Evil Has A New Home! Step inside a vacation house of horror in this terrifying thriller that does for summer homes what Jaws did for a dip in the surf. Karen Black (The Pyx), Oliver Reed (The Brood), and Bette Davis (All About Eve), star in this riveting haunted-house chiller that delivers hidden terrors mounting creepily as the film builds to a climax of pulverizing fright. Marian (Black) and Ben (Reed) find it hard to believe that for only $900 they’ve rented a sprawling country mansion for the entire summer. But as they settle into their isolated estate with their son (Lee Montgomery, Ben) and Ben’s aunt (Davis), they find themselves surrounded by an evil, hypnotic living presence that feeds on torture, fear, and murder. The stellar cast includes Burgess Meredith (The Sentinel), Eileen Heckart (The Bad Seed), Dub Taylor (Gator), and Anthony James (High Plains Drifter). Co-written, produced, and directed by horror legend Dan Curtis (Dark Shadows).
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Video Quality
This new Blu-Ray from Kino Classics gives Burnt Offerings an AVC-encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 that gets the job done, but this one would thrive with a fresh master. The film was previously released on Blu-Ray in 2015 by the label. The new disc is derived from the same master and utilizes the same encode from before. Any hope for improvements will have to come from another release in the future. That being said, this transfer is mostly pleasing as it maintains its natural grain which resolves well with only occasional diversions into noise.
The colors hold up fairly well with some deep hues in the costumes and production design. Black levels are a bit more unsatisfying and lack depth, which is doubly disappointing since so much of the film takes place in shadow. There is no insurmountable damage to be found in this presentation, but the feature showcases a very soft, dreamy appearance that sacrifices detail for the atmosphere. You might also spot a low-grade sheen of dirt and specks. The natural look of the feature allows for a fine amount of distinct detail to shine through in the production design and clothing. We would have loved to have seen some improvement with this re-release, but those who have not picked it up previously should take advantage of the new option.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a decent DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that gets the job done even if it is not a spectacular listening experience. Dialogue and background noises are balanced admirably with all competing elements for a clear sonic palette. This track shows a handful of indications of age-related wear and tear outside of the persistent light background hiss. The track can also sound the slightest bit thin when it comes to the accompanying score. The music does not overshadow the dialogue or other important information. Kino Classics has provided a passable track that could potentially be finessed in the future with a bit more care. There are optional English SDH subtitles included for the feature film.
Special Features
- Audio Commentaries: There are two great commentary tracks provided in which the creative team and film historians discuss the release and legacy of the film, how it adapts the source material, the background of the performers, the aesthetic style of the feature, and more that gives invaluable insight into the picture.
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- Audio Commentary #1: Director/Co-Writer/Producer Dan Curtis, Actress Karen Black, and Co-Screenwriter William F. Nolan
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- Audio Commentary #2: Film Historian Richard Harland Smith
- Interview with Actor Anthony James: An 18-minute interview with actor Anthony James in which he discusses his career, the limitations his appearance put on his career, his mom visiting the set of In the Heat of the Night, memorable moments with Bette Davis, how he attempted to change up his approach to playing bad guys, and more.
- Interview with Actor Lee Montgomery: A nearly 17-minute interview with the former child actor in which he discusses getting hired for Burnt Offerings, getting drunk with Oliver Reed’s entourage, the bond he formed with the cast and crew, his feelings about the film, and more.
- Interview with Writer William F. Nolan: A nearly 14-minute interview with the writer in which he discusses getting a break with a production company, the drunken revelry of Oliver Reed that annoyed Bette Davis, the adaptation of the novel, horrific inspirations for unsettling scenes, the film’s theatrical release, and more.
- Trailers From Hell with Steve Senski: A nearly four-minute installment of the web series that gives a quick overview of the film.
- Animated Footage of Images: A nearly four-minute still gallery is provided for marketing material, publicity stills, and more.
- Trailer: The two-and-a-half-minute trailer for Burnt Offerings is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Burnt Offerings is an entertaining ghost story that allows the viewer to build up the thrills in their mind for a while before bombarding them with obvious, fleeting moments of excitement. The major strength of this outing is the talented ensemble, especially the legendary Bette Davis who gets a role more than a glorified cameo. Other performers put forth stronger work in this example, but seeing Davis be given a good amount to do is a welcome sight. The film does not quite nail the conclusion and it feels a tad bloated, but it works way more than it doesn’t. Kino Classics has delivered a Blu-Ray release that shows off an acceptable A/V presentation and an impressive assortment of special features. There are ways we would want to see this set improved, but the film is worth checking out any way you can. Recommended
Burnt Offerings (Special Edition) is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.