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Should We Praise Scream Factory for Such a Deadly Blessing?

Feature Presentations: Episode 71

Welcome to my column dedicated to the appreciation of physical media supplements called: Feature Presentations. The goal of this column is not to say whether a film is good or bad and worth picking up or not—I would like to highlight the discs that go the extra mile and provide film fans with enough tasty tidbits to satisfy even the hungriest of cinephiles. With all that out of the way, today’s article will focus on Scream Factory‘s release of Deadly Blessing.

The Blu-ray cover for Deadly Blessing.

In my previous articles detailing my Shocktober sale pick-ups, I mentioned that I purchased Deadly Blessing even under the pretense that the film is lackluster. It was a Wes Craven film that I had yet to see; the sale price seemed fair, so I rolled the dice on a calculated gamble. And, while not a complete dumpster fire, I have to side with the masses and conclude it’s a weak entry into the director’s filmography.

Filmed on a low budget, Deadly Blessing tells the tale of a widower living next to a clan of fanatical Hittites. A killer stalks the widower and her friends, who have come to stay with her. Is the killer one of the Hittites? Could it be Michael Berryman because he’s usually the villain? Maybe it’s Ernest Borgnine due to the amount of overacting he brings to every scene. It’s a movie that balances a thin line between boring and silly, though usually landing on the former. It’s not the worst cinematic offering, but it is mainly for those curious about Wes Craven’s career and die-hard horror fans.

As one of the earliest Collector’s Editions that Scream Factory released, I was pleasantly surprised that a slipcover came with the package. The case features reversible artwork with the slipcover design on one side and the film’s original theatrical print on the reverse.

Getting into the disc’s features, “Say Your Prayers!” is an interview with actor Michael Berryman. Anyone who has seen or heard Michael Berryman speaks knows he comes off as a gentle giant with a measured vocal tone. “Say Your Prayers!” is no different as the actor reflects on his time filming Deadly Blessing. He discusses working with Wes Craven, the up-and-coming talents of the lead actresses, and the presence of Ernest Borgnine. He’s humble with his comments and appreciative of his and the other people’s work on the film.

“Secrets Revealed” is an interview with actress Susan Buckner. Buckner radiates warmth during her interview as she reminisces about her time on set. Not having a negative thing to say, she briefly runs through her career, leading into Deadly Blessing. From there, Buckner talks about working with actresses Sharon Stone and Maren Jensen, director Wes Craven and hiding her pregnancy from those associated with the film. It’s a brisk but entertaining interview—filled with plenty of smiles and positivity from Buckner.

Lisiah looks down menacingly.

The interview “Rise of the Incubus” is a brief chat with creature designer John Naulin. And when I say brief, I mean it, as Naulin discusses his work on the Incubus creature from the final moments of Deadly Blessing. If you’ve seen the film, you know that the Incubus—spoiler warning—makes a fleeting appearance to close out the picture. Naulin discusses his time on Deadly Blessing, plus a rundown of his time working in the motion picture industry. “Rise of the Incubus,” like the character in the film, is quick and over with before you know it.

The last interview on the disc, “So It Was Written,” is a discussion with the film’s screenwriters: Glenn Benest and Matthew Barr. The writers dive into how they entered Hollywood, became writing partners, and how the gears turned in motion for Deadly Blessing. Each speaks positively about the film, though the writers explain that the studio-mandated ending goes against their intentions. There are stories told about how the idea for Deadly Blessing came about, friction with Wes Craven and Sharon Stone, and an on-set mishap with Ernest Borgnine. “So It Was Written” is a well-crafted interview that offers just enough detail to satisfy anyone curious about the film’s production.

Wes Craven contributes an audio commentary to Deadly Blessing with Sean Clark of Horror’s Hallowed Grounds. Craven’s commentary tracks seem to split listeners; some find his comments fascinating, and others may find his tone and comments boring. Craven is one of my favorite commentators, and having Clark alongside moves this track along at a spirited pace.

Clark does a solid job at prodding Craven with questions about the film while keeping the track, for the most part, informative and lively. Craven offers insight into how he came aboard the film, his earlier career working in an Amish community, and never using “Deadly” in another title after this film and Deadly Friend. While the track occasionally hits slow patches, this audio commentary is packed with humor and information and is a must-listen for Craven devotees or fans of Deadly Blessing.

Scream Factory includes a photo gallery—featuring original sketches of the Incubus, shots from the finished film, and marketing materials. The disc closes with the theatrical trailer, three television spots, and five radio advertisements.

Lana lays in hay, visibly upset.

And there you have it! Deadly Blessing isn’t a long-forgotten masterwork or a misunderstood horror classic. It’s a minor blip in the career of Wes Craven. Still, there isn’t a better release for this 1981 film than this Scream Factory Collector’s Edition. Packed with informational interviews and a solid audio commentary, this Blu-ray has everything Craven buffs and horror fanatics could want.

Written by Robert Chipman

Robert is a lifelong cinephile and has had an admiration with film for as long as he can remember. When he's not checking out the most recent theatrical release, viewing a movie on one of a 1,000,000,000 streaming services or picking up the latest physical media disc, he's trying and failing to make it in Hollywood as a screenwriter. He also has a weird fascination with Stephen Dorff. Make of that what you will. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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