BLU-RAY REVIEW

The Munsters

Featured In Issue 263, September/October 2022

Picture4
Sound4
WSR Score3
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
1000818724
(MPAA Rating):
PG
(Rating Reason):
Macabre and suggestive material, scary images and language
(Retail Price):
$22.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
110
(Color Type):
Color With B/W Sequences
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
No
(Direct-To-Video Release):
Yes
(Disc Release Date):
9/27/2022
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Rob Zombie
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

"The Munsters" is about Lily and Herman's courtship. Lily is just your typical 150-year-old, lovedom vampire looking for the man of her nightmares . . .that is until she lays eyes on Herman, a seven-foot-tall, green experiment with a heart of gold. It's love at first shock as these two ghouls fall fangs over feet in this crazy Transylvanian romance. Unfortunately, it's not all smooth sailing in the cemetery as Lily's father The Count has other plans for his beloved daughter's future, and they don't involve her bumbling beau, Herman. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director/Writer/Producer Rob Zombie and the featurette "The Munsters: Return To Mockingbird Lane" (HD 01:52).

The 1.78:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed digitally and sourced from a 2K master Digital Intermediate format. The picture exhibits sharp and clear imagery. The color palette is vividly saturated with colors that pop, especially the wild costumes of Herman Munster. Other colors exhibit strong primaries and are brilliant. This is a costume party extraordinaire, The imagery is brightly illuminated. Contrast is is excellent. Black levels are deep and solid, Shadow delineation is revealing. Bright white levels are electrifying. There are a few black-and-white sequences. Resolution is excellent with fine detail exhibited in facial makeups, prosthetics and features, costumes and object textures. There is a layer of video noise that permeates the imagery which is a bad attempt to soften the video intensity. Overall, this is a very colorful and sharp picture, but with a exaggerated video appearance. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-channel soundtrack is dynamic with a dialogue focus supported with crazy sound effects and deep bass accents, such as when Herman moves and when he strikes his hollow chess. The bass foundation is deep and solid throughout, The music accompaniment is cartoonish with fun arrangements. The music extends wide across the soundstage and to the surrounds. Dialogue is intelligible throughout with generally good spatial integration, This is a over-the-top extreme production that is holosonic®-sounding with lots of crazy and spooky atmosphere and sound effects. (Gary Reber)