Recently released from a mental institution, Jessica, along with her husband Duncan and friend Woody, have decided to move into an isolated farmhouse in search of a fresh start. When they arrive there, however, they discover a young woman squatting on the property. With the group deciding to let their unexpected guest, Emily, stay with them, Jessica soon discovers that their new companion bears a striking resemblance to a girl who drowned in the nearby lake many years ago and who, as local rumor has it, now haunts the area as a vampire. At the same time, Jessica begins to experience strange and frightening visions – is she once again losing her grip on reality, or is something even more strange and sinister afoot?

Heavily inspired by the Henry James novella The Turn of the Screw and Robert Wise’s The Haunting (1963), John D. Hancock’s (Bang the Drum Slowly) LET’S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH is a somber, dreamlike, and, at times, utterly bone-chilling classic of early ’70s terror. One of the first horror movies to make extensive use of a synthesizer in its score, which greatly enhances the film’s numerous shock sequences, Vinegar Syndrome is thrilled to present LET’S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH newly-restored in 4K from its original camera negative, with approval from director Hancock, and loaded with a host of brand new and exclusive bonus features.

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Video Quality

Vinegar Syndrome presents Let’s Scare Jessica To Death with an exquisite 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K restoration of the Original 35mm Camera Negative approved by director John Hancock. The film was previously released on Blu-Ray by Scream Factory in 2020 from an older master. That release was decent, but this new release absolutely crushes it. The film grain appears completely natural and consistent without any signs of unnecessary manipulation as everything resolves thoughtfully. Even brighter daytime outings avoid spiking or other stray issues. The movie is appropriately gritty with an abundance of fine detail on display for the first time. We didn’t clock any signs of print damage or stray specks throughout this undeniably great restoration. The texture present in the clothing and within the rustic production design is astounding.

The utilization of Dolby Vision for enhanced color output is carefully implemented to harness the nuances of each environment. The film is not bursting with bright colors, but the complexity of each shade adds to the creepy atmosphere. The hues render with a degree of accuracy not to be undervalued. The contrast is another essential element for this film that lives so much in the shadows. Black levels are deep with nothing in the way of crush present, and highlights are effortless with no blooming. When it comes to encoding, we did not spot any digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such nuisances. This presentation from Vinegar Syndrome taps into the full potential of the feature.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of the film comes with the original DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track which accomplishes everything you want from the experience. Dialogue comes through clearly, often in a dreamy voiceover, without being clipped by the sound effects or music. The rural setting is brought to life with a subtle din of sound that emanates to provide some valuable ambient details. The variety of sounds in the mix seems adroitly rendered so that nothing ever feels inauthentic. Music is an essential part of this film’s tone, and the score from Orville Stoeber establishes the ideal mood for this outing that never falters in its fidelity. There are a few thrilling moments, but nothing is pushed to the extreme from a sonic perspective. Everything is presented with a straightforward fidelity that never shows signs of strain. This presentation is clear of any hiss or other age-related wear and tear. Vinegar Syndrome has ensured this sounds as good as possible. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Disc One (4K UHD)

Audio Commentaries: There is both a new commentary track with the director and an archival commentary track with film historians which allows you to dig into the film from a personal perspective and an analytical angle. There are some great insights into the production of the film, challenges faced along the way, the thematic underpinnings, details about the shooting locations, the background of the performers, and much more that put things into context.
- Audio Commentary #1 (Archival): Authors Kim Newman and Sean Hogan
- Audio Commentary #2 (New): Director John D. Hancock, moderated by Justin LaLiberty

Disc Two (Blu-Ray)

Audio Commentaries
- Audio Commentary #1 (Archival): Authors Kim Newman and Sean Hogan
- Audio Commentary #2 (New): Director John D. Hancock, moderated by Justin LaLiberty

A New Medium – An Interview with Director John Hancock: A nearly 16-minute interview with the filmmaker who talks about his journey to creating this film, the influences on the picture, learning important lessons during his first feature, replacing his original director of photography, the look of the film, and more.

The Stars Align – An Interview with Co-Producer Bill Badalato: A nearly 12-minute interview with the co-producer in which he discusses the origins of the picture, the tight production schedule, the challenging weather conditions, the work of the performers, and more.

The Sound of Terror – An Interview with Composer Orville Stoeber: A 12-minute interview with the composer in which he discusses his early life and entry into music, composing music for Let’s Scare Jessica To Death, his motivation for certain pieces, collaborating with Hancock, and more.

A Haunted Quality – An Interview with Nightmare USA Author Stephen Thrower: A 22-minute interview with the film historian in which he analyzes the history of the film, the theatrical rollout, how the film fits into the attitudes of the time, and more.

Theatrical Trailer (3:02)

TV Spot (0:56)

Radio Spot (1:05)

Image Gallery (2:20)

Final Thoughts

Let’s Scare Jessica To Death is a prime example of atmospheric horror that crafts an unsettling environment that makes you question reality. The tranquil, sprawling countryside has an underlying darkness that is at odds with the idyllic facade. Horror fans looking for a more hardcore or extreme thrill may walk away underwhelmed by this one. The horrific nature of this feature comes more in the form of a subtle burrowing under your skin that manifests inside of you before you even know it’s there. Vinegar Syndrome has delivered a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a sensational A/V presentation and a nice assortment of special features. If you are a fan of the film, this release is a no-brainer. Recommended

Let’s Scare Jessica To Death is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Vinegar Syndrome has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.