Written by: Michael Den Boer on June 8th, 2014
Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1977
Director: George Barry
Writer: George Barry
Cast: Demene Hall, Rusty Russ, Julie Ritter, Linda Bond
BluRay released: June 3rd, 2014
Approximate running time: 78 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 English, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: N/A
BluRay Release: Cult Epics
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $24.98
Synopsis: A possessed bed by eats those who come in contact with it.
The majority of Horror films that keeps things simple and to the pint are the ones that are audiences return to time and again. And in the case of Death Bed, you have a plot were things could not get any more straight forward as the plot revolves around a carnivorous bed with an enormous appetite.
Fortunately there is more to this film then just a bed stalking its prey. Since the film does spend some time filling in who all the main players are and what their motivations are? Besides the aforementioned demonic bed, another main player in this film is a man who is trapped behind a painting in the wall.
At just under eighty minutes things move along rather nicely as there are no major bumps in the road to derail this most unusual tale of macabre. Visually the film is filled with bizarre imagery that creates a tremendous amount atmosphere. And the special effects are not only well executed, but they often far exceed any limitations that there may have been trying to pull them off.
In what would turn out to be his first and only foray as a filmmaker George Barry creates a truly unique experience that for that reason alone deserves very high marks.
The BluRay:
Death Bed: The Bed That Eats comes on a 25gb single layer Blu-Ray. This release has been flagged for progressive playback and the film is presented in its intended 1.33:1 aspect ratio. This transfer has been sourced from a 16mm film print, the only known surviving elements for this film. With that being said, the source used is in very good. Colors and flesh tones look accurate and the image generally looks crisp. Black levels are adequate, there are no issues with DNR or compression. Also grain structure looks natural and there is healthy layer of it throughout this presentation.
This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English and a DTS-HD Mono mix in English. Both audio mixes sounds clear and balanced throughout. Dialog is always easy to follow and background noise is minimal.
Extras for this release include two introductions to the film, the first one with director George Barry and the second one with author Stephen Thrower, opening credits with the film’s original score, a location featurette titled ‘Behind the Scenes of Deathbed in Detroit’ (7 minutes 55 seconds – 1080 Progressive Widescreen) and a second featurette titled ‘Nightmare USA – A Conversation Between Stephen Thrower and George Barry on Horror Films of the 1970’s and 1980’s’ (15 minutes 1 second – 1080 Progressive Widescreen) this extra is basically an overview of Thrower’s book Nightmare USA and what projects he has been working on since and an informative audio commentary with George Barry and Stephen Thrower that covers every area of this production in great detail. Overall Death Bed: The Bed That Eats gets an exceptional release from Cult Epics, highly recommended.