Some things in life are certain: the changing seasons, the steady breeze, and the moment an iconic character enters the public domain, a slasher movie inspired by them isn’t far behind. We witnessed this with Winnie the Pooh, and last year, it was Steamboat Willie’s turn. This 1928 Disney character, the original blueprint for Mickey Mouse, became public domain on January 1, 2024. Soon after, ‘Screamboat’ transformed him into a chilling horror villain in an animated horror-comedy short. Now, this film is set to terrify home audiences with a Blu-ray release on December 9th, including a special steelbook 4K Blu-ray edition available for preorder.
This collector’s edition features both a 4K Ultra HD and a standard Blu-ray disc. The 4K version boasts native 4K resolution with HDR10 and immersive Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. The artwork is playfully deceptive: Steamboat Willie appears to wave innocently on the front cover, but a closer look reveals a scene of utter carnage surrounding him. The back cover presents a menacing computer-generated image of Willie looming over the New York City skyline.
Dive Deeper into the Horror: ‘Screamboat’ Bonus Features
While the Blu-ray might not be packed with a huge array of bonus features, it offers some compelling glimpses behind the scenes. You’ll find a selection of deleted scenes, a concise documentary on the making of ‘Screamboat,’ and an audio commentary track featuring David Howard Thornton, the actor who brings Willie to life.
- Audio commentary track with actor David Howard Thornton
- Documentary: The Making of Screamboat
- Deleted scenes
‘Screamboat’ was unveiled almost immediately after Steamboat Willie’s public domain entry. The plot centers on a terrifying late-night ferry journey in New York, where a once-charming mouse, now warped and vengeful from years of neglect, helms the vessel. Passengers quickly become victims of Willie’s brutal rampage. While the film might lean into ‘cash grab’ territory and isn’t entirely memorable, it does boast a fascinating link to the broader ‘Terrifier’ horror franchise. The producers behind ‘Terrifier 2’ and ‘Terrifier 3’ were involved in this project, and David Howard Thornton, known for his role as Art the Clown in the ‘Terrifier’ films, dons Willie’s unsettling costume.
Since its theatrical release in April, ‘Screamboat’ has received a mixed bag of reactions. However, if your taste runs to watching a small mouse unleash horrific violence and you appreciate well-executed practical effects, then ‘Screamboat’ could be a worthwhile addition to your collection. It delivers on its promise of extreme gore and offers a straightforward, no-frills horror experience.
More Twisted Childhood Horrors: Winnie the Pooh
As you might expect, ‘Screamboat’ isn’t the only innocent intellectual property to get a gruesome slasher makeover – and it certainly won’t be the last. Believe it or not, Winnie the Pooh and his friends have also been transformed into homicidal maniacs across two separate films. The first installment in what’s dubbed the “Twisted Childhood Universe,” ‘Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey,’ premiered in 2023 as a horror-parody of A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard’s beloved classic.
In this dark reimagining, Pooh finds a taste for blood even sweeter than honey as he embarks on a murderous rampage alongside his loyal companion, Piglet. While this film isn’t available in 4K yet, a standard Blu-ray release exists. The bonus features are minimal, including only the original theatrical trailer and a brief production documentary. Despite its modest budget of around $100,000, the movie surprisingly raked in $7.7 million globally.
Unsurprisingly, a sequel quickly followed. In ‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2,’ Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Owl return, seeking vengeance on Christopher Robin for exposing their existence to the world. Again, don’t anticipate extensive special features; this Blu-ray offers just a theatrical trailer and an image gallery. An exclusive steelbook edition is available, and both films can be purchased together in a convenient Blu-ray two-pack.
The Extreme World of Terrifier: Art the Clown’s Reign of Terror
While slasher films may not dominate the box office as they did in the 80s and 90s, the ‘Terrifier’ franchise stands as a notable exception. This series, centered around the terrifying Art the Clown, is definitely not for the faint of heart; each installment escalates the gore to truly stomach-churning levels. Art has solidified his place as a modern horror icon, and fans have several editions of the ‘Terrifier’ trilogy to choose from. You can find a two-pack Blu-ray featuring the first movie and the prequel anthology ‘All Hallow’s Eve.’ Both ‘Terrifier 2’ and ‘Terrifier 3’ are available in stunning 4K Blu-ray formats.
For the ultimate fan, a ‘Terrifier 3’ Limited Edition Collector’s Box Set exists, complete with unique extras like a themed “box of soap” and a barf bag. Seriously, if you’re experiencing the third film for the first time, you might just need those.
- Art’s Terror Pack (Blu-ray)
- Terrifier
- Blu-ray
- Blu-ray with All Hallow’s Eve
- Terrifier 2
- 4K Blu-ray Collector’s Edition
- 4K Blu-ray Steelbook Edition
- Blu-ray Collector’s Edition
- Terrifier 3
- 4K Blu-ray Collector’s Box Set (Exclusive Edition)
- 4K Blu-ray Steelbook Edition
- Blu-ray Collector’s Edition
- All Hallow’s Eve Anthology
- Blu-ray
- DVD Double Feature