Zombie Blu-ray Review

Blue Underground has managed to present "Zombie" with an even and visually compelling transfer that, while not as pristine as a modern release, stands as the best home video version of this classic film to date. Utilizing a new 2K master from the original uncut/uncensored camera negative and preserving the native 2.35:1 aspect ratio, the 1080p presentation excels in bringing out vivid colors and intricate details onsite. Wood textures, facial and clothing intricacies, and even the grotesque detailing on decaying bodies and gore are displayed with remarkable clarity. The color balance is strong, effectively rendering everything from the vibrant red airport flooring to the pastel shades of period-specific clothing. Blood red appears especially striking, enhancing the film's grueling atmosphere.

Despite its many strengths, there are minor imperfections that lightly hamper the viewing experience. A slight black crush issue emerges occasionally, and while banding and background blocking are largely absent, there are sporadic instances of grain fluctuation without apparent consistency. Some shots exhibit a random blend of sharp and flat imagery, while skin tones generally appear natural except for occasionally exaggerated sunburns. The print remains clean, mostly free of scratches and debris, though a few minor blemishes persist. Minor difficulties in night scenes and periodic exaggerated edges occasionally disrupt the otherwise immersive experience.

Overall, the Blu-ray presentation, backed by the AVC MPEG-4 encoding, delivers a video transfer that should satisfy fans of Fulci's work. Notwithstanding the light inconsistencies in grain and minor contrast issues, "Zombie" looks exceptionally good in this release, offering a clean and stable image that significantly enhances the viewing of this cult classic.

"Zombie" arrives on Blu-ray with a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack that serves its purpose with a fair degree of efficiency, despite its limitations. The audio experience reveals a slightly restricted range where the back channels offer minimal musical support. The surround channels are primarily utilized for light ambient sounds and a few sporadic action effects, failing to fully envelop the viewer. However, the movie's score remains clear and clean throughout the entire range, ensuring a satisfactory auditory experience. Gunshots, whether from pistols or rifles, deliver adequate impact, though tribal beats and native-inspired music do not carry a strong low-end presence.

The disc also presents multiple audio options, providing viewers with six different listening tracks for both English and Italian versions, including DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 EX, and Dolby Digital Mono. Despite this assortment, the immersive quality of the 7.1 track is modest at best due to its age and the intrinsic limitations of remixing older films. While there is some nice separation between noises and occasional pops in gunfire, screams often sound muffled, and high-end frequencies sometimes interfere with dialogue clarity. This audio presentation, while not groundbreaking, is aligned well with the expectations for an older film, ensuring an overall decent listening experience.

This release doesn't usher in an extraordinary audio experience, but it meets the basic needs of the genre and historical context of the film. Dialogue remains clean and centered throughout, making it easy to follow the narrative despite the technical shortcomings in surround sound utilization. For enthusiasts of older cult films like "Zombie," this Blu-ray's audio presentation provides a faithful replication of its original sonic atmosphere without modern embellishments that might detract from its authenticity.

The Blu-ray extras for "Zombie" comprise a thorough and engaging assortment of content that delves deeply into the making and legacy of this cult classic. The first disc anchors the experience with an audio commentary by Ian McCulloch and Jason J. Slater, although it's somewhat disjointed in execution. Complementing this are two trailers, several TV and radio spots, and a gallery of posters and stills that visually recount the film's expansive promotional journey. The second disc delivers substantial value, featuring interviews with key cast and crew, providing unique insights into both the creative and technical aspects of the film. Notable standouts include "Zombie Wasteland," which revisits the cast's memories, and "Zombi Italiano," which highlights practical effects techniques.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Ian McCulloch and Jason J. Slater discuss the film.
• Theatrical Trailers: International and U.S. versions.
• TV Spots: Two short television advertisements.
• Radio Spots: Four audio-only ads.
• Poster & Still Gallery: Visual slideshow with various promotional materials.
• Zombie Wasteland: Interviews with actors and stuntmen.
• Flesh Eaters on Film: Interview with co-producer Fabrizio de Angelis.
• Deadtime Stories: Interviews with co-writers Elisa Briganti and Dardano Sacchetti.
• World of the Dead: Technical discussion with cinematographer Sergio Salvati and production designer Walter Patriarca.
• Zombi Italiano: Special effects insights from key artists.
• Notes on a Headstone: Composer Fabio Frizzi's input on the music.
• All in the Family: Antonella Fulci discusses her father, Lucio Fulci.
• Zombie Lover: Guillermo del Toro reflects on his admiration for the film.

