Story: It is the present day and at the Miskatonic University in Arkham, Joel Manton (Mark Parra) ridicules occult lore obsessive Randolph Carter (Mark Kinsey Stephenson) for believing the rumours surrounding Winthrop House. Legend tells how several hundred years ago Joshua Winthrop (Delbert Spain) was brutally murdered and mutilated by a creature born of his wife ?a creature said to haunt the house to this day. To prove Carter wrong, Joel decides to spend a night in the house. When Joel fails to return, Carter and a friend set out to find him. At the same time, a small group of college students visiting the "haunted" Winthrop House for a supposed initiation rite make a terrifying discovery.

Review: Very entertaining 80s B-movie beautifully photographed with some engaging make up effects. If you like blood and gore then you won’t be overwhelmed but in this proudly uncut version a few scenes of extravagant gushes/spurts have been reinserted to full effect. The acting is laughable (as you’d expect although Mark Kinsey Stephenson’s Carter has a glaring sense of irony akin to another Lovecraft character, Herbert West). The creature has a superb grace and movement given in the performance by dancer Maria Ford but truth be told you just don’t see enough of it. There are plot holes and unanswered questions but hey what do you expect? It’s highly enjoyable and nostalgic (check out the dated fashion) 80s schlock romp

The DVD
Picture: Disappointing fullscreen transfer that I can only assume is the original aspect ratio. It’s open matte I believe so there is no unsightly panning or scanning that is only a minor grace. The quality is like a VHS master although the images are crisp there is a few lighting faults and blemishes, which just hinders the viewing. Still AB waited until the film was passed uncut but the presentation lacks that of even ‘Children of the Corn’ that for ABUK is disappointing.

Sound: The 5.1 surround mix is a nice addition although slightly redundant as the rear channels are only fleetingly used. There is also a nasty echo and hissing sound which resonates through each channel during the quieter moments. A tad disappointing

Menu: Wonderful animated menus that use the films original score over a montage of film scenes. The usual special touch from AB although this purely a cosmetic addition when considering the poor picture and sound quality.

Special Features
Original house sketches: The sketches are a good addition and great for fans of the movie

Film Notes, Biographies, Stills gallery, Theatrical trailer: The special features are rounded off with some cosmetic touches. The biogrpahies, stills gallery are standard additions but Anchor Bay are experts at this sort of feature and it's a sound round off. Trailer is presented in fullscreen 4:3 and although standard. Surprising there's no audio commentary which would've made this feel like a more complete package.

This disc Summary
Film: 3/5 – Good premise let down by a poor script and flat direction.
Picture: 3.5/5 – The grain in the darker scenes let’s this down but otherwise excellent
Sound: 4/5 – 5.1 mix is nicely done with good distribution between the channels.
Extras: 4/5 – Nice collection with an interesting commentary and a great documentary.

Overall package: 3/5 Possessed Cheryls – saved by a worthy re-mastered edition with an excellent accompanying documentary shame about the film. File under wasted opportunity but a great collectors edition for the movie’s fans.

THE UNNAMEABLE RETURNS

Story: Picking up immediately where the first film left off, THE UNNAMABLE RETURNS sees Randolph Carter and his college tutor, Professor Warren (John Rhys-Davies), investigating the bizarre events and horrific murders Carter has witnessed. In the tunnels beneath Winthrop House they discover the demon-possessed Alyda Winthrop (Maria Ford). By injecting Alyda with insulin, they fool the demon into leaving her body. Carter then finds himself caring for, and eventually falling in love with, a beautiful 200-year-old girl innocent in the ways of the 20th Century. Meanwhile, the demon is determined to reunite with its host and will kill anybody who stands in its way.

Review:

The DVD
Picture: this version comes in a 4:3 format and a 1.78:1 version with 16x9 widescreen enhancement. Take your pick but the widescreen version is a great improvement over previous UK releases. The print is bright and clear with no blemishes but has an excessive amount of grain in some scenes.

Sound: Can you believe the range of mixes available here? Fantastic treatment from AB. The sound design is a little more bombastic, typical of the mid nineties, so in the 5.1 mix the subwoofer gets a full workout with the rear channels used at every chance. Nice mix. Unable to check the DTS mix but a stereo 2.0 surround mix is also included.

Menu: Nice collection of stills from the movie on an animated background using elements of the originals score. Also note the audio is in 5.1 stereo. Nice touch.

Special Features
Audio Commentary with Director Jean-Paul Ouellette: This was quite interesting if lightly restrained. Ouelette comes up with some interesting trivia and gets to discuss H.P Lovecraft, which is clearly a passion, which makes the commentary that bit more interesting.

Making Of featurette: Really great find here as on-set footage from 1992 mixes with a personal perspective of star Julie Strain. There’s also a brief glimpse of the director as he is today discussing the movies.

1990 Promo Reel: This is a curios little gem. It’s a short 5minute clip promoting the success of UNNAMEABLE in foreign markets in an attempt, I assume, to arouse sale of the original and finance for the sequel. Anyway it’s a nice little piece of nostalgia presented in its raw VHS quality. That wasn’t a complaint by the way! Although it holds very little information it’s of note to the films’ enthusiasts.. like me!

Theatrical Trailer , Cast pictures, Film Notes, Biographies and a Stills gallery complete the features and are all fairly standard. The trailer is interesting as it showcases the film under it’s briefly changed title of “UNNAMEABLE II: The Statement of Randolph Carter”. The film notes are interesting if brief but if you want to know about the production then check out the audio commentary and featurette. The stills gallery is notable for actually having behind the scenes stills as opposed to publicity shots from the movie itself.

This disc Summary
Film: 4/5 – Highly enjoyable 80s romp. Films just don’t have this sort of charm anymore.Picture: 3.5/5 – No remastering but a better than VHS quality print. Blemishes.
Sound: 4/5 – 5.1 mix is nicely done with good distribution between the channels.
Extras: 3/5 – The commentary saves this from a 2 rating here. It’s a great addition but nothing else worthy.

Overall package: 3/5 Possessed Cheryls – enjoyable sequel with a great sound mix and brilliant audio commentary.

CONCLUSION
Film: 3/5 – Enjoyable stuff but pretty much more of the same.
Picture: 3/5 – The grain the grain. And that’s not a pun either.
Sound: 4/5 – 5.1 mix is nicely done with good distribution between the channels.
Extras: 1/5 – There aren’t any here except the 4:3 version which is crap.

Overall package: 2/5 Possessed Cheryls – standard horror fare with slightly over stylised visuals. No extras though but there’s a great sound mix (including DTS!)

OVERALL BOXSET

Packaging: The set comes in a great lenticular box this means it has a holographic image of a scythe cutting through the set title on the front. Wonderful touch. The discs are presented in a fold out pigipack style along with a small collectors booklet that glosses over the first three movies without condescending their existence. Great packaging from Anchor Bay. These films are also available separately.

Summary: Great work from Anchor Bay but it’s fair to say that has the films go on the attention to the overall package dwindles except in the audio areas. It’s a 100% improvement on the previously available CINEMA CLUB box set though and if you’re a fan of the movies they are a must. Even if you haven’t sent these movies before this set is a steal at the price. Worth checking out for the treatment but keep your receipt.

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