Second Sight Films, out now

After the death of his wife and daughter in a car crash, composer John Russell leases an old mansion from a historical society, but instead of being a place to reflect and rebuild his life, a supernatural force makes it clear that he’s unwelcome.

Peter (Species II, Space: 1999) Medak’s atmospheric 1980 haunted house movie gets a UHD upgrade with Second Sight’s 4K release. The company released a Blu-ray special edition in 2018, which included a soundtrack and book of new writing, so is it worth a double dip?

This special edition of the 4K ports over the features of the Blu-ray (including book and CD), meaning that all eyes are on the picture. And it does indeed look stunning in UHD, the HDR10 pulling in detail in the many dark scenes. There’s an acceptable grain to the picture, but it doesn’t interfere with the viewing experience. New to this disc is an interview with Peter Medak by filmmaker Adrián García Bogliano at Mórbido Fest 2018 (74 mins) and a 20-minute interview with Peter Medak on his early years in swinging London.

What of the film itself? As I’ve said previously, it’s helped immeasurably by George C Scott’s rock solid performance, it’s one of those decidedly old-fashioned horror films where you could legitimately say ‘they don’t make ’em like this any more.’ All manner of familiar tropes are used to establish the menace – doors opening and shutting, loud banging, body in the bathtub, hidden room – but they feel fresh because they are all new to Scott’s John Russell, as he begins to doubt his own sanity.

Verdict: An excellent version of the movie, but if you own the special edition you might struggle to justify the new purchase. 8/10

Nick Joy

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