Customer Reviews

The Screaming Skull/Attack of the Giant Leeches - Drive-In Discs Vol.1

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you are looking for the spooky and not the gore, if you want something that the younger kids can watch these are the movies for you.
Lots of acting without all the special effects.
No oscars here but lots of fun.
Get out the popcorn and enjoy.

Look, I know "The Screaming Skull" is no "Citizen Kane." But that's no excuse for the cruddy treatment it receives on this abysmal DVD from Elite Entertainment. I compared the disc with an old VHS copy and noted the following: missing shots, entire chunks of missing dialogue, bad splices, bogus letterboxing (!) that crops and cramps the image, a generally dark and muddy transfer, and a phony digital end title card. Some of the cuts actually make hash of the narrative. For example, in the original film a character screams in terror when she sees a macabre painting that plays a crucial role in the plot. But since the DVD omits any actual shots of the painting, she appears to be screaming bizarrely for no reason. Subsequent dialogue about the painting is missing as well. So when the painting finally shows up in a later scene as part of a plot twist, the viewer can only register confusion. Other omissions completely undermine the relationship between two of the movie's characters. On the basis of this disc, it's no wonder people think so little of this movie. If Elite Entertainment couldn't be bothered to find an adequate print of the movie, why bother with all the "drive-in" extras? "The Screaming Skull" is a frequently creepy (albeit low-budget and dated) movie that deserves more than its role here as the peg on which to hang a marketing concept. Look for it on VHS. Avoid this disc.

This is really a cool way to experience those cheesy, 'so bad they're good' b-movies of yesteryear. It's the next best thing to using a time machine to go back to the old drive-in movies.

At the main menu of the dvd you can go to the ticket booth icon, and this starts the show. (You can jump to any of the features if you like, but this Ticket Booth option is the best way to do it.) Once you've started things via the ticket booth, you will then enjoy (among other things): The Star Spangled Banner, adverts for concession treats, a couple of old cartoons, reminders from theater management about not talking during the film, and a b-movie double feature.

It gets better. The coolest part is that there's an alternate audio track you can select during the films that contain the 'speaker' sound of the film as if you were sitting in a car, plus sound effects of people walking past your car on the gravel, a little comment here and there by someone in the next car, crickets, and other 'natural' sounds. It is a hoot. (And you can always just change the sound to the regular movie audio without these extra effects.)

The picture quality is mediocre at best, but the nostalgia makes it totally worthwhile. Yes, the whole experience is very kitsch and campy, but it's like capturing something from the past. It's the next best thing to being there.

This is more of a praise of the DVD itself rather than of the two films contained within. After all, nearly every household in America has copies of the Screaming Skull and Attack of the Giant Leeches, so reviews for those films would just be redundant and gauche.
But this Drive-In Discs DVD package from Elite Entertainment is very good. Obviously something put together by folks who love the old drive-in experience. Once you start the program(or buy the ticket as it were), you're treated to vintage drive-in fun: concession stand ads, a "don't talk during the movie" spot, a "no public display of affection" spot(you'll be kicked out of the drive-in and permanently banned if you're caught getting too hot and heavy with your date), and other assorted product ads. Plus there are coming attractions(The Wasp Woman and The Giant Gila Monster) and cartoons(a Betty Boop and a Popeye).
All of this fun stuff is shown before each feature. Also of interest is an audio track which allows you to hear through your speakers, a kind of drive-in environment. A good sound system would be great with this feature. There are sounds of people walking by, cars starting up and driving, and the occasional rare comment on the film. None of it interferes with the films, and it really quite fun. Silly for sure, but fun, dammit!
The quality of the films is pretty lousy. Both films have been released before on mediocre discs, and this is no exception. I suppose that you can only clean these films up so much. Either that or legions of film buffs aren't bothering to demand top drawer prints of Attack of the Giant Leeches.
But regardless, for the price, this DVD is a good time, and I can only hope that Elite keeps em coming.

The movies are good, but the picture-quality is poor on Leeches and average on Skull. When i changed the setting on my dvd-player from 4:3ps to 4:3lb, it got better.

I was very surprised to pop this disc into my DVD player and actually feel like I was transported back to the experience of going to a drive in theater. Who would have guessed you could add sounds like banging on the car trunk and people walking in gravel or someone next to you yelling to turn out your lights. This is a remarkable use of the technology available on DVD and I have never before seen or heard this used in such a unique fashion. OK so Screaming Skull and Attack of the Giant Leeches are goofy "B" film movies, this disc was worth every penny.

Well, I was extremely disappointed in this "drive-in" compilation. I own both Attack of the Giant Leeches and The Screaming Skull on video, and they're much better than what I found on this DVD. Perhaps I've become jaded, but I expect great digital work from Elite Entertainment, and I just didn't find it here. The "extras" are fun--all that schlocky drive-in stuff from the 50's. But my "fun" soon took a nose dive when I started watching the films themselves. Attack is muddy, blurry, and murky. Plus, where was the letter-boxing? The title card read "ack of the ant Leeches!" Very poorly done. As for Screaming Skull, well the print was terrible, just awful. And, as one reviewer said, there were huge chunks missing--bad enough the plot was crazy, but with these inexplicable cuts, how can anyone sane tell what's going on? Really, this has turned me off to getting any more Drive-In Classics from Elite. The recently-remastered "The Head That Would Not Die" looks like Citizen Kane by comparison. How would I rate this? How about "give me my money back?"

