Dead of Night 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Dead of Night
Score: 87
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
Blue Underground's new 4K UHD of 'Dead of Night' has an exceptional 4K restoration, expanded bonus features, and offers a convincingly organic appearance. Highly recommended.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Vision
DTS-HD MA
Video: 86
Blue Underground's 4K UHD Blu-ray of 'Deathdream' impresses with its native 4K, 16-bit restoration from the original camera negative, enhanced by Dolby Vision and HDR grades. While improvements in density levels, color saturation, and dynamic range are noted, the upgrade over the 2K restoration is subtle but appreciable. 4.5/5.
Audio: 86
The release features an excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 track, noted for its clarity, clean dialog, well-managed music cues, and natural sound effects. Free of serious hiss, pops, or crackles, the audio preserves the creepy atmosphere effectively despite lacking surround or object-based tracks.
Extra: 96
The 4K UHD and Blu-ray releases of 'Dead of Night' excel with comprehensive audio commentaries, new interviews, and archival featurettes, shedding light on the film's production, stylistic choices, and historical context; an impressive effort by Blue Underground that delivers both rich content and valuable insights.
Movie: 76
Bob Clark's 'Deathdream' (1974) is brilliantly revived in a 4K Blu-ray by Blue Underground, pairing its raw, documentary-style horror with robust supplemental features, including new commentaries and interviews, making this release a must-have for its unsettling depiction of war's psychological impact and Tom Savini's early makeup work.
Video: 86
Blue Underground has once again showcased its prowess in delivering top-tier 4K transfers with the release of "Dead of Night" on 4K UHD Blu-ray. The film benefits immensely from a 4K 16-bit restoration, delivered with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. This transfer, struck from the original camera negative, breathes new life into the visuals, enhancing dynamic range and color reproduction. Primaries are more saturated and balanced, resulting in a film that appears more vibrant and attractive. Notably, skin tones look natural and healthy, avoiding the overly pink or peach hues sometimes seen in lesser transfers. Black levels are deep, enhancing contrast without causing issues such as blooming in brighter areas.
The enhancements offered by this new 4K makeover are subtle but significant, especially due to the excellent work Blue Underground had already performed with their previous 2K restoration. Improvements in density levels and dynamic range are particularly noticeable, making various scenes feel more alive and detailed. The film grain retains its intended look, tight and clean, without becoming intrusive or noisy, which is crucial for maintaining the film’s gritty, almost documentary-like aesthetic. Depth of image is commendable throughout, particularly in scenes demanding meticulous detail and clarity like the finale at the drive-in theater.
Even when downscaled to 1080p, this 4K restoration continues to impress. The visual clarity and vibrancy are preserved well, although some of the density improvements inherent to the 4K presentation are lost. Nevertheless, the nuanced enhancements in color saturation and balance ensure that even in 1080p, the viewing experience is markedly superior to the previous 2K transfer. Blue Underground’s work on "Dead of Night" exemplifies excellence in video restoration, making this release a noteworthy addition to any high-definition collection.
Audio: 86
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Dead of Night" features a single audio track: English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0. This lossless track mirrors the one utilized in the recent 2K restoration of "Deathdream," maintaining its high-quality performance in this presentation. Optional subtitles are available in English SDH, Spanish, and French, catering to a diverse audience. While viewing the film in native 4K, no encoding anomalies were detected, which underscores the meticulous care taken in this release.
Blue Underground has delivered an impressive DTS-HD MA 1.0 audio mix for "Dead of Night," showcasing superb clarity and a clean rendition throughout. As with previous releases from Blue Underground, the audio quality stands out despite some concerns over the limited range of audio options. Dialogues are crisp and clear, music cues integrate seamlessly without overwhelming the mix, and the natural quality of sound effects contributes to the eerie atmosphere critical for this genre. This audio track is free from any significant hiss, pops, or crackles, making it not only excellent but also effectively creepy, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
Extra: 96
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Dead of Night" is an impressive showcase, replete with a rich array of extra features that masterfully blend new content with archival material. The set boasts three comprehensive audio commentaries, each providing in-depth insights into the film's production, stylistic nuances, and historical context. Noteworthy is the exclusive commentary by critics Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thomson, a must-listen for genre enthusiasts. The Blu-ray disc delivers a series of insightful featurettes and interviews, including engaging discussions with key cast and crew members such as composer Carl Zittrer, writer/makeup artist Alan Ormsby, and actor Gary Swanson. Additionally, archival materials featuring icons like Tom Savini enrich the viewer's understanding of the film's legacy. Finally, the inclusion of rare screen tests, an original student film by Ormsby, and extensive still galleries round out this exemplary collection.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentaries: Three insightful commentaries by Bob Clark, Alan Ormsby, and critics Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson.
- The First Andy: Interview with actor Gary Swanson.
- Notes For A Homecoming: Interview with Composer Carl Zitter: Insights into the film's score.
- A Recollection With Star Anya Liffey and Writer/Makeup Artist Alan Ormsby: Discussion of professional work and contributions.
- Flying Down To Brooksville: Interview with production manager John 'Bud' Cardos.
- Tom Savini: The Early Years: Archival interview with the makeup artist.
- Deathdreaming: Archival interview with star Richard Backus.
- Screen Test: Featuring actor Gary Swanson.
- Alan Ormsby Student Film: A short student film by Ormsby.
- Still Gallery: A collection of original promotional materials.
- Trailer: Original trailer for "Deathdream".
- Alternate Opening Titles: Different opening sequences.
- Cover: Reversible cover with vintage poster art.
