Dead & Buried Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Dead & Buried" presents a distinct visual experience that stays true to its original grim and gritty aesthetic. With a 1080p resolution on a 1.78:1 frame, not the 1.85:1 as mistakenly advertised on the box, this transfer, encoded via VC-1, navigates through the film's inherent murkiness and grain with a dedication to authenticity over a polished hi-def overhaul. The film is characterized by its dim and dull color palette, heavily featuring nighttime sequences and poorly-lit interiors which contrast sharply against the few brightly lit scenes, making its high-definition presentation a meticulous match to the source material's intended appearance. Despite noticeable noise, along with nicks and speckles across the print, these imperfections do not detract significantly from the viewing pleasure, underscoring the film's aesthetic of decay and desolation.

Detail and texture see moderate improvement in this release, highlighting the meticulous craft in Stan Winston's special effects amidst the omnipresent film grain that defines the movie's visual identity. While not massively enhancing from the previous standard definition versions, the Blu-ray does offer increased clarity in several key areas such as daylight scenes and close-up shots, where the details of wounds, costume textures, and environmental elements gain slightly more prominence. However, expectations for substantial leaps in clarity should be tempered, given the deliberate choice to preserve the film's original murky visual tone over a stark high-definition contrast, especially noted in darker scenes where blacks are strong but can swallow minor details.

The technical execution of this transfer hits a peculiar mark between faithfulness to the original filmic quality and the constraints of adapting such a visually unique film into the high-definition format. The presence of grain, while faithful to the source, alongside muted colors and consistent visual noise, may not conventionally appeal to all hi-def enthusiasts but succeeds in elevating the movie’s atmospheric intent. Noteworthy is that certain elements, like the special effects shots, have gained a bit more definition, shedding light on Winston's work with finer detail than before. Despite these nuances, the Blu-ray reinforces "Dead & Buried’s" dark thematic and visual tones, ensuring an experience that, while perhaps not demonstrating a quantum leap in quality, aligns well with what fans and purists would expect from a high-definition rendition of this horror classic.

Blue Underground's approach to the audio presentation for “Dead & Buried” reflects a bold, yet questionable choice, channeling resources into 7.1 DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD mixes for a film originally outfitted with a mono soundtrack. Such an endeavor raises eyebrows, not only for the audacity in leapfrogging to a 7.1 setup but also for the potential misjudgment in not preserving the film's authentic audio heritage on Blu-ray. The inclusion of a 5.1 EX track alongside further compounds this curiosity, providing a plethora of options that, paradoxically, add little substance over the original mono experience. Despite being framed within a modern lossless audio scope, the tracks primarily exercise their muscles in the front channels, displaying clarity and frontality in music and dialogue but not fully utilizing the expansive field a 7.1 configuration promises. Ambient effects and environmental cues occasionally seep into the rear channels, yet these contributions are understated, rarely ascending beyond minimalistic enhancements.

Specifically, standout moments in this ambitious audio remake center on isolated sound elements like the haunting blow of a foghorn, evidenced amidst an otherwise restrained bass execution and a generally lackluster surround ambiance. Such instances provide fleeting engagement within a landscape where rear channels whisper rather than roar, maintaining an atmosphere that hovers closer to the original's mono intentions than a genuinely immersive auditory experience might dictate. Dialogues, while clear, are somewhat submerged under the weight of this ambitious mix, further underscoring the challenge of elevating a mono foundation to the heights of 7.1 glory without significant content to justify the expansion.

The critiques coalesce around a fundamental issue: by prioritizing technical advancement over fidelity to source material, the audio presentation navigates into the territory of being technically competent yet spiritually disconnected from its cinema roots. The failure to include the mono track on the Blu-ray edition exacerbates this dissonance, leaving purists and audiophiles alike grappling with recreated soundscapes that, though not devoid of merit, diverge from delivering a more authentic auditory recount of “Dead & Buried.” The tracks, despite their high-resolution badge, flatter to deceive—gesturing towards envelopment without delivering the impactful or coherent surround experience that might justify the overhaul from its mono origins.

The Blu-ray release of "Dead & Buried" presents a comprehensive extras package that caters extensively to film aficionados and fans of horror cinema, melding technical insight with behind-the-scenes stories. Viewers are treated to three engaging audio commentaries, each offering a unique perspective: director Gary A. Sherman shares in-depth reflections on the film's creation and his original vision versus the final product, co-writer/co-producer Ron Shusett and actress Linda Turley bring to light production anecdotes, and cinematographer Steve Poster delves into the technical nuances of filming, emphasizing his visual style and techniques. Adding to the richness of this release are featurettes offering interviews with horror legends such as Stan Winston, who explains his special effects work for the film, and Robert Englund, who reflects on his role and early career in horror. Despite a couple of omissions from previous releases, such as galleries of stills and posters, the included content such as the international and U.S. trailers, provides a well-rounded understanding of the film's legacy and impact.

Extras included in this disc:

AUDIO COMMENTARY WITH GARY A. SHERMAN: Insights from the director moderated by David Gregory of Blue Underground.

AUDIO COMMENTARY WITH RON SHUSETT AND LINDA TURLEY: Production stories from the co-writer/co-producer and actress.

AUDIO COMMENTARY WITH STEVE POSTER: Technical discussion on cinematography from the film's cinematographer.

STAN WINSTON'S DEAD & BURIED EFX: An interview with Stan Winston about his special effects work on the film.

ROBERT ENGLUND: AN EARLY WORK OF HORROR: An interview featurette with actor Robert Englund discussing his experiences on the film.

DAN O'BANNON: CRAFTING FEAR: The writer discusses his approach to horror and his involvement with Dead & Buried.

INTERNATIONAL TRAILER

U.S. TRAILER

TEASER TRAILER

Gary Sherman's Dead & Buried firmly stands as a quintessential slice of early '80s horror, encapsulating the era's fascination with the macabre and the mysterious. Released in a time when horror cinema was beginning to burgeon into a significant cultural force, this film differentiates itself through a captivating blend of mystery and horror, augmented by Stan Winston's memorably gruesome special effects. The narrative weaves through the disquieting happenings in the small town of Potter's Bluff, with Sheriff Dan Gillis (James Farentino) at its center, unraveling a web of deceit and terror that is as engaging as it is horrifying. The performances, particularly from Farentino and Jack Albertson, infuse the film with a sinister edge, perfectly complementing its eerie atmosphere.

The Blu-ray presentation, while not a revelation in hi-definition clarity, offers an appreciable enhancement in detail and consistency that remains faithful to the original cinematography envisioned by Sherman and cinematographer Steve Poster. This subtle yet significant improvement in visual quality, coupled with a somewhat contentious audio remastering choice, marks this release as an earnest attempt to honor the film's legacy. Despite the absence of the original mono track, the inclusion of comprehensive extras provides an in-depth exploration of the film’s production, offering valuable insights for aficionados and newcomers alike.

From its modest beginnings to its chilling finale, Dead & Buried excels at leading its audience through an evolving narrative landscape that transitions from quaint to quintessentially terrifying. This progression, underscored by meticulously crafted set pieces and a genuine understanding of horror cinema's ethos, solidifies the film’s status as not just another entry in the genre but as a thought-provoking exploration of the "why" behind its tale of terror. It manages to maintain its narrative intrigue and thematic richness, ensuring its place not just in horror folklore but also as a pivotal film worth revisiting, especially with this latest Blu-ray offering.

"Dead & Buried" emerges as a quintessential emblem of superior horror cinema, adeptly intertwining an intricate narrative with deeply drawn characters, underscored by a chilling plot that unfolds with a finesse unusual for its genre. The film’s execution steers clear of the pitfalls of excessive gore, favoring a more sophisticated and slow-building horror that culminates in a twist ending celebrated as one of cinema's finest. This release by Blue Underground is poised to bolster "Dead & Buried's" already considerable cult following, ensuring it receives the wider recognition it merits. Although the film inherently lacks the sheen of modern high-definition releases, this Blu-ray transfer enhances its visual appeal significantly over previous editions, presenting the best version of the film’s visuals to date.

On the audio front, while the two 7.1 sound mixes primarily anchor themselves to the front channels, there's an appreciated, albeit modest, engagement of rear-channel and LFE elements that enriches the viewing experience. However, where this Blu-ray edition truly distinguishes itself is in its comprehensive suite of special features. Fans of the film and genre aficionados alike will find themselves thoroughly satisfied with the extensive range of commentary tracks and bonus materials, which not only pay homage to the film’s legacy but also offer invaluable insights into its creation and impact.

In conclusion, this Blu-ray release of "Dead & Buried" by Blue Underground is an exemplary addition to the collection of any horror enthusiast. Its superb restoration of both visual and audio elements, combined with an impressive array of special features, makes it a definitive version that does justice to the film's standing in horror cinema history. The effort put into this release acknowledges and celebrates the film’s unique place in the genre, offering both new audiences and long-time fans an exceptional opportunity to explore one of horror’s most distinguished and inventive titles.