My Ultimate '85 Physical Media Checklist

Arrow have released Dario Argento’s surreal, psycho-supernatural-horror-thriller, Phenomena, multiple times over the years, starting in 2011 with their classic windowed sleeve design. Arrow delivered subsequent re-releases in 2012 and 2014 as well as a Zavvi exclusive Steelbook here in the UK, before endowing us with a new, stunningly remastered 4K restoration of the full-length 116-minute Italian cut, and released in both a Limited Edition and Standard Edition in 2018.

Arrow’s updated 4K UHD release in 2022 retains that remaster, but throws HDR10 compatible Dolby Vision into the mix for an absolutely jaw-dropping visual presentation of Argento’s signature colour-bold cinematography. It’s a must-have for Argento completionists, and a strong continuation of Argento’s legacy in the Arrow Video catalogue.

Runner up: The Mutilator, Arrow Video, HD (2016)

The first of my this film is in dire need of an upgraded physical release complaints list! It’s surprising to me that this well loved, award winning Universal Pictures film hasn’t been given the loving physical release treatment that it deserves, but here we are!

Peter Bogdanovich’s tear-jerking biographical drama starring Eric Stoltz, Cher, and Sam Elliot has been left hanging with the UK’s Final Cut Entertainment release of the director’s cut since 2018. To date, there has been no dedicated USA HD release for the beloved classic, although this disc will work on region A players. As for UHD? So far; nada! However, Final Cut’s disc is fine and features a very respectable 5.1 DTS-HD audio mix and an interesting, if brief, featurette with the director. A remaster of Mask would be very welcome!

As the summer months of 1985 rolled in, so too began the cinema releases that would go on to define 1985. And with June’s films including The Goonies, Pale Rider and Cocoon, where do you start with picking a great original cinema release/modern day physical media release combo? Well, in my opinion, you start with: “Disney, can you please give us a wide release, updated disc of one of my favourite 1980s fantasy films; Return to Oz? I know you won’t, but could you? Please? Thanks, mate!”

It’s insane to think that a company as huge as Disney, with a multi-generational fanbase of completionist collectors, have hedged all of their bets on a fledgling streaming service and collapsed their physical distribution arm, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, in the process, with all physical Disney releases now handled by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. And all this after decades of limiting physical releases of highly sought-after titles to Movie Club subscribers, and historically staggering release dates in order to accumulate hype.

The result is that if you’d like to own this unremarkable, USA-only Return to Oz Blu-ray, you can expect to pay somewhere in the region of £230 on the second-hand market! The disc itself has been reviewed as ‘average’ in picture and sound quality, and comes bereft of extras. But don’t worry, all is not lost! if you want the disappointing follow-up; ‘Oz the Great And Powerful’ from 2018 on Blu-ray, you can find that everywhere!

Runner ups: I’d be remise not to highlight two excellent present day physical media releases of movies from June, 1985 here. Firstly, The Stuff on HD Blu-ray from Arrow Video UK (2017), and the recent gorgeous release of D.A.R.Y.L. on 4K UHD from Vinegar Syndrome, USA

Yes, yes. I know! Arrow Video released a Special Edition HD Blu-ray in 2018 for USA customers only, with one of the most incredible slipcover artwork jobs ever known to mankind. But I wanted to show some love to another of my native country’s outstanding boutique outfits: Second Sight Films.

This was an early release for them, and they provided us with not only an at the time new 4K restoration of the film we’d all seen before, but also a newly restored version of the longer Integral Cut, that adds the Dr. Carl Hill clairvoyance b-plot back into the film along with some gore shots missing from the R-rated/18 version, complete on the same disc. The Integral Cut had previously surfaced on a German disc in 2013. However, this is still the most definitive physical release of Re-Animator available to us UK collectors.

Re-released more times, and on more formats than I’ve had hot dinners, the recent 4K UHD of the fourth entry of Sylvester Stallone’s vehicle for muscle and sweat porn – no, not that one, the other one – Rocky IV on 4K is a force to be reckoned with. As I was introducing that last sentence, I had sweat on the mind as I don’t think I’ve ever seen sweat droplets flying all over the place in as crystal clear fidelity as is on display here. It’s bloody marvellous. As is the remastered DTS-HD 5.1 mix, which is one of the most spacious surround mixes I’ve ever heard on a physical media release.

The recently announced Criterion Collection treatment of Terry Gilliam’s complete and utter masterpiece that is Brazil is another up-coming release that has me pacing the room like an anxious, soon-to-be father at 3am in the halls of a maternity ward. The disc, which is due out in June of this year, promises a new 4K restoration of the 143-minute Director’s Cut, complete with Dolby Vision HDR, supervised and approved by Gilliam himself, as well as a plethora of extras.

For my collection, it will serve as an upgrade to my 20th Century Fox Steelbook from 2014, which although I will retire from spinning in the deck, I will be keeping because of the beautiful case. If Criterion’s release of Gilliam’s other works so far are anything to go by, I am expecting great things indeed!

Runner up: Enemy Mine, Eureka Classics, UK, HD (2016)