The Tingler [Collector’s Edition] Blu-Ray Review–it may not make your seat vibrate, but Shout Factory’s reissue of the classic William Castle cheapie packs a fun jolt.
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William Castle was the king of the gimmick: the filmmaker/huckster never met a shameless marketing technique he didn’t like when promoting schlock classics like The House on Haunted Hill and 13 Ghosts. And when it came to make The Tingler, his beloved 1959 sci-fi horror flick starring Vincent Price, he came up with a doozy–perhaps the most audacious stunt of his career.
He called it “Percepto,” where Castle had participating theaters wire seats so that random film-goers would get (safely) shocked during the climactic finale (which also takes place in a movie theater).
The stunt amplified the film’s goofy premise: a parasitic creature that attaches itself to the human spinal column when it detects fear. If left unchecked, it severs the spinal cord, killing its host. The only cure is to scream like crazy and stop it in its tracks.
Price plays Warren Chapin, a scientist who discovers the creature in question after performing macabre experiments. After he removes one from an unlucky victim, it escapes, and he must stop it before it takes another life. This leads to a “tingler” running amok in the aforementioned cinema (when those rigged seats were turned on for unsuspecting audiences).
The Tingler is a total hoot and Shout! Factory’s Blu-ray special edition more than does it justice. It looks fantastic, encoded in 1080p high-definition and framed at 1.78.1 widescreen. The only time things look a bit muddy is during one memorable scene, where the black and white cinematography is interrupted by a shot of red blood pouring into a bathtub. But given that was a shot superimposed on a rear projection, visual degradation is unavoidable, but the oozing gore looks resplendent in HD.
The audio also sounds fantastic, letting every shriek ring out in pristine glory during the theater sequence (prefaced by Price’s iconic warning: “Ladies and gentlemen, please do not panic! But SCREAM! Scream for your lives!”)
It’s worth noting this is one of Price’s most engaging performances. He gives Chapin an anti-hero quality where one can never pinpoint his true motivations, and makes even the most outlandish elements work, including a scene where Price takes LSD (supposedly the first time the drug was ever mentioned on film).
Extras:
Shout! Factory is well-known for stuffing their reissues with fun featurettes, and The Tingler doesn’t disappoint. Exclusive features includes I Survived The Tingler, featuring an interview with supporting actress Pamela Lincoln and Unleashing “Percepto” – An Interview With Publicist Barry Lorie, which sheds more light on the oddball promotional element and how it was implemented.
Other features are ported from earlier editions, including the fun mini-doc Scream For Your Lives! William Castle And “The Tingler,” the original theatrical trailer, an isolated scream track, the original lobby recording (featuring a classic Price monologue and a theme song so good you wished they included it in the film), a specially recorded segment for drive-in theaters, and more.
There’s also insightful commentary from film historian Steve Haberman who gives lots of fun factoids about the production, Castle, Price and the supporting cast that are illuminating and entertaining.
The only thing missing from Shout! Factory’s Tingler special edition is a vibrating seat, but that’s not needed to enjoy its tawdry, goofy charms. It’s a wacky film from a gentler era, and every cult film buff should have it in their collection.
Bonus Features:
NEW Audio Commentary By Author/Historian Steve Haberman
NEW I Survived The Tingler – An Interview With Pamela Lincoln
NEW Unleashing “Percepto” – An Interview With Publicist Barry Lorie
Scream For Your Lives! William Castle And “The Tingler” – Vintage Featurette
William Castle’s Drive-In “Scream!” Audio
Original “Scream” Scene
The Original 1959 Theatre Lobby Recording
Theatrical Trailer
Still Gallery
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