Hands Of The Ripper: The Hammer Horror Collection: Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack Review
In the States there are very few Hammer horror pictures on Blu-ray Disc. You could count them on one hand. Warner Home Video released Dracula: Prince Of Darkness earlier this year, Shout Factory released the Vampire Lovers and then there are the motion pictures distributed by Synapse Films under the company's Hammer Horror Collection banner, which includes Vampire Circus, Twins Of Evil, and Hands Of The Ripper.
Hands Of The Ripper is an offbeat thriller featuring Angharad Rees as Jack The Ripper's daughter, who is obsessed with memories of her father's grisly murders and possessed by his spirit too. Eric Porter is a Freudian Psychologist trying to help her overcome her killer cravings.
Synapse Films has released their best looking entry in the Hammer Horror Collection yet with a completely restored high-definition AVC encoded (1.66:1) aspect ratio presentation in 1080p/24fps on Blu-ray complete with full HD bonus content too. The presentation Hands Of The Ripper on Blu-ray as well as on standard definition DVD, which is also included within the two-disc Blue BD Case, contains footage not seen in U.S. Theaters. This is important since Hands Of The Ripper is one of the most gruesome Hammer horror films ever made. The cover within the case is reversible with alternate artwork as well.
The Blu-ray Disc features a clear English DTS-HD MA Mono Soundtrack with the Blu-ray exclusive option of watching the film with an isolated Music and Effects Track too. The DVD features an English Dolby Digital Mono Soundtrack. Both feature English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired as an option. The Blu-ray Disc is Region A encoded while the DVD is Region One.
Extra value features include The Devil's Bloody Plaything: Possessed By Hands Of The Ripper (28:21), which covers the making of the film complete with Hammer Film Historians and Journalists discussing the film along with Filmmaker Joe Dante. The audio from the original U.S. television introduction (7:07) is also included along with a motion still gallery covering the history of Hammer Gore (6:08) and a film specific motion still gallery (5:43). The film's original theatrical trailer (1:57) and a reel of two TV Spots (:59) wrap up the bonus features included within this two-disc set.
Hands Of The Ripper: The Hammer Horror Collection: Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack is available now at retailers on and offline courtesy of Synapse Films.
(C) Copyright 2013 By Mark Rivera
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