Lucio Fulci’s "Zombie" (also known as "Zombi 2") is a visceral grandiloquence in the annals of horror cinema. The film is starkly defined by its raw, ruthless, and gore-laden content, capturing grotesque images rarely matched even within the genre. Critics and fans alike have praised its commitment to showcasing explicit, realistic gore, with its most infamous scene involving a young lady's eye being punctured in excruciating detail. This dedication to visual brutality is both the film's allure and its controversy, evoking a sense of queasiness and raw horror that few films dare to approach. Despite its gruesome nature, "Zombie" lacks a tangible sense of fright, functioning more as a spectacle of extreme horror rather than a story driven by fear.

The movie's narrative is serviceable yet straightforward. It starts with an abandoned yacht drifting into New York Harbor, leading to the discovery of a flesh-eating zombie onboard. Anne Bowles (Tisa Farrow), whose father's name is tied to the boat, teams up with reporter Peter West (Ian McCulloch). Their journey takes them to Matool, a desolate island where they unveil a zombie plague. The plot serves primarily as a framework for the relentless on-screen carnage, often sidelined by Fulci's atmospheric prowess. From the rotting remnants on the New York boat to the stifling environment of Matool, the film exudes a tense, hopeless ambiance, driving viewers into an almost tactile engagement with its depicted horrors.

"Zombie" might not top lists of the "best" zombie films but holds a unique place with its sheer unpredictability and unforgettable practical effects. The zombies, caked with decaying flesh and sporting worms, are exceptionally crafted, creating vivid, haunting images that rival the genre standards set by Romero. Despite shortcomings in acting and logic — typical pitfalls of exploitation cinema — Fulci’s craftsmanship in evoking pure dread and disgust is unparalleled. Memorable sequences, including zombies versus sharks and extraordinarily detailed gore effects, make "Zombie" a seminal piece of horror cinema that demands viewing for its audacious and relentless assault on the senses.

Blue Underground's Blu-ray release of "Zombie" is both compelling and technically impressive. The film, directed by Lucio Fulci, is a hallmark of the zombie horror genre, notable for its graphic and ambitious depiction of a zombie apocalypse. The Blu-ray edition ensures viewers experience this grotesque spectacle with high-definition video and robust audio, allowing the intense and macabre atmosphere to envelop them completely. The violent sequences are rendered with striking clarity, turning each scene into a viscerally engaging moment.

The supplemental material included in this two-disc set is extensive, catering to both long-time aficionados and newcomers. The extras provide rich insights into the film’s production and legacy, enhancing the overall viewing experience. Fans of the genre will appreciate the attention to detail in the restoration and the inclusion of interviews, commentaries, and behind-the-scenes footage that shed light on Fulci's vision.

While "Zombie" excels in delivering over-the-top violence and an oppressive atmosphere, it remains a polarizing film. It does not delve deeply into character development or narrative complexity, opting instead for a more visceral experience. As a result, its appeal might be divided; those who seek substance in their horror films might find it lacking, while others will revel in its unapologetic brutality and innovative scare tactics.

Zombie does everything it can to elicit a reaction. Its insanely ambitious and grotesque violence, along with its palpably intense and overwhelmingly negative atmosphere, yields a sense of despair that only enhances the movie a great deal. Unfortunately, there's not much else to it. Zombie is a visceral, superficial experience. It's a great success if defined by drenching the screen in violence and showing its audience what a zombie plague might actually look like, but if success means having some substance behind the madness, then the movie is not a success. This is the ultimate take-it-or-leave-it sort of movie that will turn on as many viewers as it will turn off. Chances are, most will know whether they will like it before they even see it. Blue Underground's Blu-ray release of Zombie features good video and audio presentations along with plenty of supplements. Recommended to fans and newcomers who like their movies bloody.