Tag Archives: Dario Argento
Demons I & II limited edition on 4K and Blu-ray October
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The films “Demons” (1985) and “Demons 2” (1986) have both received new 4K restorations and are coming to both 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc via “Special Limited Edition” set on October 19th via Synapse Films. The films, both directed by Lamberto Bava and co-written & produced by Dario Argento, are cult classics and have previously been released on Blu-ray back in 2014 by Synapse Films.
The tech specs for the films on 4K include 2160p video presentation, from a new 4K restoration of the original camera 35mm negatives, with HDR10 and Dolby Vision forms of high dynamic range and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 Mono lossless mixes for both the original cut and U.S. theatrical cut. The 2.0 Mono lossless for the U.S. theatrical cut has been newly remastered by Synapse. The tech specs for the Blu-ray version of the set include a 1080p HD video presentation with the very same audio options. Neither of these releases will come as a “combo pack” so don’t expect the 4K to have its Blu-ray counterpart, or the Blu-ray to come with some DVDs. That’s not happening with this release. And, I for one respect that choice.
You can now find both the 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc versions of the Special Limited Edition set available for preorder over at Amazon. NOTE: The 4K release will be region-free but the Blu-ray release will be Region A locked. Bonus materials set to be included with the set include some physical extras like a slipcover (o-card), a reproduction of the original movie ticket (for the first film), a birthday invitation for the sequel, a fold-out poster (for the first film), and reversible cover artwork. And, some new digital extras not featured on the 2014 Blu-ray releases will be included that are fully detailed below, after the break, for each version.
Romero and Argento film Two Evil Eyes on 4K in August
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The 1990 film “Two Evil Eyes” co-directed by George A. Romero and Dario Argento is getting a 4K UHD Blu-ray release on August 24th via Blue Underground. The film featured a cast of Adrienne Barbeau, Harvey Keitel, Martin Balsam, E.G. Marshall, John Amos, and Tom Atkins. Tech specs for the release include a 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio from a new 4K restoration in both Dolby Vision and HDR10 forms of high dynamic range and Dolby Atmos sound, as well as DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono sound. The new 4K restoration here came from the uncensored original camera negative.
UPDATE #2: You can now find that the 4K UHD Blu-ray is now available for preorder over at Amazon, as well as over at DiabolikDVD. Bonus materials set to be included with this new 2-disc 4K UHD Blu-ray Blu-ray are listed below.
Disc 1 (4K UHD Blu-ray) Feature Film + Extras:
- Audio Commentary with Troy Howarth, Author of Murder By Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento
- Theatrical Trailer
- Poster & Still Gallery
Disc 2 (Blu-ray) Extras:
- Two Masters’ Eyes – Interviews with Directors Dario Argento & George Romero, Special Make-Up Effects
- Supervisor Tom Savini, Executive Producer Claudio Argento, and Asia Argento
- Savini’s EFX – A Behind-the-Scenes look at the film’s Special Make-Up Effects
- At Home With Tom Savini – A personal tour of Tom Savini&’s home
- Adrienne Barbeau on George Romero
- Before I Wake – Interview with Star Ramy Zada
- Behind The Wall – Interview with Star Madeleine Potter
- One Maestro And Two Masters – Interview with Composer Pino Donaggio
- Rewriting Poe – Interview with Co-Writer Franco Ferrini
- The Cat Who Wouldn’t Die – Interview with Assistant Director Luigi Cozzi
- Two Evil Brothers – Interview with Special Make-Up Assistant Everett Burrell
- Working With George – Interview with Costume Designer Barbara Anderson
Further below, after the break, you can find the trailer for the film, the sales sheet for the 4K UHD Blu-ray release, and the full details about the release.
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage lands on 4K in June
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The 1970 film “The Bird with the Crystal Plumage” is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray in a limited edition release on June 29th via Arrow Video. The film, written & directed by Dario Argento, starred Tony Musante, Suzy Kendall, Enrico Maria Salerno, Eva Renzi, Umberto Raho, and Renato Romano.
This movie has received a new 4K restoration. The tech specs for the release include a 2160p 4K presentation in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 and Dolby Vision forms of high dynamic range and restored original English and Italian Mono sound mixes, presumably in DTS-HD Master Audio — including optional English subtitles.
UPDATE: You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray listed for preorder over at Amazon. You can also find it for preorder over at online retailers DiabolikDVD and HD Movie Source.
The bonus materials for this release, include some physical extras (pictured above) and are detailed below.
- Audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films
- Black Gloves and Screaming Mimis, an interview with author and critic Kat Ellinger exploring the film’s themes and its relationship to both the giallo and Fredric Brown’s novel The Screaming Mimi
- The Power of Perception, a visual essay on the cinema of Dario Argento by Alexanda Heller-Nicholas, author of Devil’s Advocates: Suspiria and The Giallo Canvas: Art, Excess and Horror Cinema, reflecting on the recurring theme of perception and the role of art in Argento’s filmography
- Crystal Nightmare, an interview with writer/director Dario Argento
- An Argento Icon, an interview with actor Gildo Di Marco
- Eva’s Talking, an archival interview with actor Eva Renzi
- Original Italian and international theatrical trailers
- 2017 Texas Frightmare trailer
- Image galleries
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by Howard Hughes and Jack Seabrook, and a new essay by Rachael Nisbet
- Fold-out double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Obviously Creative
- Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproduction artcards
- Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring originally and newly commissioned artwork by Obviously Creative”
Two Evil Eyes [Limited Edition] – Blu-ray Screenshots
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1977 Dario Argento film Suspiria comes to 4K
The original 1977 Dario Argento directed horror film “Suspiria“ is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on November 19th via distributor Synapse Films, as their first 4K release. The Italian film starred Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Flavio Bucci, Miguel Bosé, and Barbara Magnolfi. Tech specs for the release include 2160p video in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio in a 4K restoration with HDR10 form of High Dynamic Range. In regards to sound there is a new Dolby Atmos remix as well as the original Italian 5.1, the English mixes in both 4.0 and 5.1 configurations via DTS-HD Master Audio (96kHz).
You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon, as well as over at DiabolikDVD. The release will include a Blu-ray Disc which contains bonus materials on the previous Blu-ray release of the film. Those extras set to be included in this release are listed below.
- Two audio commentaries by authors and Argento scholars, Derek Botelho, David Del Valle and Troy Howarth.
- Do You Know Anything About Witches? – 30 minute SUSPIRIA visual essay written, edited and narrated by Michael Mackenzie.
- Suzy in Nazi Germany – Featurette on the German locations from SUSPIRIA.
- A Sigh from the Depths: 40 Years of SUSPIRIA – All-new anniversary retrospective on the making of the film and its influence on cinema.
- Olga’s Story – Interview with star Barbara Magnolfi.
- Original theatrical trailers, TV spots and radio spots.
- “International Classics” English “Breathing Letters” opening credit sequence from the U.S. release.
- Alternate all-English opening and closing credits sequences, playable via seamless branching.
- Reversible cover art by Wes Benscoter
Further below, after the break, you can find a bit further details about the release taken from the Amazon description. You also can find the artwork and the reversible artwork as well. Lastly, you can find info about this as originally reported as an exclusive over at Rue-Morgue.
Two Evil Eyes Limited Edition Blu-ray October
The 1990 film “Two Evil Eyes“ directed by George A. Romero and Dario Argento is getting a “Limited Edition” Blu-ray Disc release on October 29th via Blue Underground. The film featured a cast of Adrienne Barbeau, Harvey Keitel, Martin Balsam, E.G. Marshall, John Amos, and Tom Atkins. Tech specs for the release include 1080p HD video in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio from a new 4K restoration with DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono, and Dolby Digital Mono sound. The new 4K restoration here came from the uncensored original camera negative. The “limited edition” Blu-ray is now available for pre-order over at Amazon. Bonus materials set to be included on this new 3-disc “limited edition” Blu-ray are listed below.
- Disc 1 (Blu-ray) Feature Film + Extras:
- NEW! Audio Commentary with Troy Howarth, Author of Murder By Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento
- Theatrical Trailer
- Poster & Still Gallery
- Disc 2 (Blu-ray) Extras:
- Two Masters’ Eyes – Interviews with Directors Dario Argento & George Romero, Special Make-Up Effects Supervisor Tom Savini, Executive Producer Claudio Argento, and Asia Argento
- Savini’s EFX – A Behind-the-Scenes look at the film’s Special Make-Up Effects
- At Home With Tom Savini – A personal tour of Tom Savini’s home
- Adrienne Barbeau on George Romero
- NEW! Before I Wake – Interview with Star Ramy Zada
- NEW! Behind The Wall – Interview with Star Madeleine Potter
- NEW! One Maestro And Two Masters – Interview with Composer Pino Donaggio
- NEW! Rewriting Poe – Interview with Co-Writer Franco Ferrini
- NEW! The Cat Who Wouldn’t Die – Interview with Assistant Director Luigi Cozzi
- NEW! Two Evil Brothers – Interview with Special Make-Up Assistant Everett Burrell
- NEW! Working With George – Interview with Costume Designer Barbara Anderson
- Disc 3 (CD):
- TWO EVIL EYES Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Pino Donaggio
- BONUS! Collectible Booklet with a new essay by Michael Gingold
Further below, after the break, you can find the full announcement regarding this upcoming Blu-ray release.
