Doomwatch [DVD] [1972]

Carve a path of destruction with your rolling rocks of doom

Two low-budget science fiction features are teamed up on this disc from Alpha Home Entertainment, which pay more obvious tribute to the first era of direct-to-video obscurities than the golden era of 42nd Street sleaze, despite the package's title. The Day Time Ended (aka Time Warp) and The Doomsday Machine (aka Escape From Planet Earth) have both been transferred to disc in the full-frame aspect ratio of 1.33:1; the image quality is less than stellar for both films, and The Day Time Ended's fuzzy look suggests it was sourced from an older video copy, though the saturated colors of The Doomsday Machine are reasonably well served. The audio for both features has been mastered in Dolby Digital Stereo, retaining the original monophonic sound mixes, and the quality is adequate if not much better. The dialogue for both movies is in English, with no subtitles or multiple language options included. The only bonus material included is a set of thirteen trailers for other Alpha video releases -- all recent straight-to-video stuff except for coming attractions reels for six Ted V. Mikels pictures. Grindhouse Double Shock Show: The Day Time Ended/The Doomsday Machine's low price will be its principle attraction to fans of oddball cinema, given the less than stellar quality of the movies and their presentation on disc.