Comparison between the British VHS from Arcade Video (1983 edition from the "Video Nasties" list without a BBFC certificate) and the theatrical version (both included on the British Blu-ray from Arrow Video - Limited Video Nasty Edition).

A couple of additional master errors, each under 0.5 sec in duration, were not listed in the report.

Don't Go in the House (1980, alternate title: The Burning) is a delightfully nasty variation on Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. Long before his appearance in The Sopranos, Dan Grimaldi shines here as Donny Kohler, into whose sick psyche the viewer is swept for just under 90 minutes. Inexpensively produced, it is Grimaldi's acting, but also the gloomy score and some well-dosed shock effects as well as some quick ultraviolent bits that create a thoroughly eerie atmosphere.

In 2017, a very limited Blu-ray was released in the U.S. by Scorpion Releasing, which included a 10-minute longer extended version. Whether this is really worth an upgrade, we have analyzed in more detail in the dedicated report. In February 2022, a new Blu-ray was released in parallel in the UK by Arrow Video as well as in the US by Severin Video. On disc 1, this contains a new scan of the theatrical version and the US TV version. On disc 2 a newly created extended version can be found.

• The new HD scan on Disc 1 corresponds to the theatrical version release on Blu-ray in Germany from Subkultur. It's in 1.78:1 though, while Subkultur had it matted to 1.85:1. Also, the logo at the beginning differs. The new scan shows the FVI logo.
• The TV version on Disc 1 from Arrow/Severin has some additional scenes but is censored in several places. Details follow in a separate report.
• The new extended version on Disc 2 also runs 92 minutes, but is not exactly identical to Scorpion's previous US Blu-ray. For example, in the alternate takes at the beginning, the 2022 Extended Version follows the more familiar theatrical version. This is because the 2022 Extended version is based on the new scan of the theatrical version. For the Scorpion Blu-ray, the TV version was the basis and a few instances of its audio censorship slipped into this extended version. Details will follow in a separate report.

Additionally, Arrow Video has exclusively released the "Nasty Edition" with a third disc in their in-house store as another special edition. There are 3 (or even 4) more versions included:

• UK 35mm scan in...
  • a) original open matte form and
  • b) matted to 1.85:1 aspect ratio.
  • The latter is absolutely identical to the version Subkultur used on the German Blu-ray. Moreover, Subkultur had also filed the open matte version in the bonus material as "Rohschnitt".
• UK VHS release in uncut form: A copy of Arcade's 1983 VHS release (no BBFC certificate), which was added to the infamous "Video Nasties" list and therefore banned.
• UK VHS first issue in cut form: The censored 1982 edition with a BBFC X rating, which will be detailed in a separate report.

In the following report, we'll go into more detail about the inherently uncut versions from this shop-exclusive Disc 3. First and foremost, the longer running time of the VHS version can make you wonder. However, Arrow has only left the introductory VHS notes in here. Also, the PAL VHS has been converted to 23,976fps, which explains the additional longer runtime over the original tape. Aside from that, there are a few reel change-related mishaps, but nothing of actual relevance.

First off we start with a comparison of the main version (theatrical cut) on disc 1 of the Arrow/Severin Blu-ray with the UK 35mm scan on Disc 3 of the Arrow- exclusive "Video Nastiy" edition. The latter is identical to the GermanBlu-ray by Subkultur.


The introductory logos differ.

UK-35mm 11.8 sec länger

Theatrical Cut (Arrow Disc 1)	UK 35mm - Open Matte (Arrow Disc 3)

Enclosed are two comparison pictures from the further course of the film...

Theatrical Cut (Arrow Disc 1)	UK 35mm - Open Matte (Arrow Disc 3)

...and here are comparisons for the last two images from the UK 35mm version of disc 3 of the Arrow release in its 1.85:1 option. As mentioned, this is exactly how the film was released on the German Subkultur Blu-ray, while the open matte version is available there in the bonus as a "Rohfassung".

In the infamous scene in the 29th minute, when the woman is set on fire with a flamethrower, the visible section is slightly smaller in Open Matte. On the left, the black bar is larger than usual. In its 1.85:1 counterpart, the UK 35mm version of Disc 3 of the Arrow release is again very similar to the main 1.78:1 version of Disc 1.

UK 35mm - 1.85:1 (Arrow Disc 3)	UK 35mm - Open Matte (Arrow Disc 3)

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Now a comparison between the theatrical version on Disc 1 of Arrow/Severin with the uncut "Video nasty" Arcade-VHS (bonus on disc 3 of the shop exclusive Arrow set).

00:00-01:14 / 00:00

The Arcade VHS (uncut "video nasty" version) starts with various notes by the video label.

+ 72 sec (= 1:12 min)

Occasionally there were glitches with the VHS tape used, like here in the 13th/14th minute. In general, there are of course many signs of wear that offer a rather nice grindhouse feeling.

UK VHS uncut (Arrow Disc 3)	Theatrical Cut (Arrow Disc 1)

In addition, here are two comparison shots to the Open Matte 35mm version from the infamous flamethrower scene.

UK VHS uncut (Arrow Disc 3)	UK 35mm - Open Matte (Arrow Disc 3)

17:22 / 16:11-16:13

Probably the first reel change: the room is visible for a moment longer than Donny left the picture above.

2.2 sec

34:22 / 33:13-33:14

Again, a few frames are missing in the transition of the shot of the dress on the bed and the shot of the bridge.

0.9 sec

50:41 / 49:33-49:35

The shot of the house begins a little earlier.

1.9 sec

During the credits, the dots between the actors and their role names are missing in the HD master.

UK VHS uncut (Arrow Disc 3)	Theatrical Cut (Arrow Disc 1)

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Slipcase, cover und reverse cover of the British Blu-ray by Arrow Video - Limited Video Nasty 3-Disc Edition: