Wake in Fright Gets a Stunning 4K Restoration by Umbrella

Umbrella Entertainment has officially announced the upcoming release of their 4K restoration of Wake in Fright (also known as Outback), directed by Ted Kotcheff. This horror-drama features actors Donald Pleasence, Gary Bond, and Jack Thompson. The announcement is accompanied by a trailer showcasing this new restoration of the cult classic film, set for release in its definitive edition.

The restoration involved meticulous work with the original camera negative, scanned in 4K by the National Film and Sound Archive. The film underwent frame-by-frame cleaning, color correction, and stabilization. This intricate process took several months to complete, aiming to preserve every scene in its highest quality.

Set in the secluded town of The Yabba, Wake in Fright explores primal instincts such as drinking, gambling, and fighting. Originally released in 1971, the film faced initial box-office failure and the camera negatives disappeared for decades. In 1998, film editor Anthony Buckley led a search to re-discover them. Eventually, the negatives were found abandoned in Pittsburgh and brought back to Australia for preservation at the National Film and Sound Archive.

Over the years, significant effort was put into restoring the film’s visuals, returning its intended vibrant colors of red, yellow, orange, burgundy, and brown, as envisioned by director Ted Kotcheff. This restoration was supervised by filmmaker Mark Hartley, with contributions from colorist Charlie Ellis and the Wake In Fright Trust.

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This Collector's Edition brings to light one of Australia's notable cinematic achievements, preserving it for future generations. Stay tuned for more details regarding its release date.