Paramount Scares, Vol. 2 (Limited Edition 4K UHD Blu-ray Box Set Review)
Just in time for “spooky season”, Paramount is ready to give collectors another dose of the creeps with Paramount Scares, Volume 2! With a wide variety of titles ranging from the elder statemen of the group, Friday The 13th Part II, to the most recent entry, Orphan: First Kill, the films within the set are of every taste of horror/thriller. Not only is there variety, but each film is presented in a new 4K UHD Blu-ray format for the ultimate home viewing experience! Strap in for more on this awesome new box set below and click the green cover art at the end to order a copy just in time for Halloween!
Films:
So, what, you ask, is going to make collectors want Paramount Scares, Volume 2? The answer is simple – It’s just that cool of a set! From the eerie green outer box to the bright orange slipcovers for each film, there is something luxe about this package! Even more enticing, there is a very nifty Fangoria magazine inside. This magazine contains photos and articles about each film included and some of these articles did appear in Fangoria magazine once upon a time. Besides the magazine, we also get some more physical swag – Some patches, a sticker, and a Paramount Scares Pin! At the price point Paramount is offering for it, Paramount Scares, Volume 2 is an easy recommend for people who collect film!
Even better, horror fans will savor this release as it contains some cult favorites! Keep on going down the rabbit hole with me as I detail the quality of each disc. For more critical notes on Breakdown, World War Z, and Friday The 13th Part II, Please see the links below. In the summary for set, I will also divulge my brief thoughts on each film!
Breakdown:
Review HERE Courtesy of Brandon Peters
Friday The 13th Part II: 
Review HERE Courtesy of Brandon Peters
World War Z:
Review HERE Courtesy of Brian White
Orphan: First Kill:
Video (Scores Below)
Encoding: HEVC / H.265
Resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, 2.39:1
Layers: BD-66
HDR: Dolby Vision
Details:
- Breakdown crash lands into the Paramount Scares, Vol. 2 set with a nice uptick in clarity and detail from the Paramount Presents Blu-ray from 2021. The biggest change from the last release is just how much more detail we pick up on clothing textures and often the makeup of a banged-up Kurt Russell. Faces carry more age, and everything looks are more natural overall. Colors are deeper and more natural with the desert colors looking less cooked than ever before. Skin tones are natural, and the grain field is retained without being noisy.
- Friday The 13th Part II looks rather exceptional in 4K. The film no doubt shows its age with the costuming and some of the makeup effects that accompany the kills, however the clarity of this film is unmatched. Details pop up in refined ways separating this release from all other Blu-ray releases of the film. Grain is refined without being lost and facial features, clothing textures and set pieces indoors and outdoors all look great!
- World War Z was released by Scream Factory in 4K last year and to my eyes, this transfer is identical. Clarity is excellent with the 2K mastered image seemingly upconverted to 4K. Regardless the details are far more defined here with colors benefitting from the Dolby Vision sheen. Film grain is consistent and complimentary and neither distracting nor garish. Flesh tones are handled as naturally as possible too looking great on human characters. Makeup effects for Zombies are also recreated faithfully in 4K!
- Orphan: First Kill is the most recent in the set, and by far the most detailed. Mastered in 4K, and featuring a very nice color palette, the film also boasts great texturing on faces and clothing, with things looking as true to life as can be through the TV. The image is clean with no grain to be seen.
Audio:
Audio Format(s):
- Breakdown: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, French Dolby Digital 2.0, English Descriptive Audio
- Subtitles: English, French
- Friday The 13th Part II: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, French Mono, English Descriptive Audio
- Subtitles: English. French
- World War Z: English DTS-HD MA 7.1, French 5.1 Dolby Digital
- Subtitles: English. French, Spanish, Portuguese
- Orphan: First Kill: English DTS-HD MA 5.1, English Descriptive Audio
- Subtitles: English, French
* Audio Details for Breakdown, World War Z, and Friday The 13th Part II can be found in the reviews linked above.
Audio Details for Orphan: First Kill:
Audio:
Orphan: First Kill was a limited theatrical release that saw major saturation thanks to Paramount+. The audio for this new 4K release is the same audio that accompanied the Blu-ray release of the film in 2022. The audio overall is serviceable for the film but lacks some of the dynamics we’ve come to expect from modern horror films. The atmospherics are fairly straightforward with nothing coming by way of scary sound effects or even punishing bass. The restrained nature seems to be the way it was meant to be and is not an audio anomaly. Overall, minor gripes aside, the mix is just fine for the film, even if one wishes it were more immersive and playful than it is.
Overview:
My Quick Takes —
Breakdown:
Breakdown is a consistent choice of mine for thrillers. The get-right-to-it pacing of the film keeps you on the edge of your seat and you find yourself right there with Kurt Russell as he searches for his wife. The characters are well fleshed out for being so mysterious and the plot moves along in such a way that you’re never sure what twist will happen next. While I wouldn’t say this is horror per se, I can’t deny that it will thrill people who desire a trip down Nightmare Lane.
Friday the 13th Part II:
After starting a phenomenon with the original film, Paramount quickly pushed for a sequel to Friday The 13th that was as director Steve Miner says “more of the same, but better.” Hollow characters and a bag-headed Jason do offer plenty of campy (no pun intended) horror fun. Amy Steel as final girl Ginny does a great job of working beyond her role to make you root for her survival. If you like a fun romp on a rainy night trying not to get slashed, the film is perfect to go with your spooky night in!
World War Z:
As far as zombie films go, I think World War Z goes up there with the greats. While I don’t see this film as a horror film, I can say it has some moments where I’ve genuinely been shocked – jump scares be damned. I love Brad Pitt’s performance, and I believe his fight for his family is palpable for anyone going into this film. The fast pace is fabulous and while it’s a shame that Paramount doubles down on Scream Factory’s not using the unrated cut for 4K, You can’t deny the theatrical cut’s power. This made a boatload of money when it was released but it divided critics, which I find surprising considering how audiences reacted. If you’ve seen this you know it’s a wild ride, and for the uninitiated, buckle up!
Orphan: First Kill:
While lacking the original film’s punchy surprises, Orphan: First Kill supplies plenty of chills delving into Esther’s origins. The game cast makes the film a fun watch and the leisurely pace makes it one to revisit along with the original. This may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for those who love “evil child” films, there’s no denying that Orphan: First Kill is quite the scare show.
I’ll say this before anything else – Here’s hoping we are lucky enough to get another Paramount Scares box set. Between the amazingly detailed magazine and the cutesy swag of the pin, sticker and patches and the excellent transfers for each movie in 4K you can’t deny something this slick. Pair all that with Blu-rays and a digital code — The price is right too! For those of you (like me) who want a big box to display, there is no denying that this is a great purchase to make!
