Scream for Help: Blu-Ray Review

Arriving on Blu-ray this week is the 1984 thriller, “Scream for Help”, written by Tom Holland (“Fright Night”) and directed by Michael Winner (“Death Wish 1-3”).  This is one of those titles which I am pretty sure I saw once or twice on cable as a kid but truthfully, I am not quite sure.  It felt familiar but at the same time I didn’t remember any of the characters.  Thankfully Scream Factory is releasing this uneven yet entertaining mystery/home invasion thriller on Blu-ray.

The story centers on Christie Cromwell (Rachael Kelly), a teenager who is quite certain that her stepfather Paul (David Allen Brooks) is trying to kill her mother, Karen (Marie Masters).  Christie believes that Paul wants to inherit the family money, which is substantial. She is also aware that Paul is having an affair with Brenda Bohle (Lolita Lorre), who just might be in on his murder plot.

With everything that is going on, Christie does manage to snag herself a boyfriend in Josh (Corey Parker), even though he was sleeping with her best friend before she was hit by a car and killed (while pregnant with Josh’s child). Yep, this movie is a whopper. Most of the time it is hard to take seriously, but when the final act turns into a home invasion flick, things get pretty, fun.

Scream Factory has given “Scream for Help” a 2K remaster and the release includes new interviews with Brooks and Holland.  Aside from some truly awful dialogue and annoying narration in the film’s opening, “Scream for Help” is a sometimes bizarre but enjoyable thriller that includes a stand-out performance from Rocco Sisto.

Bonus Features

• NEW 2K Scan From The Original Film Elements
• NEW Stepfather Of The Year – An Interview With Actor David Allen Brooks
• NEW Cruel Intentions – An Interview With Writer Tom Holland
• NEW Audio Commentary Featuring Justin Karswell (Hysteria Lives!, The Slasher Movie Book) And Amanda Reyes (Are You In The House Alone? A TV Movie Compendium)
• Theatrical Trailer

By: Marc Ferman