Everyone seems to want to talk about what’s Apex Stephen King and what’s Lesser Stephen King. In the 1980s it was just Stephen King. Novels, Screenplays, Shorts, Novellas, all of it was game for anyone that loved the genre 30+ years ago. Silver Bullet is both the Novella and Screenplay by the maestro of horror.
Set over a summer in the sleepy town of Tarker’s Mill, Maine as a series of grisly murders have prompted the town’s citizen to go a little crazy. An ineffective Sheriff (played by the great Terry O’Quinn), and a restless mob of townspeople do not help the carnage. Though none of them are prepared for the secret that siblings Marty (Corey Haim) and Jane (Megan Follows) have discovered; a werewolf is responsible for these murders. With only their drunk Uncle Red (Gary Busey) who believes them, they are set for a confrontation with the beast that can only end one way…
Director Daniel Attias working from King’s own screenplay understands that adapting the horror master’s work is not about the scares as much as it’s about the relationships and drama outside of the horror. Attias working with cinematographer Armando Nannuzzi creates a beautifully widescreen film that’s shot like a drama rather than your standard horror film. Much of the film is focused on the relationships between the brother and sister thankfully, as much of the werewolf sections are pretty clichéd by this point in the mid-80s. What isn’t though is the character and some of the reveals that still work like gangbusters 35 years later.
Silver Bullet though not the best of the werewolf genre in the 80s it definitely merits a watch if only for the unique point of view that King has brought to the picture. That and the silver bullet of the title still kicks so much ass it’s not even funny.
The Transfer
The all-new 2023 Transfer from the Original Camera Negative in Dolby Vision (HDR-10 Compatible) is another win for Shout Studios. The image is an upgrade to their already stellar Blu-Ray release from 2019. There isn’t a hit of dirt, scratches, or any defects through the run time. The transfer is gorgeously luminous retaining all the grain structure, black, and contrast levels without a hint of artificating or crushing of the blacks making the widescreen shot film look beautifully representative of its 35mm origins.
The Extras
They include the following;
NEW Audio Commentary With Eric Vespe And Scott Wampler Of The Kingcast
Audio Commentary With Producer Martha De Laurentiis
Audio Commentary With Director Daniel Attias
Isolated Score Selections And Audio Interview With Composer Jay Chattaway
“A Little Private Justice” – An Interview With Actor Kent Broadhurst
“Cutting To The Bone” – An Interview With Editor Daniel Loewenthal
“The Wolf Within” – An Interview With Actor Everett McGill
“Full Moon Fever” – The Effects Of Silver Bullet
Theatrical Trailer
TV Spot
Radio spot
Still Gallery
NOTE: Only the Commentary Tracks reside on the 4K UHD. The rest (including the commentary track) are included on the New Blu-ray disc (which also should be noted that includes the new 4K Restoration).
The only new special feature is the Audio commentary by The Kingcast co-hosts Eric Vespe and Scott Wampler. The duo opens who they are and their qualifications – very cheekily. Some of the details include where the short story that King wrote began as a calendar and evolved into a novella; the script from Stephen King – and the very different approach to the story, which leads to a conversation throughout about the changes made to the story; a mention (as they do on the podcast often) Stephen King’s Revival; the fact that Don Coscorelli was the initial director of the film and his eventual leaving of the project; the work of Carlo Rambaldi on the werewolf – and its quality or lack thereof; a discussion of the character Uncle Red –how closely the character relates to real life; the parallels to Jaws – something brought over from Coscorelli’s time as director; discussion of the “silver bullet” of the film – the hot rodded wheelchair; a great Terry O’Quinn story as told by Eric; a discussion the gore and MPAA in the era; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; a larger discussion of the various locations, set design, props, and even extras that populate the film and how much these pieces of ephemera has changed since the mid-80s; and much more. Vespe and Wampler provide a fun and entertaining track – minus the bathroom break – that like their podcast delves deeply into not just the film but the source material.
The second audio commentary is the archival Audio Commentary by Producer Martha De Laurentiis was ported over from Scream Factory’s Blu-ray release. For this commentary, De Laurentiis is joined by DVD Producer Michael Felsher. They begin with De Laurentiis’ career history leading up to producing – starting as an accountant moving into production and eventually working with Dino De Laurentiis; eventually marrying Dino – but not before she produced a few films; discussion of various topics about the production including the FX work, production, shooting on location, and stunts; and much more. The commentary is a great look at the film and the time with De Laurentiis and some great stories about the Legend, Dino himself.
The third Audio Commentary by Director Daniel Attias also like De Laurentiis’ track, was ported over from the Scream Factory Blu-ray release (which was originally on the Olive Films Blu-ray). Attias is joined by DVD Producer Michael Felsher. Felsher does a great job of prompting the director on various topics that include the origins of the project; how he was hired; the development of the script – and the trickiness of adapting Stephen King; working with Dino De Laurentiis – including some great anecdotes about the legendary producer; a fair amount of production anecdotes about working with the various actors, cast, crew and shooting on location; and much more.
The fourth and final “commentary” is a hybrid of sorts. It’s an Isolated score and selected Audio interview by Jay Cattaway which was ported over from the Scream Factory Blu-ray release (which was originally on the Olive Films Blu-ray). More of a commentary conducted by DVD Producer Michael Felsher. The two discuss how he got into composing; his different work from other films; and of course the compositions and orchestrations in Silver Bullet and how they were accomplished; and much more. Rarely do we get a full commentary with a Composer and this one does not disappoint. Originally included on the Olive Films Blu-Ray Release.
A little Private Justice – interview with actor Kent Broadhurst (11:51) – in this interview with the actor who played the father of the murdered child. Issues with the prop corpse and he had to fake it. Doing his famous Private Justice monologue and a great anecdote about the nightmare scene.
Cutting to the Bone -Interview with Editor Daniel Loewenthal (16:39) – in this interview Loewenthal discusses how he got the job, his relative inexperience before being hired. He discusses his origins working in Porn then editing Mother’s Day and eventually working with Joe Zito. How the director went to bigger editors (e.g. Richard Marks, Richard Chew) and how he went with Loewenthal. It’s a great tech-based interview discussing the approach to the editing of the film.
The Wolf Within – Interview with Actor Everett McGill (16:15) – in this interview with the actor who is best known for Twin Peaks begins with his source of how he began to portray the reverend. He discusses how he got the role, and how Carlo Rambaldi’s issues with effects informed on how he got the role. McGill definitely gets into the meat and potatoes of just how difficult it was to do some of the performance. The soft-spoken actor gives some great information about the production and Attias as a director.
Full Moon Fever – The Effects of Silver Bullet (21:03) – in this interview with Michael McCracken Jr and Matthew Mogul. Both have a fun time recounting how the FX work came together. Beginning with how they met on Ice Pirates they do a great job of how they worked on Silver Bullet.
Theatrical Trailer (1:27) – The 90-second theatrical trailer is hilarious in its seriousness including the Don LaFontaine voiceover.
TV Spot (0:31) – The 30-second TV spot is a shortened version of the Theatrical Trailer.
Radio Spot (0:39) – The 40-second radio spot plays with an image of the original poster behind it.
Still Gallery (6:20) The image gallery runs automatically and has about 60 photos with the Score playing in the background it can be paused but not navigated.
The Final Thought
Shout Studios and their various labels continue to create 4K UHD upgrades with new features and transfers making something like Silver Bullet a necessary and vital upgrade. Highest Possible Recommendations!!
Silver Bullet gets a 4K UHD upgrade thanks to the fine folks at Scream Factory the release includes a host of extras and a new 4K Restoration!
The Film
Everyone seems to want to talk about what’s Apex Stephen King and what’s Lesser Stephen King. In the 1980s it was just Stephen King. Novels, Screenplays, Shorts, Novellas, all of it was game for anyone that loved the genre 30+ years ago. Silver Bullet is both the Novella and Screenplay by the maestro of horror.
Set over a summer in the sleepy town of Tarker’s Mill, Maine as a series of grisly murders have prompted the town’s citizen to go a little crazy. An ineffective Sheriff (played by the great Terry O’Quinn), and a restless mob of townspeople do not help the carnage. Though none of them are prepared for the secret that siblings Marty (Corey Haim) and Jane (Megan Follows) have discovered; a werewolf is responsible for these murders. With only their drunk Uncle Red (Gary Busey) who believes them, they are set for a confrontation with the beast that can only end one way…
Director Daniel Attias working from King’s own screenplay understands that adapting the horror master’s work is not about the scares as much as it’s about the relationships and drama outside of the horror. Attias working with cinematographer Armando Nannuzzi creates a beautifully widescreen film that’s shot like a drama rather than your standard horror film. Much of the film is focused on the relationships between the brother and sister thankfully, as much of the werewolf sections are pretty clichéd by this point in the mid-80s. What isn’t though is the character and some of the reveals that still work like gangbusters 35 years later.
Silver Bullet though not the best of the werewolf genre in the 80s it definitely merits a watch if only for the unique point of view that King has brought to the picture. That and the silver bullet of the title still kicks so much ass it’s not even funny.
The Transfer
The all-new 2023 Transfer from the Original Camera Negative in Dolby Vision (HDR-10 Compatible) is another win for Shout Studios. The image is an upgrade to their already stellar Blu-Ray release from 2019. There isn’t a hit of dirt, scratches, or any defects through the run time. The transfer is gorgeously luminous retaining all the grain structure, black, and contrast levels without a hint of artificating or crushing of the blacks making the widescreen shot film look beautifully representative of its 35mm origins.
The Extras
They include the following;
NOTE: Only the Commentary Tracks reside on the 4K UHD. The rest (including the commentary track) are included on the New Blu-ray disc (which also should be noted that includes the new 4K Restoration).
The only new special feature is the Audio commentary by The Kingcast co-hosts Eric Vespe and Scott Wampler. The duo opens who they are and their qualifications – very cheekily. Some of the details include where the short story that King wrote began as a calendar and evolved into a novella; the script from Stephen King – and the very different approach to the story, which leads to a conversation throughout about the changes made to the story; a mention (as they do on the podcast often) Stephen King’s Revival; the fact that Don Coscorelli was the initial director of the film and his eventual leaving of the project; the work of Carlo Rambaldi on the werewolf – and its quality or lack thereof; a discussion of the character Uncle Red –how closely the character relates to real life; the parallels to Jaws – something brought over from Coscorelli’s time as director; discussion of the “silver bullet” of the film – the hot rodded wheelchair; a great Terry O’Quinn story as told by Eric; a discussion the gore and MPAA in the era; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; a larger discussion of the various locations, set design, props, and even extras that populate the film and how much these pieces of ephemera has changed since the mid-80s; and much more. Vespe and Wampler provide a fun and entertaining track – minus the bathroom break – that like their podcast delves deeply into not just the film but the source material.
The second audio commentary is the archival Audio Commentary by Producer Martha De Laurentiis was ported over from Scream Factory’s Blu-ray release. For this commentary, De Laurentiis is joined by DVD Producer Michael Felsher. They begin with De Laurentiis’ career history leading up to producing – starting as an accountant moving into production and eventually working with Dino De Laurentiis; eventually marrying Dino – but not before she produced a few films; discussion of various topics about the production including the FX work, production, shooting on location, and stunts; and much more. The commentary is a great look at the film and the time with De Laurentiis and some great stories about the Legend, Dino himself.
The third Audio Commentary by Director Daniel Attias also like De Laurentiis’ track, was ported over from the Scream Factory Blu-ray release (which was originally on the Olive Films Blu-ray). Attias is joined by DVD Producer Michael Felsher. Felsher does a great job of prompting the director on various topics that include the origins of the project; how he was hired; the development of the script – and the trickiness of adapting Stephen King; working with Dino De Laurentiis – including some great anecdotes about the legendary producer; a fair amount of production anecdotes about working with the various actors, cast, crew and shooting on location; and much more.
The fourth and final “commentary” is a hybrid of sorts. It’s an Isolated score and selected Audio interview by Jay Cattaway which was ported over from the Scream Factory Blu-ray release (which was originally on the Olive Films Blu-ray). More of a commentary conducted by DVD Producer Michael Felsher. The two discuss how he got into composing; his different work from other films; and of course the compositions and orchestrations in Silver Bullet and how they were accomplished; and much more. Rarely do we get a full commentary with a Composer and this one does not disappoint. Originally included on the Olive Films Blu-Ray Release.
A little Private Justice – interview with actor Kent Broadhurst (11:51) – in this interview with the actor who played the father of the murdered child. Issues with the prop corpse and he had to fake it. Doing his famous Private Justice monologue and a great anecdote about the nightmare scene.
Cutting to the Bone -Interview with Editor Daniel Loewenthal (16:39) – in this interview Loewenthal discusses how he got the job, his relative inexperience before being hired. He discusses his origins working in Porn then editing Mother’s Day and eventually working with Joe Zito. How the director went to bigger editors (e.g. Richard Marks, Richard Chew) and how he went with Loewenthal. It’s a great tech-based interview discussing the approach to the editing of the film.
The Wolf Within – Interview with Actor Everett McGill (16:15) – in this interview with the actor who is best known for Twin Peaks begins with his source of how he began to portray the reverend. He discusses how he got the role, and how Carlo Rambaldi’s issues with effects informed on how he got the role. McGill definitely gets into the meat and potatoes of just how difficult it was to do some of the performance. The soft-spoken actor gives some great information about the production and Attias as a director.
Full Moon Fever – The Effects of Silver Bullet (21:03) – in this interview with Michael McCracken Jr and Matthew Mogul. Both have a fun time recounting how the FX work came together. Beginning with how they met on Ice Pirates they do a great job of how they worked on Silver Bullet.
Theatrical Trailer (1:27) – The 90-second theatrical trailer is hilarious in its seriousness including the Don LaFontaine voiceover.
TV Spot (0:31) – The 30-second TV spot is a shortened version of the Theatrical Trailer.
Radio Spot (0:39) – The 40-second radio spot plays with an image of the original poster behind it.
Still Gallery (6:20) The image gallery runs automatically and has about 60 photos with the Score playing in the background it can be paused but not navigated.
The Final Thought
Shout Studios and their various labels continue to create 4K UHD upgrades with new features and transfers making something like Silver Bullet a necessary and vital upgrade. Highest Possible Recommendations!!
Shout Studios’ 4K UHD Edition of Silver Bullet is out December 5th
Share this:
Like this: