When you hear the title Scream, most horror fans will instantly go to Wes Craven’s 1996 classic. Some will remember it wasn’t the first slasher to hold that moniker. That honor would go to the 1981 film Directed by stuntman Byron Quisenberry. This little seen gem has been resurrected by Code Red and Dark Force Entertainment as a 4K release. You heard me right; there’s a 4K Ultra special edition of Scream (1981) starring Pepper Martin, Hank Worden, Woody Strode, and John Ethan Wayne, son of the legendary John Wayne. Is the title worthy of a 4K restoration?
Twelve people go on a camping trip to the Rio Grande and spend the night in an old ghost town. A vicious killer soon appears and begins to dispatch the campers one by one. Is the killer a supernatural entity, or are they human? It’s a race to discover the truth. Will the remaining campers be able to outwit the killer, or will they, too, succumb to a horrible and painful death?
Scream (1981) isn’t a particularly good film. It has many issues, including plot, pacing, acting, etc., but it has a certain charm to it, and it’s easy to see why it has amassed a devoted following. I distinctly remember watching it when I was younger and being frustrated because the film was so dark, and I couldn’t tell what was happening. With this 4K release, there’s definitely a major upgrade in the picture.

It’s far from perfect, but things are much clearer now. The kills were lackluster and could have benefitted from some practical effects from the era. It’s certainly worth a view for classic slasher fans, and if you’re debating which version to get, the 4K release is the best you will ever see.
One thing I found confusing and a bit frustrating is the inclusion on the back cover of Maria Kanellis, former wrestling superstar, who hosts the feature. I hoped for her to be like a late-night host in the vein of Elvira or Rhonda Shear. Instead, she’s not there in any capacity. Why put her on the back and advertise her as the host if there isn’t one? Maybe I’m missing it, but I didn’t see any menu that would play that version of the film. There is an insightful commentary by the film’s late director, Byron Quisenberry which does help to lend a deeper appreciation for the film.
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I guess a problematic disc for a problematic film is fitting. If you need to own a copy of Scream (1981), this is the disc to get, hands down. I’m thankful companies like Dark Force and Code Red have rescued movies like this. Good or not, they’re an important part of film history that should never be lost or forgotten.
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