WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Dr. Giggles
Genre:Horror

Reviewed In Issue 04 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Larry Drake, Holly Marie Combs, Glenn Quinn, Cliff De Young.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4
Sound Rating: 4
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MCA/Universal Home Video
(Catalog Number): 41497
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $34.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 96
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1992
(LD Release Date): 05/01/93
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Manny Coto
(Screenplay/Written By): Manny Coto & Graeme Whifler
(Story): NA
(Music): Brian May
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Bill Malley
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Debra Neil
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): Mike Richardson
(Producers): Stuart M. Besser

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.21:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
A slasher movie can be fun if there is some character development, some suspense, a reasonable story line and maybe a little humor. Unfortunately all those things are lacking in the grotesque Dr. Giggles which is billed as a horrific tongue-in-cheek thriller— “an exciting, fast and frequently hilarious collision of gore and gags!” (Los Angeles Times). The story is about a small town doctor, who rips out his patients’ hearts in a vain attempt to save his ailing wife. The townspeople stone him to death but his son (L.A. Law’s Larry Drake) with the hideous giggle escapes, only to return 35 years later to seek revenge on the whole town in scene after scene of gristly murder mixed with wisecracks about doctors.

LaserDisc Picture:
Technically this disc is excellent with a flawless transfer at an aspect ratio of about 2.21:1. The picture is crisp and the color fidelity is first-rate. Cinematographer Robert Draper has framed each shot to maximize the widescreen palette for a visually interesting presentation.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby Surround® soundtrack is well recorded with reasonably aggressive surround effects for an enveloping experience.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: