WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Faculty, The
Genre:Horror

Reviewed In Issue 34 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Jordana Brewster, Clea DuVall, Laura Harris, Josh Hartnett, Shawn Hatosy, Famke Janssen, Piper Laurie, Bebe Neuwirth, Robert Patrick, Usher Raymond, Jon Stewart, Elijah Wood

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): Dimension Home Video
(Catalog Number): 15972AS
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 104
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1998
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Robert Rodriguez
(Screenplay/Written By): Kevin Williamson
(Story): David Wechter & Bruce Kimmel
(Music): Marco Beltrami
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Cary White
(Visual Effects): Digital Vise & Hybrid Technologies
(Costume Designer): Michael T. Boyd
(Editor): Robert Rodriguez
(Supervising Sound Editors): Phil Benson
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Bob Weinstein & Harvey Weinstein
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Elizabeth Avellan & Robert Rodriguez

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.82:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Digital Surround
(Theatrical Sound): DTS, SDDS & Dolby Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
When the teachers at Herrington High begin acting more strangely than usual, a few of the students suspect that The Faculty may just be from another planet! Evidence surfaces that they are indeed being turned into aliens by mind-controlling parasites that are rapidly infecting the student body as well. It’s up to a small group of kids from different cliques to band together and save humanity.

LaserDisc Picture:
Images are sharp and detailed, with nicely rendered fine detail and definition on this 1.82:1 LaserDisc. Color fidelity is nicely balanced with accurate fleshtones, rich and warm colors and deep, pure blacks. Contrast and shadow delineation are nicely rendered on both, with good visual information in the darkest scenes. Minor noise is apparent, but there are no distracting artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Digital discrete 5.1 and matrix PCM soundtracks are effectively dimensional with excellent subtle and aggressive surround envelopment. The matrix is not as holosonic sounding as the discrete, which uses split surround directionality and phantom center back imaging effectively for a more engaging sonic experience. Bass extension is deep and powerful, especially on the discrete version, which is at times enhanced with .1 LFE to below 25Hz. Dialogue, while mono directed, sounds natural though not always well integrated spatially. The music score is haunting and spiked with rock. Overall, the sound design is effectively chilling with plenty of dynamic impact.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): Yes
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
(Aggressive Split Surround): Yes
(Center Back Surround Imaging): Yes
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
No
Collector Edition:
No