The Kindred: Standard Edition – Synapse Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1987
Directors: Stephen Carpenter, Jeffrey Obrow
Writers: Stephen Carpenter, Jeffrey Obrow, John Penney, Earl Ghaffari, Joseph Stefano
Cast: David Allen Brooks, Rod Steiger, Amanda Pays, Talia Balsam, Kim Hunter, Timothy Gibbs, Peter Frechette, Julia Montgomery, Bunky Jones

Release Date: October 25th, 2022
Approximate Running Time: 92 Minutes 38 seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 English, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $34.95

"Kim Hunter is Dr. Amanda Hollins, a molecular scientist who calls on her son John (David Allen Brooks) to eliminate all evidence of her genetic experiments... most specifically her "Anthony Journals." Dr. Philip Lloyd (Steiger), an acquaintance of Hollins who is familiar with her experiments, wants to continue her studies no matter the cost! John heads to his isolated childhood home with a group of friends to uncover his mother's research and destroy it all. There's something else in the house, however... something watching and waiting... a tentacled creature born from the desire to alter human evolution." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “All-new 4K high-definition remaster of the unrated version of the film.”

The Kindred comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 40 GB

Feature: 28.3 GB

This is another stellar transfer from Synapse Films. The source used for this transfer looks immaculate. Colors are nicely saturated, flesh tones look healthy, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and grain remains intact.

Audio: 5/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 English, DTS-HD Mono English)

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 sound great. Dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented. That said, the DTS-HD 5.1 mix does a good job of opening up the original mix. Included with this release are removable English SDH subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include two TV spots (1 minute 7 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a video trailer (59 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a theatrical trailer (1 minute 58 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), storyboards, a stills gallery, a special compilation of creature effects artist Michael McCracken, Jr.’s never-before-seen on-set footage (17 minutes 52 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a documentary titled Inhuman Experiments – The Making of The Kindred (51 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with directors Jeffrey Obrow and Stephen Carpenter, moderated by horror journalist Steve Barton.

Summary:

The Kindred was co-written and directed by Stephen Carpenter and Jeffrey Obrow, a filmmaking duo whose other collaborations include The Dorm That Dripped Blood and The Power.

The Kindred is a horror/sci-fi hybrid that features a wild premise that revolves around genetic experiments that created a tentacle creature that devours anyone who crosses its path. The narrative does a superb job of building towards an unforgettable climax that perfectly brings together everything leading up to it. Another strength of the narrative is how it gives you glimpses of the creatures born from the experiments. With the big reveal of the main creature saved for the final act,

The cast are very good in their roles, especially Rod Steiger (Duck, You Sucker!) in the role of Dr. Phillip Lloyd, a megalomaniac scientist who’s determined to carry on his ex-colleagues' genetic experiments. Other notable cast members include Kim Hunter (Planet of the Apes) in the role of Dr. Amanda Hollins, a scientist who on her deathbed cautions her son to destroy what she was working on, and Amanda Pays (Leviathan) in the role of Melissa Leftridge, a woman interested in Dr. Hollins' research.

From a production standpoint, The Kindred is a film that exploits all of its resources for all their worth. From its opening moments, The Kindred sets a relentless tone that maintains mounting tension that builds to a fever pitch. Not to be overlooked are the special effects and just how effective they are. Though practical effects have long been replaced by CGI, a film like The Kindred is a showcase for practical effects. That said, the special effects are The Kindred’s greatest strength. Ultimately, The Kindred is a very satisfying mix of horror and sci-fi that fans of creature features are sure to enjoy.

The Kindred gets a definitive release from Synapse Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a pair of insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer