From today's capture, I'd say that again, this scene was graded TOO DARK in the "Blu Ray" iteration. I remember being able to see Jeff's face on previous viewings.  Though I think the last time I watched this movie was nearly a decade ago, and memory does cheat.

It's really odd to be complaining that I can't see Roger Davis's face. *tired laugh* It brings back memories of a screening I attended at the Brattle theatre a couple of years ago of the HORROR OF DRACULA Blu-Ray.  That had been graded so dark--with the trademark BD slightly bluish tinge to many scenes--that half the movie was nearly invisible, since a lot of it was shot day for night. In the sequences where the image was clear, the lighting had been graded very cold with a very muted, slightly blue color palette. Given how so many film critics made Hammer's "garish" use of Technicolor/Eastmancolor such a talking point over many decades of discussion and review, it's been curious to see fans arguing that the recent "restoration" was "exactly the way Jack Asher wanted the movie to look."

For anyone still following along at home, apparently one can correct this problem if one owns equipment that has a "sports" setting for the display. It pops it up in some fashion so that it actually looks the way it is supposed to.  This seems to have created a lot of tension in fandom in recent years, since people with this type of equipment and display insist that the BD "looks great" while the rest of the population complain that it's too dark in all the nocturnal scenes.

To quote Hermione Gingold on her infamous LP, "isn't technology ghastly?" A fact of which the Xmas smilies remind me, poignantly, whenever I attempt to post here now...

G.

Uncle Roger, I'd never heard that theory about Carolyn coming back and disposing of Stokes and Rogers. What you describe sounds far more fascinating than anything shown in the last 15 minutes of the movie as completed.

I missed the additional notes about the encounter between Jeff and Roger in his "new un-life." 

Best, G.

Those of you with an interest in old Witchcraft traditions, and specifically poppets--which were, of course, a favorite plaything of a certain lady's maid in late 18th century Collinsport--might enjoy listening to this recording of a talk by Martin Duffy, a present day British occultist who has written a book on the subject of the little dolls:

https://paranormalukradio.podbean.com/e/radio-hermetica-premier-episode

After Martin speaks, writer Gemma Gary talks about her interest in Cornish Witchcraft, which is another fascinating topic, but one perhaps less readily connected in any way with our show.

G.

It's interesting that you posted about this (great shots, btw, though I definitely think the DVD/BD grading of this scene is too dark for my taste). Because I was just reflecting looking at today's slideshow how the whole plot point of Stokes becoming a vampire was completely wasted by DC in his rush to hustle towards the bloody finale of the story.

One thing I'll never understand is why DC didn't make sure the edit of Stokes' demise wasn't corrected so that we couldn't see him twitch when he was lying "dead" in that very cold water.  Detail oriented much, Dan?  That shot goes on for far too long in any event.

I'd have traded the sequence of Roger's vampire death, which is really just adding an irrelevant shock to a part of the movie that's already loaded down with gore moments, for a scene where Stokes was musing about the beauty and terror of having found a new existence as one of the Living Dead. But, again, alas...

G.

A truly precious moment. I could make further rude comment but I'll restrain myself. 

G.

Hahahaha!

Maybe it will help those who haven't figured out what you're hinting at to mention that a popular neighborhood in the Boston area is known by the initials JP (standing for Jamaica Plain, in that instance).

cheers!

Steve

I meant to add that many of the stories listed in that post are more like prose poems--mostly long descriptive passages, without action or dialogue.  Just letting you know in case that is not your cup of tea.

Best,

G.