The Paranormal: Collector's Edition – Visual Vengeance (Blu-ray)

Release Date: USA, 1998
Director: Todd Norris
Writers: Todd Norris, C. Wayne Owens
Cast: Davide Baldin, Dave Byerley, Audrey Crabtree, Nenita Gumangan, Carol Koehler, Todd Norris, C. Wayne Owens, Brian Stubler, Gina Tarantino, Lisa Winegar

Release Date: April 7th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 70 Minutes 11 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"Something is haunting the Englewood movie theater - an unseen force that comes alive after dark. Paranormal investigator Kyle Jennings is called in, but the moment he steps inside, the nightmare begins. The theater seals itself shut, the screen tears open like a doorway, and the low budget zombie movie playing suddenly becomes real. With the undead spilling into the aisles, Kyle must uncover the source of the disturbance before the entire theater becomes a feeding ground, and the only clues may be trapped inside the film itself." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 2/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "New director-supervised transfer from original tape elements".

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

Disc Size: 33.2 GB

Feature: 16.1 GB

There is only so much that can be done with a transfer source from SD tapes.That said, I don’t see any other release ever looking better than this one.

Audio: 3/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English with removable English SDH. Dialogue comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise this audio track is serviceable.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a Visual Vengeance trailer for The Paranormal (1 minute 15 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), four short films: The Closet (5 minutes 37 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), L… (3 minutes 24 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Night of the Grawling (9 minutes 6 seconds, 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and Parallax (4 minutes 50 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), storyboard galleries; original script excerpts; deleted scenes (12 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), blooper reel (10 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), The Paranormal channel. 5 TV airing bumpers (3 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Todd Norris and Todd Sheets titled The Two Todds (14 minutes 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), cast and crew interviews (9 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with director Todd Norris, an audio commentary with Todd Norris and Paul Roberts, reversible cover art featuring original VHS art, 'Stick your own' VHS sticker set, a folded mini-poster, a ghost finder viewer (limited to the first pressing), a promo flyer for 'Z is For Zombie' movie (limited to the first pressing), and a slipcover (limited to the first pressing).

Other extras are Visual Vengeance trailers for The Screaming, Scream Dream, and Splatter Theater.

Summary:

A paranormal investigator was hired to look into strange occurrences at a movie theater. Once inside the theater, the investigator and three of his helpers become trapped, and the situation takes a dark turn when it becomes clear that the zombies on the movie screen have a portal that allows them to enter the real world.

Co-written and directed by Todd Norris, The Paranormal is an ambitious debut feature film for a filmmaker working on a shoestring budget. What stood out to me about The paranormal is that it does not try to compete with big-budget films; instead, it embraces its limitations. An intriguing premise is executed well, and the narrative progresses quickly, effectively building tension.

Although the cast primarily consists of actors and actresses for whom this film was either their first or only project, the performances are surprisingly strong throughout. Besides directing, Todd Norris plays the protagonist, Kyle Jennings, a paranormal investigator. The standout performance comes from Davide Baldin, who portrays Captain Dunhill, a character in the zombie movie.

The most surprising aspect of this film is the practical special effects, notably a moment where the 35mm film attacks characters. That said, despite their crudeness, the special effects actually suit the story that unfolds well. When it comes to carnage, while limited, these moments are sufficiently gory. Ultimately, The Paranormal is a well-crafted supernatural horror film that fans of no-budget cinema should enjoy.

The Paranormal is another solid release from Visual Vengeance that comes with a wealth of extras and presents the film in its best possible audio/video presentation. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer