For horror fans, Scream Factory is top of the line. A unit of Shout! Factory, the sub-label releases horror favorites from every decade on Blu-ray and, sometimes, 4K Ultra HD. The top of the line treatment given the films is palpable even for those who aren't well acquainted with classic horror cinema. Even the lowest-budgeted of films look pristine and sound even better.
The beauty of Scream Factory is multi-faceted. It's a way to discover new favorites, re-discover old ones, and they're outright fun to collect. With unique cover art (for the higher-profile releases) and a similar design for each Blu-ray's spine, they look great on a shelf.
The Blob (1988)
One of the best horror remakes of all time, Chuck Russell's The Blob, is a definition addition to any horror collection. The film itself is outstanding, with note-perfect performances from Shawnee Smith and Kevin Dillon.
Scream Factory's 2019 release comes with fresh commentaries and interviews with most of the principal cast (Dillon's absence being an unfortunate omission). There are also a series of very interesting interviews with how some of the film's more elaborate practical effects were pulled off.
Hell Night (1981)
Hell Night is an example of how Scream Factory can introduce horror fans to overlooked films. With Linda Blair (The Exorcist), Peter Barton (Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter), and a suitably creepy villain, it's a surprisingly tame and fun horror outing.
The Blu-ray is packed in an equally surprising manner. There's a 4K scan that was created utilizing the best available footage. There are also new interviews with Blair, Barton, other principal cast members, as well as the director, producer, writer, make-up artist, art director, and special effects artist.
Child's Play (1988)
The 2016 re-release of Child's Play could have been just that: another re-release. Instead, one of the more name-brand titles in Scream Factory's catalog receives comparable treatment. The release is a little harder to find now than it was a year ago, but the bonus features alone sell it.
Putting aside the excellent 2K scan orchestrated for the release, there's a new audio commentary with the director, Tom Holland. Just as fun is about an hour of new behind-the-scenes special effects footage as well as a couple of 40-minute documentaries on how the crew pulled off some of the film's more interesting shots.
Deadly Blessing (1981)
Underseen yet still one of Wes Craven's scariest films, Deadly Blessing was an early Scream Factory release (2013). This means it was a little before the sub-label started loading their discs with new special features.
Regardless, Deadly Blessing is a standout from their lineup and should be included in every SF collection. Featuring a group of mostly excellent performances (including a young Sharon Stone), it's a cult-based horror film that's given a nice coat of paint.
The Burning (1981)
Released in 2013, The Burning was released during what was only Scream Factory's 2nd year of operation. It's the definitive edition of the film and actually stands as what is easily the most widely available (and affordable).
If there's a good starting point for any Scream Factory collection, it's The Burning. It's a bare-bones Blu-ray compared to their later releases but it looks and sounds just as eerie and unsettling as it should. For fans of Friday the 13th or similar films, this is almost certainly the best one-off imitation.
Alone In The Dark (1982)
One of the many treats of Scream Factory for horror-loving cinephiles is the availability of once-rare films. Alone in the Dark (unrelated to the Uwe Boll video game adaptation) falls in this category. Better yet is the loving treatment these films receive, and again this applies to this underrated and unsettling film.
The bonus features for the 2021 release of Alone in the Dark are also outstanding. There's a new 2K scan as well as new interviews with Director/Co-Writer Jack Sholder and some cast members. There's also an analysis of the film's location-based shoot as well as a new commentary (by a film critic and a film historian). This release is top-tier and a worthy addition to a horror fan's collection, particularly if they've yet to see it and are fans of Halloween (1978) and Donald Pleasance, who appears in this film as well.
April Fool's Day (1986)
April Fool's Day was one of the better movies inspired by Halloween and its jaw-dropping financial success.
It's also a 101 addition to any burgeoning Scream Factory collection. With unique, creepy cover art and five new interviews, there's even more reason to add it to the cart beside the fairly high quality of the film itself. Furthermore, despite there not being a new scan, the film looks and sounds better than it ever has before.
Creepshow (1982)
The highly rewatchable Stephen King movie Creepshow got an intensive set for its release. About twice as thick as a standard Blu-ray case, the movie comes with a 40-page booklet detailing interesting aspects of the film's production.
The real selling point, though, is the 4K scan of the original negative. Better yet, the film's Director of Photography, Michael Gornick, supervised and approved it for release. There are also a bunch of new documentaries and interviews for fans to peruse in addition to a collection of many other, previously-released bonus features.
The Dead Zone (1983)
The Dead Zone is one of Stephen King's favorite adaptations, so it's rational to see the film receive the crown treatment for its Scream Factory release. Even just taking the Collector's Edition's gorgeous cover art into account it's a worthy purchase.
But there's so much more, making this the best of many Scream Factory releases of King adaptations. David Cronenberg's film comes with a brand new 4K scan of the original camera negative, a couple of interviews (including with secondary lead Brooke Adams), and an abundance of audio commentaries.
Friday The 13th Franchise (1980-2009)
The Friday the 13th Collection [Deluxe Edition] is probably the most elaborate franchise set from the company, and it's most certainly the best. For fans of the Friday the 13th films (most of which were released in the '80s), this is the gift that keeps on giving. All 12 films are included on 16 discs with only Freddy vs. Jason and the remake receiving no new additions.
Jason Goes to Hell and Jason X come with new 2K scans along with set-exclusive commentaries from the directors as well as new/previously released bonus features. Parts V through VII (which unfortunately does not include the assumed-lost footage) come with restored soundtracks. But its the earliest, superior four installments that receive the surplus of love. They have restored mono tracks, brand new 4K scans from the original camera negative, and Friday the 13th Part III even has a modernized 3-D version (with a proper 3D set-up). Perhaps best of all is the uncut footage from Friday the 13th Part II, which is included as a bonus feature.