French DVD
This text refers to the French DVD released in 2000. Check-out Sazuma and Ebay.
Price: Around £19 through sazuma.com     Rating: Unrated
Format: PAL (Britain and Europe)
DVD Region: 2
Approximate Run Time: 81 mins
Released by: IMATIM
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen - 1:77:1 Anamorphic
Sound: English and French Dolby Digital (1.0)
DVD Extras: Trailer, catalogue on the films of Wes Craven, booklet on history of film (both in French text), French subtitles - only removeable on some players!
Released around the same time as the Dutch DVD, this French release includes the same European print of the film. It has the brief glimpse of Phyllis's intestines, and no end credits. It is also freely available on the Net, and coded to Region 2 - so it will run on British players. However, the subtitles are not optional like the Dutch version, and only a few top-end DVD players will remove them! This has been a moderate success in France, though it has been more successful via import to the US and UK. However, it didn't match the Dutch disc in terms of extras, or presentation, and the subtitles should have been optional.

Picture

Very good indeed, this isn't any better than the Dutch and US discs for quality. There is only brief areas of grain or technical errors from the shoot, and this release is very admirable indeed. One of the edition's best features, the picture is sharp and clear throughout - unlike past videos. Highly pleasing.
Sound

Presented in either English or French Dolby Digital, this is an excellent soundtrack for a more-or-less complete transfer. In fact, it actually surpasses the Dutch DVD, and is this edition's best feature. It is clear and vibrant, except for certain chunks of dialogue like on all releases, but the music and dynamic range with the sound effects are brilliant.

Extras

This lets the disc down immensely. The only extra that us British viewers can use, is the theatrical trailer. Apart from this, a Wes Craven biography and history of the film are presented (in booklet form), but are in French text. Not exactly illuminating.

Overall

Presented in equal quality to the Dutch and American DVD's, the disc's only saving grace is it's sound format. The extras aren't brilliant, and is let down by French subtitles that can only be removed on certain players. There are much better releases around.