Grizzly – Severin Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1976
Director: William Girdler
Writers: Harvey Flaxman, David Sheldon, Andrew Prine
Cast: Christopher George, Andrew Prine, Richard Jaeckel, Joan McCall, Joe Dorsey, Charles Kissinger, Kermit Echols, Tom Arcuragi, Victoria Johnson, Kathy Rickman, Mary Ann Hearn

Release Date: May 18th, 2021
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 47 seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $34.95

"an 18-foot-tall ursus arctos horribilis on a carnivorous rampage through a state park full of campers, and the ranger, chopper pilot and naturalist who must stop it." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "a 2k scan from the internegative".

Grizzly comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 43.3 GB

Feature: 26.1 GB

The source used for this transfer is in good shape and any print related debris is minimal. That said, when compared to Scorpion Releasing's 2015 Blu-ray release this new transfer is a noticeable improvement in every way. With most noticeable areas of improvement being color saturation and image clarity.

Audio: 3.75/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English and included with this release are removable English SDH. This audio track sounds very good, dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced and range wise ambient sounds is handled well.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art, two radio spots for Grizzly (55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), two trailers for Grizzly (2 minutes 20 seconds & 1 minute 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival featurette titled Jaws With Claws (36 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a vintage making of titled Movie Making in the Wilderness (7 minutes, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with producer David Sheldon and actress Joan McCall titled The Grizzly Details (18 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Tom Arcuragi titled The Towering Fury (8 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio interview with business partner and friend J. Patrick Kelly III (36 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Stephen Thrower author of 'Nightmare USA' who discusses the Career of William Girdler (45 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles) and two audio commentaries: the first audio commentary is with Mondo Digital's Nathaniel Thompson and Film Writer Troy Howarth and the second audio commentary is with David Sheldon and Joan McCall.

Summary:

There’s no denying the impact that Jaws made on cinema. Not only did it set the standard for blockbusters, it also inspired countless imitators looking to ride Jaws phenomenal numbers at the box office. 

This brings us to a film like Grizzly whose taglines, “The most dangerous Jaws on land!!!” and “Not since Jaws has the terror been like this!”. So it's not surprising that a film like Grizzly bears a striking resemblance to Jaws.

That said, similarities to Jaws aside, Grizzly is arguably the best “Jaws” inspired film. The premise does a good job shifting from the sea to land and the well-executed narrative ensures that tension never subsides. Other strengths include a solid cast and the brutal grizzly attack scenes do not disappoint.

Severin Films give Grizzly its best release to date, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer