Tag Archives: Synapse Films

1985 Dario Argento film Phenomena gets a 4K in March

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The 1985 Dario Argento film “Phenomena“ starring Jennifer Connelly is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on March 8th, 2022 via Synapse Films, in conjunction with Arrow Video. The film, co-written, produced, and directed by Dario Argento, co-starred Daria Nicolodi, Fiore Argento, Fiorenza Tessari, Dalila Di Lazzaro, Patrick Bauchau, and Donald Pleasence. MAJOR NOTE: This will be a limited edition set and only 6000 will be produced.

The movie has received a new 4K restoration for “all three versions of Phenomena, including the original Italian version (116 mins.), the International cut (100 mins.), and the U.S. “Creepers” cut (83 mins.).”

The tech specs for the release include a 2160p 4K video presentation in the 1.66:1 (matted) aspect ratio spanning across a 2-disc set. The first 4K UHD Blu-ray disc will contain the Italian version of the film, and the second 4K UHD Blu-ray disc will contain the International and “Creepers” versions. Now, the audio here for the 3 different versions of the film is going to have a lot of options, including multiple English and the Italian language mixes in lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo configurations as well as PCM 1.0 Mono in a few instances. As it gets a bit complex, I’ve noted all of the audio mixes included for all 3 different versions below with the subtitles offered as well.

  • Lossless Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and PCM 2.0 stereo soundtracks, derived from the original 4-channel Dolby Stereo elements
  • Lossless “hybrid” English/Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack
  • Lossless English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and PCM 2.0 stereo soundtracks on the international version, derived from the original 4-channel Dolby Stereo elements
  • Lossless English PCM 1.0 mono soundtrack on Creepers, mastered from the original 3 track DME magnetic mix
  • Rare alternate 2.0 stereo mix on the international version, featuring different sound effects and music cues
  • Lossless English PCM soundtracks on Creepers, mastered from the original 3 track DME magnetic mix and presented in two variants: 1.0 mono and an alternate 2.0 mix with stereo music
    • English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
    • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the hybrid soundtrack
    • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon. And you can expect that price to drop some, as it’s the MSRP (list price). Remember, Amazon offers a preorder price guarantee. In fact, you can also find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder over at online retailer DiabolikDVD for a considerable bit cheaper. That said, I’d expect Amazon will drop to that price or be forced to match it.

The release will come only with the 4K UHD Blu-ray, and bonus materials will be included on it, which are listed further below along with physical extras (pictured first below).

  • Limited edition slipcase packaging designed by artist Wes Benscoter
  • Reversible sleeve artwork
  • Collector’s booklet featuring liner notes from Mikel J. Koven, Rachael Nisbet and Leonard Jacobs
  • Fold-out poster
  • A set of lobby card reproduction artcards
  • Audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of Murder by Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento (on Italian Version)
  • Of Flies and Maggots, a feature-length 2017 documentary produced by Arrow Films, including interviews with co-writer/producer/director Dario Argento, actors Fiore Argento, Davide Marotta, Daria Nicolodi and others…
  • U.S. theatrical trailer and radio spots for ‘Creepers’
  • Original Italian and international theatrical trailers
  • “Jennifer” music video, directed by Dario Argento
  • Japanese pressbook gallery
  • Audio commentary on the international version by Argento scholar and author Derek Botelho and film historian, journalist and radio/television commentator David Del Valle
  • The Three Sarcophagi, a visual essay by Arrow producer Michael Mackenzie comparing the different cuts of Phenomena

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.

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1977 Dario Argento film Suspiria comes to 4K

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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.

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1969 film “Django the Bastard” on Blu-ray August

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The 1969 spaghetti western “Django the Bastard“ is coming to Blu-ray Disc on August 13th via Synapse Films. The film, directed by Sergio Garrone, starred Anthony Steffen, Paolo Gozlino, Luciano Rossi, and Rada Rassimov. The film has received a new 2K scan from the original 35mm film negative. The tech specs for the Blu-ray release include 1080p video in the 2.40:1 aspect ratio and English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono sound. You can find that the Blu-ray is now available for pre-order over at Amazon. The only bonus materials set to be included on the release are listed below.

  • Audio Commentary by Author Troy Howarth
  • Newly-Translated Removable English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing