OVERALL: Draw

Between the new 25th Anniversary releases (R1/R2 UK) from Anchor Bay for having a audio commentary, documentary and the German R2 Perfect Collection which loses the commentary track but includes the TV version and a bonus soundtrack CD. Note though that some of the older releases also include the TV version and the R2 Spanish release has the exclusive audio commentary on the TV version but it´s only in Spanish.

There has been much debate and confusion regarding the striking differences between the THX and DIVIMAX transfers. However, it's fair to conclude here that:

Dean Cundey (Director of Photography) personally supervised the THX transfer and it is believed that his aim was to present the film as he would have wanted it to look had he had a big enough budget.

The DIVIMAX transfer has noticeably different colour timings (which many suggest are 'wrong' since they don't match Dean Cundey's colour from his approved THX transfer). The transfer is definitely better in terms of detail, sharpness and image clean-up.

AT THE END OF THE DAY - IT'S YOUR CHOICE - but a wise buyer may want to wait for the inevitable next release from Anchor Bay with additional material from the recently found film reels!

If you'd like to see various comparisons of the transfers, check out the links below:

Pulsing Cinema

There is also a Production Diary for the THX release DVD Review

There are also vanilla releases available from Anchor Bay UK under there Horror Classics label which should be avoided.

Another US release from Shout! Factory is also available.

Read an exclusive Halloween feature written by Rewind Site Manager Adrian Busby here.

Movie Censorship Comparisons:
- Theatrical Version and Extended Version
- Theatrical Version and TV Version

CUTS:

• R0 America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts. Theatrical Version.
• R0 Extended Edition America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts. Extended TV Version (101:00 NTSC).
• R0 Limited Edition America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts. Includes the Theatrical Version and the TV Version.
• R0 THX Mastered Edition America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts. Theatrical Version (91:02 NTSC).
• R0 Perfect Collection Germany- Marketing Films - No cuts. Includes the Theatrical Version (87:09 mins PAL) and the Extended TV Version (100:56 mins PAL).
• R0 Holland- Indies - No cuts.
• R0 Limited Edition United Kingdom- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts. Includes the Theatrical Version and the TV Version.
• R1 25th Anniversary DIVIMAX Edition America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts. Theatrical Version (90:58 NTSC).
• R2 Italy- CVC - No cuts.
• R2 Scandinavia- Atlantic Film / Star Media Entertainment - No cuts - Theatrical Version (87:08 PAL)
• R2 25th Anniversary Edition Spain- Selecta Vision/Universal - No cuts.
• R2 25th Anniversary DIVIMAX Edition United Kingdom- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts. Theatrical Version (87:05 PAL).
• R4 Australia- Infogrames - No cuts. Theatrical Version.

Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!

Comparison added by Adrian_Busby on 01/09/01
Comparison last updated by Matthew_B_Harrah on 22/04/22

UPDATE LOG:

25/09/11 - Addition of several R1 releases and major comparison clean-up.
30/09/10 - Removed broken link.
23/10/18 - Clean-up.
26/10/18 - Addition of the Caps-A-Holic link.
26/10/21 - Clean-up.
22/04/22: Added Movie Censorship Comparisons, Scandinavia, updated US 1999 THX.