This would be a fun DVD for a group of friends with some alcohol involved. The drive-in features - adverts, trailers, cartoons, etc - are part of the fun. The Distort-o sound is mostly unobtrusive but nicely placed. The films themselves are B-movie bad - poor acting, terrible costumed monsters and the like - but, again, that's part of the appeal. I can't see myself watching this over & over, but it'll be a fun evening with mates.

The movie "Attack of the Giant Leeches" is a great movie even considering the dated material and the low budget. Even with these shortcomings it is entertaining in todays standards. The acting is good,the direction has flair and the setting is truly spooky. The highlight of the film is the part of Miss Vickers she is truly sexy even by today's standards and it is easily understood why Miss Vickers has developed a cult folling from this film.
The second feature is also well done again considering the budget limitations. I would highly recommend this DVD to any Sci-Fi or horror movie lover.

I must admit that I'd been holding off buying this (and the other disc)--due to the price AND the conflicting reviews of others (some have loved them...some were unrelenting in their criticism). Finally, I bought them both...

I have 4 speakers installed, in that "Surround" set-up thing...(it also works fine with only 2 speakers)...in the front left speaker, you'll hear the audio of the film (being transmitted over what SOUNDS like an actual Drive-In speaker...very tinny and MONO). In the other speaker(s), what is heard are nighttime crickets, people walking past, cars pulling up to park (beside me!), and other miscellaneous sounds!--all of which is Extremely authentic. For example, during the "Giant Leeches," (on volume ONE) there's even a carload of testosterone-charged teenagers...about 7 or 8 rows ahead (to the right!), who whistle every time blond bombshell Yvette Vickers comes onto the screen. During the intermission "highlights," people are heard running to the concession stand placing their orders, etc. ****REMEMBER: All these sounds CAN BE TURNED OFF with your DVD remote, (choosing the secondary audio track) and you'll hear full-blown (mono) audio without the distractions of the public!

The ambient Drive-In sounds on the second DVD ("Wasp Woman," "Gila Monster") are much more entertaining--I think...especially as you watch the intermission tid-bits and cartoons with two young couples who joke about the images on the screen--with regards to the warning of NO PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION, "Let's All Go to the Lobby," and especially the Freudian humor of "Chilly Dilly Pickles"! You can't help but to laugh with them! There's no annoying chatter among the (invisible) people during the films--if you're thinking that I'm implying a sort of MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATRE atmosphere...the folks are respectfully silent (that is, about 98% of the time).

As for the quality of the films...(and to address the complaints of other reviewers)...Both feature films (on both DVDs) are presented in widescreen (1.85:1), and yes, there ARE flaws; "moderate-to-low" print-quality, splices (jump-cuts), scratches...but, hey!--YOU'RE AT THE DRIVE-IN that's showing grade-Z horror/sci-fi schlock! The "worn" prints, in my opinion, only ADD to the authenticity of being at the Drive-In movies. If you want a pristine, camera-negative, re-mastered Director's Cut of "The Wasp Woman," I might suggest waiting until Criterion releases it(!!)

Some of the intermission segments ARE repeated on the second DVD...but then, some are NEW; again, you're "visiting" your local neighborhood Drive-In, and they're not going to show a new commercial for the same food! One reviewer noted that the shorts are not of the same time period (i.e. the 1930's "Betty Boop" combined with 1950's horror), but, if you're at an outdoor theatre that's showing 2 cheapie "flicks," in actuality, all they'd probably be able to afford to rent WOULD BE a "Betty Boop" cartoon! (NOTE: The "Betty Boop" and "Popeye" cartoons ARE different on both DVD's.)

Another reviewer noted that there's no time-code (counter-display) on the DVD player. So? When was the last time you ever saw a number-counter on the theatre screen? Again folks, these DVDs are meant to give you the feel of actually being at the Drive-In...where you aren't supposed to worry about time--just worry about having fun on a "night out," and the only "time" given is the on-screen "count-down" before the next feature--giving you time to get your last hot-dog or soda.

The only problem that I CAN agree with, is that each segment (intermission bits, coming attractions, etc.) are on separate DVD "chapters," and the player must pause (ever so) briefly to seek out the next bit. It's a slight hinderance, but nothing major. TRY THIS: For those who have a DVD playing capability in their home computer, try both DRIVE-IN discs, and you'll see the entire 3 hour presentation WITHOUT ANY pauses or breaks...you'll even "hear" the pops of the splices between film segments!

All this being said, I must honestly endorse both DVDs for those who yearn for a bit of nostalgia...and an entertaining evening in front of the boob-tube!