Okay all you horror fanatics, I need some dvd help on these two horror classics. "The Thing" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre". I already have these on dvd but they deserve the best picture possible. I have the cheap UK version of TCSM, the black one with the chainsaw on it's ownThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre - Original Uncut Edition [1974] [DVD].

I watched it again recently and wasn't that impressed by the picture, could anyone tell me if this newest UK version The Texas Chain Saw Massacre [DVD] [1974]with the much better dvd sleeve, if the picture is any improvement from the one I have?

Also my favourite film ever "The Thing", the cheap UK version which I also watched again recently and wanted to know if there is a better version than this that is anamorphic widescreen. I hate this non anamoriphic version that takes half of my TV screen up. Also noticed the picture quality was nothing special either.

There are a few US versions, but I am not sure which is the best. Does one of these also take half the screen up? I am not sure if the newest version has something cut or music or a scene changed a little. I am sure I saw this on dvdcompare.

It's disgraceful that this masterpiece doesn't have a good UK version, I've loved this film for years and years and still love it. Excellent extras and one of best commentaries ever but rubbish half screen picture.

Just one other thing while I am asking as I try not to waste the discussion pages. Could anyone tell me if this US all region version of "Bloody Moon" is completely uncut?Bloody Moon [DVD] [1981] [US Import]. It says uncut on dvdcompare but I am really confused with the running time as it says 81 minutes running time but on wikipedia, it says 85 minutes??? I planned on buying this ages ago but was and still am confused by this strange running time.

Thanks for any help in advance.

Hi Lando. I've got the same cheap uk version of The Thing. I dont think there's a better version in the UK apart from Blu-ray.
The cheap version is ok and has some great extras but at some point I'll be getting it on blu-ray. Cant help with the other films.
A Walker, The Count or the Doc can no doubt shed some light on the subject.

Can't help with "Bloody Moon" but the recent 3 disc ultimate edition of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" has much better picture quality and hours upon hours of extra's, its the version to get without a doubt.

AlanK47, I'm sure the US ones have got to be better than this. Can't believe they would be happy with this. I watched it recently, was really looking forward to it as I hadn't watched it for a few years and this was the first time on my newish 46" TV. I actually forgot that it was half screen and thought it was 2.35:1 anamorphic so was disappointed as I love this film, never ever get bored of watching it. I did zoom in to make it look anamorphic, but the picture gets worse by doing this.

Ok AlanK47, sure someone will know, thanks anyway.

At least I know about "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", that's super, thanks again A. Walker.

To add to the confusion the IMDb has "Bloody Moon" running at 90 minutes!The Severin US release states it is uncut and uncensored on the back cover and runs at 81 minutes.Good Luck!

Lets make the "Bloody Moon" case even more of a headache! The US edition according to Amazon runs at 81 mins, the UK disc taken from the same transfer and also by Severin claims to have 85 mins despite the NTSC to pal transfer which should shorten the time by 4% and finally there's a european disc going about with apparently 90 minutes, I own this edition but due to people trying to sleep in the Walker household it would be impossible to get to the box tonight or check the precise running time of the disc.

Just checked the BBFC site and indeed Severin are responsible for the UK "Bloody Moon", it runs at 1 hour 24 minutes and 53 seconds but if you include the full submission of material which includes a trailer then the running time is cranked up to 1 hour 26 minutes and 32 seconds, I'm going to check my uncut European release tommorow for an exact comparison.

Sherlock Walker here to solve the case... sort of! My version is a Dutch disc from European Shock Entertainment which might be a semi-bootleg company, it has pretty naff picture quality and runs at just under 82 minutes making the UK version 3 minutes longer, I'm now 99% certain the US and UK versions will both be uncut as they're taken from the same print but give the Dutch disc a miss... now I'll have to re-buy the film, on the bright side at least I know I'm getting a longer version - unless the UK version is still in NTSC which would completely explain everything and make all versions equal.

