Swamp Thing (1981) MVD Rewind Collection Blu-ray Review

Verdict

Summary

Plot:

A scientist working in a lab in the swamp is sabotaged by a competing scientist … and becomes a superhuman “Swamp Thing.”

Review:

Research assistant Alice Cable (Adrienne Barbeau) shows up for work at a secret laboratory funded by the U.S. government, and meets her new boss Dr. Alec Holland (Ray Wise) who is working on a volatile chemical formula that will enhance plant DNA by cross pollinating it with animal DNA. Just when Holland perfects his formula, a squad of mercenaries shows up and torches his lab, steals his research, and all but kills him, but not before he’s doused in his own formula and thrown into the swamp. With Cable knocked out and left for dead, the mercenaries head to their boss, the sinister Dr. Arcane (Louis Jourdan) who wants to claim Holland’s work as his own. But what no one counted on or could’ve expected is that Holland has transformed into a hulking super creature – an indestructible “Swamp Thing” (played by Dick Durock)- overnight and will be coming for vengeance. With Arcane’s goons patrolling the swamps, looking for his last lost notebook of research, and with a scrambling Cable trying to make sense of what is transpiring (plus a kid sidekick for good measure), there will be some serious retribution, served up by Holland’s new grisly visage of a humanoid plant monster with a keen eye for romance as he falls in love with Cable in the midst of all the carnage.

A good, old-fashioned pulpy science fiction adventure in the style of the DC comics that inspired it, Swamp Thing benefits from a sure directing and screenwriting hand by Wes Craven, and it has all the outlandish action, gnarly beauty and the beast love stuff, and gloppy creature feature antics that you would expect. For an early ’80s effort, the movie still works despite how goofy it is (the low budget is apparent, but not a detriment), and if you’re a fan of the comics, Wes Craven, or Adrienne Barbeau, then this movie is obviously right for you. Harry Manfredini did the score, which emulates his work for the Friday the 13th films. More Swamp Thing adventures followed, next with Return of Swamp Thing and then the Swamp Thing TV series, plus a cartoon, and then a brand new reboot for TV recently.

MVD Rewind did us all a favor and reissued Swamp Thing on Blu-ray in a new restoration, and what makes this release better than the previous Shout Factory release is that they’ve included both the PG-rated version (which was the only version Shout Factory released), as well as the “Unrated” international version that has the infamous nude scene with Barbeau, plus some extra nudity in a party scene that comes in the last act. All the sepcial features from the Shout Factory release are ported over, but this MVD release has a foldout poster and a slipcover. This is the definitive release for collectors, no contest.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

2023 HD Restoration of both the US Theatrical PG Version and Unrated International Version of the film presented in its original 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio
Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Wes Craven moderated by Sean Clark (Theatrical / PG Version)
Audio Commentary with Makeup Effects Artist William Munn moderated by Michael Felsher (Theatrical / PG Version)
DTS-HD 2.0 Mono Audio, Spanish Mono
Optional English Subtitles
“Tales From the Swamp” (Remastered) with Actress Adrienne Barbeau (HD, 16:56)
“Hey Jude” with Actor Reggie Batts (HD, 14:30)
“That Swamp Thing” with Len Wein, Creator of Swamp Thing (HD, 13:19)
“Swamp Screen: Designing DC’s Main Monster” featurette (HD, 20:32)
“From Krug to Comics: How the Mainstream Shaped a Radical Genre Voice” featurette (HD, 17:34)
Posters & Lobby Cards – Photo Gallery
Photos from the Film – Photo Gallery
William Munns’ Behind the Scenes Pictures – Photo Gallery
Behind the Scenes Photos by Geoffrey Rayle – Photo Gallery
Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:31)
Collectible MVD Rewind Collection Mini Poster
Limited Edition Slipcover (First Pressing Only)