said for Berserk! This disc is worth the money if you happen to be a fan of either Joan Crawford or William Castle.
Blu-ray Downlow 