A. Walker, I'm not really 100% sure what you're talking about but you do and that's good enough for me. I do know for a fact that some UK dvds are NTSC because I own some, so wouldn't suprise me if UK dvd was NTSC. Looks like you went to a lot of trouble for than info, thanks for that. Two down, one to go.

This topic got sidelined so sorry for not responding straight away, to elaborate on what I said earlier Pal and NTSC are two different formats with NTSC running 4% longer due to it playing 24 frames a second rather than 25, American, Canadian, Japanese and Korean discs are NTSC while most other countries are pal but all Blu-Ray discs are NTSC, anyway getting to the point if the UK disc is the same length as the US it means Severin lifted the transfer without changing it to pal explaining why my Dutch disc is about 82 mins instead of 85 (4% difference approximately).

As I've said I'm sure the UK and US discs are uncut and fairly certain of my Dutch import but it appears its now me and not you Lando who wants the definite conclusion so badly, as such could anyone with the US disc of "Bloody Moon" spare a minute or so and stick in the disc to check the exact running time, I know its a bit of a hassle but the information would be much appreciated and would give us the definite answers I/we seek.

The US Severin disc runs at 1 hour 24 minutes and 53 seconds,the same as the UK disc.

Many thanks Count, it appears my suspicions were correct, all versions are uncut, now I just need to decide whether to bother with an upgrade or not, I presume the picture quality is really good as opposed to my Dutch straight from video transfer, also what about the special features are there any worth mentioning?

A. Walker, I have just had another look at "Bloody Moon" on dvdcompare, and it says that the dutch shock release is cut by seven seconds, I didn't notice this before or I would have told you. It just says the audio is 7 seconds ahead of where it should be througout the whole 5 minute pre-credit sequence. You might have to take a look yourself to understand it better than me.

http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=5564

The special features on the US Severin dvd are a US theatrical trailer, and a 19 minute Franco Moon featurette. The UK one just says theatrical trailer and an interview with Jesse Franco. Also they are both 1.85:1 anamorphic NTSC, it says the dutch shock release is non anamorphic.

Many thanks Lando and Count, I will buy "Bloody Moon" uncut tonight, odd isn't it Lando that you ask for help regarding "Bloody Moon" and in the end help me in finding the perfect version, if it hadn't been for your keen eye I'd still think my version was uncut and therefore would be missing an uncut nasty that was easily available, still in the end it was a collaboration of efforts that got us the answers we wanted.

Just bought the US severin release of "Bloody Moon" along with "Devil Hunter" granted I had that one as well but it was a cheap video quality copy with fogging and the bottem third of the screen missing! Now thats a version to avoid like the plague!

P.S. Our teamwork on "Bloody Moon" was great and provided us with results we might not have achieved individually so lets use this topic as a censorship debate topic from now on, in addition to "The Thing" which I can't help with as I've only got the UK version with the annoying half screen we could also bring up other films and discuss which versions are uncut and of the best quality, I once tried this with my "Is it cut?" topic but it got very little notice so I gave up but I think this time round it could work.

I' am happy to help anyone with info if I can A. Walker. What is also odd is that I start a topic asking what people's favourite bargains are and you help me discover I have a cut version of "Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things". So I appreciate that you mentioned it or I wouldn't have known.

I do remember that "Is It Cut?" topic you started because I remember thinking it was a great idea and would find it very useful. Ok, I do have dvdcompare but I have noticed sometimes I have looked on there and they don't have any information on some lesser known horror films, so help by you horror fanatics, would be appreciated by me.

If I ever want any help in the future with info on dvds, I will post on here or in your "Is it Cut?" topic instead of asking by starting a new topic everytime.

Time to revive this topic as I need some version help from a Hammer buff, I've yet to get most of the Frankenstein films from Hammer but noticed many run longer in the US than here, are the extra scenes just filler material made by the Americans to pad out the films and make them more digestable to the American public or is it stuff Hammer pre-cut to avoid the wrath of the then super strict BBFC, in other words which versions are better?