He’s got ice in his veins and he’s giving cold-blooded a whole new meaning… his name is JACK FROST. After five years of terror and 38 bodies in five states, serial killer Jack is on his way to execution. But a freak accident with a truckload of genetic material in the middle of a snowstorm mutates Jack into a killer snowman. Now only an army can stop the slayride of terror from this frosty monster with icicle fangs. Hell has just frozen over… he’s the abominable Jack Frost.
For thoughts on Jack Frost, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic here.
Video Quality
Jack Frost returns to Blu-Ray via the MVD Rewind Collection with a 1080p transfer. Although this appears to be using the same source as the 2K restoration of 35mm vault elements from Vinegar Syndrome released in 2016, this release is presented in 1.78:1 (compared to 1.85:1) and has slightly different color timing. The results are quite pleasing but not without its flaws. The film has an organically filmic presentation that does not appear to suffer from any digital manipulation, but there are a handful of nicks and scratches present in the print. For the majority of the film, the transfer is fairly clear and detailed, but there is the occasional shot that runs on the soft side or experiences some fluctuations in density and brightness. The presentation features some pleasing detail in the production design and texture of costumes. The slighter darker color palette actually feels more natural to the world compared to the warm Vinegar Syndrome release. The black levels are mostly strong with a pleasing amount of depth. This is a pretty solid presentation for a film that was probably not expected to get such a carefully handled transfer.
Audio Quality
MVD Visual brings us this new Blu-Ray with both a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio and LPCM 2.0 track that offer a great audio experience. The dialogue holds up quite nicely, coming though clearly without being stepped on by the music or various sound effects. The environmental effects are delineated nicely including the sound of the liquid spraying from the truck and water running in the shower. The action in the film does not blow you out of the room, but it delivers a strong enough punch to keep you grounded in the events. This track does not present with any glaring instances of age related wear and tear. This is a track that represents the film in a very pleasing way. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary #1: Director Michael Cooney gives a fun and fact-filled commentary track in which he delivers nuggets of information about the conception of the film, the trouble with the snowman design, the performances in the feature, the shot design of the film and many more stories from the production. Really worth a listen to have this film put into greater context.
- Audio Commentary #2: Tony Piluso, Newt Wallen and Crystal Quin of Hack the Movies deliver a delightfully unhinged commentary track which approximates how it feels to have a group of friends over to delight in a great, terrible movie. This does not have as much behind-the-scenes detail, but it is a wonderful, energetic addition that does provide a more natural evaluation of the film.
- Introduction with Director Michael Cooney: The 40-second introduction from Cooney is provided here in which he shares his love for this divisive film.
- Full Empire Promotions’ Dominic Mancini Interview with Scott MacDonald – Part 1: A 42-minute virtual panel with actor Scott MacDonald which offers a broad overview of MacDonald’s varied career conducted around the end of 2020. The second part of this interview is included on the release of Jack Frost 2.
- Interview with Scott MacDonald: A 16-minute archival interview with MacDonald in which he discusses his role as the titular killer snowman, his approach to playing the character, the unexpected warm January which caused problems during shooting, the work of his co-stars, the recognition he receives from playing the character and more.
- Interview with Director of Photography Dean Lent: A six-minute archival interview with Lent in which he discusses his early career, getting involved with Jack Frost, composing shots to get around the lack of snow and more.
- Trailers: The trailer for Jack Frost is included here. There are also trailers provided for Jack Frost 2, House on Sorority Row, The Dark, Thankskilling and Thankskilling 3
- Poster: A fold-out poster of the cover art is included in the case.
Final Thoughts
Jack Frost is the perfect bit of horrific cheese that makes for a memorable cult classic. This first entry excels because it does not try to push beyond the limitations of the budget, choosing instead to shoot the snowman figure creatively to keep things from looking cheap. The performances are decent for what is called for from this genre, and even those who do falter add to the campy elements of the picture. MVD Entertainment has released a new Blu-Ray featuring a strong A/V presentation and a terrific assortment of special features, all in a great physical package. If you know what you are getting into with this film, you can have a raucous time with it. Recommended
Jack Frost is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: MVD Entertainment 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.
