NOTE: These Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-raydisc.

Firstly, WOW – what a set! We get the features on four separate dual-layeredBlu-ray discs loaded with extras. Shamefully, all I knew about Larry Fessenden was that he wrote the booklet available with the Kelly Reichardt Collection citing him as a collaborator. And it was excellent. Kudos to my buddy Colin for alerting me to this as a worthy purchase. Was he ever right!

The 1080P transfers are all “Director-approved HD” with max’ed out bitrates for No Telling and Habit and strong renderings for Wendigo and The Last Winter. They looks great – heavy grain on the 1.33:1 The Habit and 1.78:1Wendigo – both shot on 16 mm (Eastman EXR 500T 7298.) Colors are bright and rich – there is tightness with the 2006 The Last Winter (2.35:1) looking the best and No Telling (1.78:1) also looking very strong. Contrast is layered and adeptly exported by the HD. I was impressed with all of them and they seem deserved of the director -approved moniker. I have no complaints, whatsoever.

Ditto for the audio – every feature has the option of a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround (bumps) at a high kbps or a similar encode 2.0 channel – both in 24-bit. Scores are by the likes of Jeff Grace, David Van Tieghem, Tom Laverack, Michelle DiBucci and Geoffrey Kidde and seem very accurately reproduced via the lossless options sounding appropriately strong or modest in accordance with the original productions. There are optional English subtitles for each feature (see samples below.) The Blu-ray discs are region ‘A’-locked.

Supplements are endless and I have not got through all of them yet – we get audio commentaries by writer/director/executive producer Larry Fessenden for each feature and an additional one for Wendigo with actors Patricia Clarkson, Jake Weber, and John Speredakos. Fessenden also does introduction for most of the other extras on the discs which include extensive making of’s, archival footage, at least 7 short films (I watched “Santa Claws” and loved it), interviews, music video, trailers and, the production company’s Glass Eye Pix Sizzle Reels and the package has a 24-page booklet with liner notes by Fangoria’s Michael Gingold, featuring never-before-seen photos, storyboards, and sketches.

What makes me recommended this so strongly are the films – criminally under-rated – Mr. Fessenden is a force and I love his style. These are cool, if totally imperfect, flics – Wendigo (always had a thing for Clarkson) especially made my day, but Habit is remarkably chilling. I was a shade uncomfortable with No Telling but was swept right up in The Last Winter. I LOVE being introduced to new auteurs like this wayward genius, styles and signatures. The films are weak in some areas but offer strength in visuals. Fessenden’s works here thrilled me. I wish I had a set like this every week to cover. Our highest recommendation to those with an open mind and who appreciate the lower-budgeted horror genre! I’m a fan of Larry Fessenden!  

Gary W. Tooze