Movie: 76
Bob Clark's "Deathdream" (also known as "Dead of Night") is a seminal low-budget horror film that expertly blends psychological drama with supernatural terror. Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, it follows the story of an American soldier, Andy (Richard Backus), who is presumed dead but mysteriously returns home. His joyful family quickly realizes that Andy is dreadfully altered, both physically and mentally, setting off a harrowing descent into horror. This narrative technique mirrors the psychological torment seen in films like Adrian Lyne's "Jacob's Ladder," yet with Clark's own unique twist, transforming Andy's character into an actual monster rather than portraying the horror solely as a product of a fractured mind.
Cinematographically, "Deathdream" employs a raw visual style reminiscent of John Cassavetes' early works. Cinematographer Jack McGowan, known for his work on “Deranged: Confessions of a Necrophile,” uses the camera to heighten the documentary-like authenticity of familial strife, making the film’s horror elements even more unsettling. Adding to this ominous atmosphere are Tom Savini's early makeup and gore effects, which impressively underscore Andy's transformation and enhance the film’s tangible sense of dread.
Performance-wise, John Marley and Lynn Carlin deliver standout roles as Andy's parents, Charles and Christine. Marley's portrayal of a father grappling with the monstrous reality while feeling powerless to intervene contrasts poignantly with Carlin's depiction of a mother in denial, clinging to her altered son. The sparse, understated screenplay by Alan Ormsby effectively extends this nightmarish narrative over nearly 90 minutes, leaving viewers with an ambiguous but lasting horror reminiscent of Stephen King’s "Pet Sematary." Overall, "Deathdream" remains an essential film for horror aficionados, notable for its sophisticated melding of genre elements and its unflinching exploration of post-war trauma.
Total: 87
Bob Clark's Deathdream (also known as Dead of Night) returns in a stunning 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release, solidifying its place as a quintessential piece of horror cinema. Blue Underground's latest release features an exclusive 4K restoration that enhances the film’s already impressive organic appearance, making it more immersive and visually striking. The meticulous restoration work maintains the movie's gritty, low-budget aesthetic while improving clarity and color accuracy, ensuring it appeals both to die-hard fans and new audiences alike.
The sound quality has also been meticulously upgraded, delivering an enriched auditory experience that complements the film’s suspenseful and eerie atmosphere. In addition, this release is packed with comprehensive bonus features, both from previous editions and newly added content, offering in-depth insights into the making of Deathdream. Interviews with cast and crew, behind-the-scenes footage, and thoughtful commentary tracks further illuminate Bob Clark's masterful approach to horror filmmaking, enhancing viewers’ appreciation of this classic.
In conclusion, Deathdream's 4K UHD Blu-ray by Blue Underground exceeds expectations, setting a new standard for home video releases of classic horror films. The remarkable technical enhancements and extensive bonus content make this a worthwhile upgrade for existing fans and an essential addition for any horror collection. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Blu-ray.com review by Dr. Svet AtanasovRead review here
Video: 100
On the other hand, the improvements in color saturation and balance are just as easy to appreciate, so I think that in 1080p the new 4K makeover provides a superior dynamic range for the visuals as well....
Audio: 100
The lossless track is the same one that was used for the recent presentation of the 2K restoration of Deathdream on this release....
Extras: 100
Interview with Composer Carl Zitter - in this brand new video interview, composer Carl Zitter recalls his first encounter with Bob Clark in Miami and explains how his career in the film business started,...
Movie: 80
Many of Cassavetes' films from the 1960s and 1970s use the exact same technique to create the impression that one is viewing slices of real life, not scripted acts from fictional melodramas....
Total: 100
In 2017, Blue Underground introduced a wonderful 2K restoration of Bob Clark's Deathdream with this Blu-ray release, which I assumed will remain the definitive presentation of the film on the home video...
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
There are some soft spots here and there, but that's more of an in-camera issue than anything to fault the transfer over....
Audio: 80
Some previous Blue Underground releases saw a range of audio options and I’m not sure why we’re not seeing bigger surround or object-based tracks here....
Extras: 100
After that we have a great collection of cast and crew interviews with a great new interview with Gary Swanson, the actor originally cast as Andy. 4K UHD DISC Audio Commentary featuring Bob Clark Audio...
Movie: 80
Where King kept Baterman to just a brief segment of the novel (even more brief in the film), Bob Clark and screenwriter Alan Ormsby uses almost 90 minutes to tell this story of a family ravaged by grief...
Total: 80
Deathdream AKA Dead of Night is a great example of how effective a simple and uncomplicated low-budget horror film can be in the hands of talent who know how the genre works....
Director: Bob Clark
Actors: John Marley, Lynn Carlin, Richard Backus
PlotIn a small New England town, the Brooks family receives devastating news that their son Andy, a soldier, has died in the Vietnam War. However, grief turns to shock when Andy inexplicably returns home the following night, appearing physically unharmed but emotionally distant and detached. His parents, Charles and Christine, are overjoyed yet puzzled by his sudden reappearance. While Andy's old friends and girlfriend try to reconnect with him, they notice he is unusually cold and withdrawn. The world seems foreign to him, and he struggles to adapt to the life he had left behind.
As days go by, Andy’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic and disturbing. His parents, particularly Christine, begin to suspect that Andy is not who he seems to be. He exhibits abnormal traits and a propensity for violence, causing tension and fear within the household. Charles, still overjoyed by his son's return, is in denial, but the ominous atmosphere grows thicker with each passing day. The sense of dread culminates in a series of unsettling events, forcing the Brooks family to confront the terrifying reality about their son’s return.
Writers: Alan Ormsby
Release Date: 29 Aug 1974
Runtime: 88 min
Rating: PG
Country: United Kingdom, Canada
Language: English