Waxwork & Waxwork II: Lost in Time (Vestron Video Collector’s Series) [Blu-Ray]

Director: Anthony Hickox

Cast: Zach Galligan, Patrick Macnee

Release Date: October 18, 2016

A Review By: Kevin Lovell

Disc Rating: 8.5/10

Synopses:

WAXWORK: Inside the wax museum a group of teenagers are aghast at the hauntingly lifelike wax displays of Dracula, the Wolfman, the Mummy, and other character members of the Horror Hall of Fame. Each display is perfectly grotesque, yet each is missing one thing . . . a victim! Admission to the WAXWORK was free but now they may pay with their lives! One by one, the students are drawn into the settings as objects of the blood thirsty creatures. They are now part of the permanent collection.

WAXWORK II: LOST IN TIME: Having escaped the fiery destruction of the original Waxwork, Marl (Zach Galligan, Gremlins) and Sarah (Monika Schnarre, TV’s “Beverly Hills, 90210”) face another grueling ordeal in WAXWORK II, when Sarah is accused of murdering her stepfather. Fleeing through the doors of time in a desperate search for proof of her innocence, the two lovers find themselves caught in the eternally recurring battle between good and evil. Together they must stop one of the most powerful and demonic figures of all time — Lord Scarabus.

Both classic films in the fan favorite ‘Waxwork’ series arrive like you’ve never experienced them before, serving as the third release in the fantastic new Vestron Video Collector’s Series Blu-ray lineup from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Both ‘Waxwork’ films were written and directed by Anthony Hickox (Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth) and star Zach Galligan (Gremlins) in the lead role of Mark who throughout the course of the two movies is forced to confront everything from waxwork sculptures that are far more deadly than one might imagine, to traveling throughout time and space in order to help the girl he cares for in these wonderfully original, goofy and deliciously bloody cult classics from 1988 and 1991 respectively.

The original classic ‘Waxwork’ and its beloved sequel ‘Waxwork II: Lost in Time’ both arrive home on Blu-ray for the first time as part of the Vestron Video Collector’s Series lineup and fans who might have been worried about a potential quality issue resulting from a double feature release can rest easy as this Vestron release hasn’t skimped out in the slightest and provides separate discs for each film within, along with full size reversible artwork for both titles in addition to the split artwork slipcase. Fans of these goofy genre films will almost surely want to make certain to pick up a copy of this new ‘Waxwork Collection’ on Blu-ray. Both films look magnificent on Blu-ray for the first time and deliver wonderful high definition video and audio presentations that shouldn’t disappoint, in addition to a number of exciting extras including Audio Commentary tracks featuring Anthony Hickox and Zach Galligan on both films and more (more detailed information regarding the bonus content can be found in the special features section of the technical specification coverage below), altogether certain to make this one a definite must own for the majority of fans and a perfect way for newcomers to the series to experience it for the first time if they are willing to shell out the cash in order to purchase a copy, or are fortunate enough to find a rental option available somewhere.

Overall, diehard fans of the classic horror comedies ‘Waxwork’ and ‘Waxwork II: Lost in Time’ will likely want to make sure to get their hands on a copy of this impressive ‘Waxwork Collection’ Blu-ray release which marks the third release in the new Vestron Video Collector’s Series lineup. The release delivers fantastic high definition video and audio presentations on both films, each of which are also provided their own disc, in addition to some great extras including new bonus content created specifically for this release. This solid Blu-ray release should also provide the best possible way in which to experience the films for the first time for those who might not have previously had the pleasure. This new 2-disc ‘Waxwork Collection’ Collector’s Series Blu-ray release definitely gets my recommendation; any fans of these goofy classics won’t dare to miss out on it.

 

VIDEO:

The Blu-ray release of the ‘Waxwork Collection’ features a full 1080p High Definition presentation on both ‘Waxwork’ and ‘Waxwork II: Lost in Time’, both utilizing their original 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio and each presented on separate discs for optimum quality. The video presentations for both films look fantastic and deliver sharp, detailed, vibrant and gorgeous presentations from start to finish that still retain an ample amount of grain and a few other mild artifacts representative of their film source. They hold up beautifully at every point, even managing to capture the slightest bits of movement and other mild elements many might not have previously noticed. Overall, these are both wonderful high definition video presentations that should easily thrill fans and newcomers to the films alike.

AUDIO:

The Blu-ray release features a lossless 2.0 Stereo DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on both films in the collection. The lossless stereo soundtracks on both films provide crisp, clean and generally notable audio presentations. Perfectly balancing the music, dialogue and the numerous terror and action related auditory effects without issue and always allowing each small tidbit of activity to come through clean and sharp, with all dialogue that may be occurring simultaneously along with other elements remaining clean and fully audible at all times. Overall, these are solid 2.0 Stereo DTS-HD MA soundtracks that shouldn’t disappoint.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The Blu-ray release of the ‘Waxwork Collection’ continues the trend of the previous two titles released in the Vestron Video Collector’s Series and features a number of wonderful extras, many of which was created specifically for this release. As each film is provided its own Blu-ray disc for maximum quality and both discs include extras, I’ve broken down the extras by disc below for the sake of simplicity.

Disc One (Waxwork) includes an ‘Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Anthony Hickox and Actor Zach Galligan’ on the first film, in addition to an ‘Isolated Score Track and Audio Interview with Composer Roger Bellon’. Also included on the disc is all six parts of the new in-depth Behind the Scenes Documentary ‘The Waxwork Chronicles’ (running approximately 1 hour, 22 minutes in length) which includes retrospective interviews/comments with the cast and crew, plus a great deal more. We are also treated to a Vintage ‘The Making of Waxwork’ Featurette (running approximately 25 minutes), as well as the ‘Theatrical Trailer’ (approximately 2 minutes), and a ‘Still Gallery’ (7 minutes) for the first film.

Disc Two (Waxwork II: Lost in Time) includes an ‘Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Anthony Hickox and Actor Zach Galligan’ on the second film, along with an ‘Isolated Score Tack and Audio Interview with Composer Steve Schiff’. The ‘Music Video’ seen in the end credits sequence (running approximately 4 minutes), along with a ‘Trailer’ (3 minutes) and ‘Still Gallery’ (7 minutes) for the sequel are also included.

*Please note that the above images are taken from the Blu-Ray and resized. They additionally will suffer quality loss as a result of .jpg compression. Larger versions of each image can be viewed by clicking on the image. All images and content included on this Blu-Ray release are the property of their respective owners.

Disc Rating: 8.5/10

The ‘Waxwork Collection’ featuring ‘Waxwork’ & Waxwork II: Lost in Time’ is Now Available to Own on Blu-ray As Part Of The Limited Edition Vestron Video Collector’s Series from Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

Purchase your copy today by clicking on the Amazon cart Icon immediately below!