During the DVD era, when Anchor Bay was the supreme leader in horror title reissues, Blue Underground was doing similarly commendable work but without the same level of (deserved) accolades. However, the company’s jump from DVD to Blu-ray left a lot to be desired, with their earliest high-def releases gaining only so-so marks when it came to video quality. However, in recent years, Blue Underground has made a huge comeback, revisiting certain library titles stuck in standard definition limbo and giving them gorgeous face-lifts, coming in the form of fright flicks from director Bill Lustig (who founded Blue Underground), the sequels MANIAC COP 2 and MANIAC COP 3: BADGE OF SILENCE. Since then, the company went on to release cult favorites DEATHDREAM, and a trio of flicks from Dutch director Dick Maas, with AMSTERDAMNED, THE LIFT, and its American remake, DOWN (aka THE SHAFT), starring a pre-fame Naomi Watts. And coming soon are Lucio Fulci’s odd, quirky, and graphic thriller NEW YORK RIPPER (featuring a killer who talks like Donald Duck — no bullshit), the George A. Romero/Dario Argento, Poe-inspired anthology TWO EVIL EYES, and my absolutely most anticipated, Gary Sherman’s DEAD & BURIED.
Now, two of the company’s most iconic titles, Fulci’s ZOMBIE (released in other parts of the world as ZOMBI 2, and ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS), and Lustig’s controversial slasher MANIAC, have returned in brand new 4K UHD editions, which may in fact be the distributor’s most impressive releases to date. Like it or not, the gooey, bloody antics of ZOMBIE and the sweat-covered Joe Spinell have never looked gooier and sweatier.
From the press releases:
In Italy, it was considered the ‘unofficial sequel’ to DAWN OF THE DEAD. In England, it was known as ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS and banned as obscene. In America, it was called ZOMBIE and advertised with the depraved tag line “WE ARE GOING TO EAT YOU!” Tisa Farrow (THE GRIM REAPER), Ian McCulloch (CONTAMINATION), Al Cliver (CANNIBALS), and Richard Johnson (THE HAUNTING) star in this worldwide splatter sensation directed by ‘Maestro Of Gore’ Lucio Fulci (CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY) that remains one of the most eye-skewering, skin-ripping, gore-gushingly graphic horror hits of all time!
Blue Underground is proud to present ZOMBIE in a brand-new 4K Restoration from the original uncut and uncensored camera negative. This is ZOMBIE like you’ve truly never seen it before, bursting at the seams with hours of new and archival Extras!
Special Features and Technical Specs:
· 16-BIT DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE RECENT 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
· EXCLUSIVE NEW DOLBY ATMOS AUDIO TRACK
DISC ONE (4K BLU-RAY)
· Audio Commentary #1 with Troy Howarth, Author of Splintered Visions: Lucio Fulci and His Films
· Audio Commentary #2 with Star Ian McCulloch and Diabolik Magazine Editor Jason J. Slater
· When The Earth Spits Out The Dead – Interview with Stephen Thrower, Author of Beyond Terror: The Films of Lucio Fulci
· Theatrical Trailers
· TV Spots
· Radio Spots
· Poster & Still Gallery
· Guillermo del Toro Intro
DISC TWO (BLU-RAY):
· Zombie Wasteland – Interviews with Stars Ian McCulloch, Richard Johnson & Al Cliver, and Actor/Stuntman Ottaviano Dell’Acqua
· Flesh Eaters on Film – Interview with Co-Producer Fabrizio De Angelis
· Deadtime Stories – Interviews with Co-Writers Elisa Briganti and (Uncredited) Dardano Sacchetti
· World of the Dead – Interviews with Cinematographer Sergio Salvati and Production & Costume Designer Walter Patriarca
· Zombi Italiano – Interviews with Special Make-Up Effects Artists Gianetto De Rossi & Maurizio Trani and Special Effects Artist Gino De Rossi
· Notes on a Headstone – Interview with Composer Fabio Frizzi
· All in the Family – Interview with Antonella Fulci
· Zombie Lover – Award-Winning Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro talks about one of his favorite films
ADDITIONAL SPECS:
· Subtitles: English SDH, Français, Español, Português, Deutsch, Italiano, Dansk, Suomi, Nederlands, Svenska, Russian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai
· First pressingly: Limited Edition slipcover
· REGION-FREE
Frank Zito (a career performance by writer/executive producer Joe Spinell of ROCKY and THE GODFATHER fame) is a deeply disturbed man, haunted by the traumas of unspeakable childhood abuse. And when these horrific memories begin to scream inside his mind, Frank prowls the seedy streets of New York City to stalk and slaughter innocent young women. Now Frank has begun a relationship with a beautiful photographer (Caroline Munro of THE SPY WHO LOVED ME), yet his vile compulsions remain. These are the atrocities of a human monster. This is the story of a MANIAC.
Directed by William Lustig (MANIAC COP 2, VIGILANTE) and featuring landmark gore effects by Tom Savini (DAWN OF THE DEAD, FRIDAY THE 13th), this relentlessly shocking and disturbing film was originally banned or censored all over the world due to its graphic violence. Now Blue Underground is thrilled to present MANIAC in a brand-new 4K Restoration from its recently discovered 16mm original camera negative, overflowing with hours of new and archival Extras!
Special Features and Technical Specs:
· 16-BIT DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE RECENT 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
· EXCLUSIVE NEW DOLBY ATMOS AUDIO TRACK
DISC ONE (4K BLU-RAY)
· Audio Commentary #1 with Producer/Director William Lustig and Producer Andrew Garroni
· Audio Commentary #2 with Producer/Director William Lustig, Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini, Editor Lorenzo Marinelli, and Joe Spinell’s Assistant Luke Walter
· Theatrical Trailers
· TV Spots
· Radio Spots
DISC TWO (BLU-RAY)
· MANIAC Outtakes
· Returning to the Scene of the Crime with William Lustig
· Anna and the Killer – Interview with Star Caroline Munro
· The Death Dealer – Interview with Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini
· Dark Notes – Interview with Composer Jay Chattaway
· Maniac Men – Interview with Songwriters Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky
· The Joe Spinell Story
· Mr. Robbie: Maniac 2 Promo Reel
· MANIAC Publicity
· MANIAC Controversy
· ADDITIONAL SPECS:
· Subtitles: English SDH, Français, Español, Português, Deutsch, Italiano, Dansk, Suomi, Nederlands, Svenska, Russian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai
· First pressingly: Limited Edition slipcover
· REGION-FREE
ZOMBIE and MANIAC are now available in 4K UHD and 3-Disc Standard Blu-ray Limited Editions.
Tags: Blu-ray, blue underground, Caroline Munro, Fabio Frizzi, Horror, Ian McCulloch, Jay Chattaway, Joe Spinell, Lucio Fulci, Tisa Farrow, tom savini, William Lustig
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