The charm of filthy, grainy prints

[The Chaostar]

The Hills Have Eyes was the first horror film I ever saw in the big screen - 13 years old and from an unbelievably scratched and tired print (which I bought 2 years later - in even worse condition!). I am more than happy that AC has the rights and will release a special DVD edition since it is my favorite Craven film.

But, you know, I sometimes wonder:
I have seen this film many times from ragged prints in sleazy theatres and horrible telecine VHS transfers, and I kinda think that that added to it's charm. Would a pristine, sharp, full of colours, ultra-clean DVD transfer, destroy this film's charm to my eyes? What do you think?

Has this ever happened to you with some films?

[dvdasia62]

Originally posted by The Chaostar
But, you know, I sometimes wonder:
I have seen this film many times from ragged prints in sleazy theatres and horrible telecine VHS transfers, and I kinda think that that added to it's charm.

Absolutely 100% in agreement with you. Not too mention the charm of watching a film every now and then that looks like it used to on TV when I was akid way back when.

[Shannafey]

I think people have made posts about this before, and there is definitely a lot of agreement around here regarding that issue. A lot of these films were never really meant to look that good, but it is a pleasure seeing a beautiful transfer to dvd. Boots were fun because we could see a film we never saw before, and the bad quality added to the forbiddeness, so to speak. Like you said, I have never seen Hills Have Eyes, other than in fairly poor prints, so I definitely agree, and I agree with DVDAsia about the prints on TV, but those don't seem to get the grand treatment, they still look like tv prints... films like Trilogy of Terror and Gargoyles, the dvds look great, but they still have the same feel. Films that we only saw on tv as a kid, but have gotten the grand treatment, definitely have lost that charm.

[the.wicked.one]

I recently watched Hooper's Eaten Alive on dvd and the video transfer was fairly scratched. But somehow I loved it even more because of it. It really added to the atmosphere and hightened the overall enjoyement of watching the film.

But it only works for a certain category of films. For example, I love watching the remastered versions of any Argento film and I expect it to of prestine quality.

[Shannafey]

Originally posted by the.wicked.one
But it only works for a certain category of films. For example, I love watching the remastered versions of any Argento film and I expect it to of prestine quality.

I definitely agree with that, and as for the Argento films, it is because they are so beautifully shot, they are in a category by themselves. The sleazier films, such as old Hooper films definitely have a better feel, when they look scratched, old, rough, etc.

[Grim]

I've never seen The Hills have Eyes, I exactly understand what you guys are saying. Sometimes I pop in my old TCM tape just to watch it and bring back memories of when I first saw it when I was ten and rented it from the video store. Ahhhh, good times.

[betterdan]

While I love the The Beyond disc I do feel it lost that gritty edge when it was remastered. Another one that would lose a lot is Don't Go in the House. The dvd for that one is scratchy colors faded etc. but if cleaned up just wouldn't look right.

[mcchrist]

I can understand where you guys are coming from, the same reason why many still stick to vinyl over CD's. The grain and scratches do add character to something like 2,000 Maniacs and stuff like that. I miss it, for the most part, but with new technology I'm able to see these movies exactly as they were meant to be seen if not better, there are no complaints here!

[JW77]

:lol:

I sort of agree. Dirty, scratched prints just seem to have a certain amount of ... character ... to them. Especially for old horror movies. It sort of brings that run-down theater or midnight movie on Channel 10 feel to them.

[KillerCannabis]

I agree in my own way. I like to have an older horror film on DVD with a good print, but still containing the grain and "worn" feel that old horror movies should have. I wouldnt want to see something like TCM with a pristine 16X9 print, cause it just wouldnt fit the "feel" of the film.

[marioscido]

I'm definitely with you guys on this. I was saying as much in the 'Martin-George Romero' thread. I think the slick AB transfer of "The Evil Dead" is a case in point.

However, there is grainy and there is unwatchable. I saw the most horrific print of "Dead and Buried" at our local rep house last Halloween; it made me wish for a clean dvd transfer.

Some 16mm prints out there are clearly unwatchable: faded colours, bleached out whites, overly contrasty blacks, and front/end reel scratches from hell... I'll take a pristine dvd transfer over this anytime.

Grain is usually intentional, fading prints are just sad. I guess when I went to film school I was forced to watch bad 16mm prints, and for some of these films, seeing the dvd transfers was like watching the film for the first time. Criterion's "Haxan" was such an experience for me.

[The Chaostar]

SUSPIRIA is a film that needs a great pristine picture and the DVD does it justice (but the sound on the AB DVD suck big time) but I like my TTCM dirty and the same goes for films like Clean Shaven, The Hills Have Eyes, Henry e.t.c.

[rxfiend]

a generated/faded copy of "Night of the Living Dead" is awesome. whenever i get around to purchasing the ME dvd, i will still hold onto my low budget dvd. the low quality gives the film a great atmosphere imo.

[Werner Von Wallenrod]

You people are all cracked.

:glasses:

[nlogax]

i have VERY fond memories of scouring the city looking in every hole in the wall video store (and grocery store!) for obscure horror flicks (on vhs) and I never minded that they looked far from perfect. There was just something warm and comforting about an old video tape. just last night i dug out an old tape of 'the virgin witch' and 'house of psychotic women' and had a ball watching them even though they looked like crap. i cant honestly say that i LIKE the look of old vhs, its more of a sentimental thing. it takes me back to a certain time and place in my life.

[dwatts]

Movies like Basket Case benefit. I mean, watching that thing (as I did the other night) in the 20th Anniversary Edition really makes you understand the pristine is not always a benefit. It looked cheaper than ever. Driller Killer is another one, pristine just does not work.

[Werner Von Wallenrod]

I thought Basket Case was a very welcome improvement over the old VHS tapes.

[Grim]

Alot of times I like the grainy prints. It gives the film that "Joe Bob Brigg's Monstervision" feel. God I miss that show, that introduced me to so many horror films in my elementary school days, namely all the dead films, return of the living dead, the friday the 13ths, ect. God I wish something like that would come on. Ya know what, I'm going create a public access show that shows two horror films every saturday. :lol:

[wago70]

There are nights when I love watching scratchy VHS prints of movies that have good DVD releases. I have this VHS copy of "And Now the Screaming Starts" and it has that late-night/channel 2 look and feel to it that the DVD doesn't. I also love watching "Lady Frankenstein" for that reason (all three different versions I have). I have this fun little VHS tape of Drive-In/Concession stand promos that is also very charming. Some films, however, just need that DVD Sheen: Argento, Fulci, ect. but ones like: Eaten Alive, Cannibal Ferox, and a lot of the Retromedia releases benefit from that grindhouse look.



"Show starts in 10 minutes!"

[Black_Mandarin]

Very good points. Glad to see I'm not alone.

When they released The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly on DVD, I got it and was happy. Then I read on a DVD forum and in various reviews pans and slams of the disc because the print was dirty and grainy and the mono soundtrack still had some pops and dub distortions. What the Hell? I mean, isn't that part of the fun and mood of a Spaghetti Western?- The fact that they are gritty and rough?Sure, it could be cleaner, but really, it is film. Film gets dirty, its no big deal...

Then, last year I heard that they are re-releasing and re-mastering The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, cleaning it up, inserting cut scenes (that were on the DVD), probably stereo mixing the score, and I bet there wont be a spot on it. Why, because a lot of people have turned into elistist prudes who cannot fathom watching a movie with a spot or line on it because they spent $5000 on their home entertainment center- and they dont understand the nature of celluliod, or, at least, old film.

On the other side, I do love the fact that DVD has saved films that were rough to begin with, like HK film, Eurotrash films, exploitation films. They are films that lacked due to their low budgets. And bad vhs transfers, bootlegs, and prints just made them look even worse, emphasized their limitations. Luckily DVD has really helped a lot of movies look far more impressive, but I agree, every film doesnt need to be pristine. There is a charm in the roughness sometimes.