SCANNERS & THE BROOD 4K UHD BLU-RAY REVIEWS

Two great horror films releases to 4K UHD from Second Sight Films, David Cronenberg's classics 'Scanners' and 'The Brood'. At the time of writing both have special edition packs direct from Second Sight's web shop and Scanners can be purchased here:

And 'The Brood' special pack can be purchased here:

Both have the standard editions which I show in this video - Scanners standard 4K UHD release is here:

And 'The Brood' standard edition is here:

Image aspect ratio of both films is 1.85:1 approximately and sound on both is mono. There is an option for 5.1 sound on 'Scanners' but this sounded poor in here and rather harsh to listen to. See what you think on your system before opting for which to listen to throughout the film.

[MaxRocker]

We need a release of The Fly on 4k. I haven't personally seen these earlier Chronenberg films but would like to at some point. The Fly is a masterpiece

[MrRosso]

Brings back a lot of great memories the Rabid super 8mm. I had that and enjoyed showing it to friends. I used to turn up the volume to make sure they jumped when the man foaming at the mouth jumps up into view in the back of the ambulance window. Agree the Brood is excellent and one of my favourite Cronenberg’s. Thanks for sharing.

[cgray]

I just got my scanners delivered to Australia! I’m remember watching it on Channel 4 on a Sunday night as a young lad ! 🙏

[loekegaard]

The shot of the Super 8 reel with you saying _This was what my childhood was largely about, now I look back on it_ was touching.

[richardfowler]

Where the Cronenberg films took off in the UK, was on VHS. No doubt about it. Intervision had a huge popular rental with Shivers, Rabid and The Brood. I remember and owning them all in full cardboard slipcases. Later they would be cut down and put in small rental style plastic boxes by the video shops to preserve(!) the artwork. Cronenberg was huge on UK early VHS. Intervision and later Guild Home Video with the video rights to Scanners made an absolute killing. Sort of miss those days of early rental. Anyway, great video as always.

[robertbeard]

Remember seeing the poster for the Brood at the ABC cinema Wimbledon back in 1979. Like Scanners saw it a lot later. Very atmospheric.

[tjdw]

Great review. (Yes you should've got The Brood Special pack haha). Actually I was always going to get The Brood Special Pack and the regular for Scanners as it is a film I dont much love, but it was the artwork on Scanners that convinced me I had to have the special packs for both and now I have them on my display shelf along side Carrie, The Fly Deluxe Boxset from Shout Factory and Paris, Texas.

It's funny that you should mention the Super 8 of Rabid (its actually 1977) because on my Blu-ray of Shivers (1975) (Cronenberg's first commercial feature) it comes with scans of the Super 8 reels as a special feature and so has the whole Super 8 cutdown. At the time I did ask on here in a comment but I don't think I ever got a reply, but I did ask about the Super 8 reels as at the time I had no knowledge and now I have some thanks to you and what I can gather from the context that you give. But I had asked what exactly are the Super 8 versions like and whether they were cutdowns of the film as I was confused to find that it was about 24 minutes long.

I had wondered whether you would do a video explaining Super 8 releases. Now I kind of understand having seen you discuss it in many many videos but a dedicated video (if you havent already I couldnt see one) I at least would find very interesting. I found it very interesting watching the Super 8 of Shivers on the special features on the blu-ray and I since saw a scan of the Super 8 for Alien and that was very interesting as well. But yh really appreciate the work that you do John and you kind of introduced this whole world of Super 8 films as a home video kind of release as I frankly had no idea that it existed and when I did see that there were releases I didn't understand exactly what they were.

[SuperGrumpyDaddy]

Saw both in the cinema. And both were (different times, obviously) at the ABC in Plymouth, so it definitely played outside of London. Love both of these movies.

[Theomite]

I don't care for SCANNERS but THE BROOD is a must-have and when I get paid on Friday, I'm ordering it.

[steryan]

Cheers John, I've never seen either of them even though I remember them very well on the VHS shelf in Radio rentals, and my dad said I wasn't old enough 😅

[garyharper]

Watched All Quiet on the Western Front. Great looking steelbook, good looking picture and nice Atmos track. You need this!

[drwinstonoboogie]

I remember sneaking into to the Studio Cinema (alas no longer there) in Newcastle to see Rabid back in the day.🙂

[TouretteRTV]

Thank you! Since I saw Rabid in a cinema (horror films marathon) I love Cronenberg films, especially the older ones. The Brood is also excellent. And what you said about the Montreal light, I can relate to that.

[dannygooner]

Great review John thank you. I accidentally stumbled across The Brood on vhs when I was about 8 or 9 and it terrified me. I’m glad you enjoyed it, the disc looks great but I won’t be adding it to my collection, don’t want to bring childhood nightmares back 😂

[miesfuchter]

Thanks John.... David Cronenberg is one of my favourite directors.. Glad to see them in 4k.. I hope Videodrome and the Fly (Jeff Goldblum was great) is next. -My mistake -Videodrome is already out on 4k-🙂

[NathanSimpsonnathanisbeast]

SecondSight always will be the best company to put out the films that big studios (MGM, TriStar, WB, etc.) forget they even released, I have their 2017 release of "Electric Dreams" (1984) and their 2012 release of "Short Circuit" (1986) on Blu-Ray, both of those actually look a lot like if it was a 35mm print just on disc, I'd recommend both of those for reviews too

[comiccollex]

The Brood is the far superior film in my opinion and did get a much wider cinema release. I still remember the trailer on TV and my friend did indeed sneak in to see it at a local cinema in Coventry. Scanners was a video nasty 0.5 and we rented it from one of those pr Blockbuster video rental shops that are long gone. Think is a discount chemist these days. How times change 😀

[chrislin]

Thanks for making me feel not crazy about the 5.1 ; I've had several releases where the 2.0 sounds better. Always love your videos <3 I look forward to the next

[mirvmn]

Great review John :)
I might have seen Scanners cuz I recognize the exploding head scene, so maybe I should watch it again sometime. I haven't seen The Brood yet but, love these old horror films and should definitely give it a chance.

[JensStelzer]

Very nice review of the two old Cronenberg films, thank you John. I only have The brood in my collection, mainly because of Oliver Reed. I like him as an actor in horror films. But my Cronenberg highlights, besides The Fly and eXistenz, are still A History of Violence and Eastern Promises with Viggo Mortensen..not to forget Two other older movies dead ringers and dead Zone