Return of the Living Dead III Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "Return of the Living Dead III" offers a mixed but generally favorable experience. Utilizing an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1, the visuals exhibit a notable improvement over standard definition. Detail levels are good to very good, with close-ups of the gruesome practical effects revealing sharp textures and graphic imagery. The presentation is somewhat inconsistent due to the source material's condition, contributing to occasional softness and noticeable grain variance. Elements like clothing, walls, and bodies of the walking dead present sharp detailing, contributing to an engaging visual experience. However, some sequences suffer from soft focus and a slight high-frequency roll-off, especially in well-lit scenes early on.

The color reproduction remains somewhat inconsistent. Reds during grotesque kill scenes are vivid and glistening, yet overall, the palette appears slightly faded. Flesh tones suffer the most, often looking anemic or bleached out, making the living appear almost undead in certain shots. Black levels are generally deep but tend to be murky in shadowy scenes, affecting shadow delineation. Notably, dark sequences feature chunky grain that flirts with compression issues and occasional chroma anomalies. Meanwhile, contrast levels are reliable but can appear a bit flat, and primary colors like the yellow of zombie skin stand out more distinctly.

Despite these variances, the transfer's natural grain layer adds a nostalgic texture. Depth and dimensional work within claustrophobic interiors are commendable, with clear spacing between foreground characters and backgrounds. Movement remains smooth and cinematic. Overall, this Blu-ray is the best the film has looked despite its imperfections, providing a decent upgrade primarily for die-hard fans of the genre and the film itself.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track on the "Return of the Living Dead III" Blu-ray offers a robust and engaging auditory experience, often characterized by its energetic presentation. Crucial sound effects, such as Curt's zooming motorcycle and the distinctive freeze ray guns, inject a sense of dynamism into the auditory landscape. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly, maintaining excellent clarity and discernibility throughout. The era-specific score sounds balanced, if somewhat dated, contributing to the film's nostalgic feel.

This soundtrack is a noticeable improvement over previous DVD releases, with newfound clarity enhancing both sound effects and score elements. The low bass provides a subtle but effective boost to the music and action sequences, though it's not overpowering. The mix maintains a solid balance between the score and the vocals, ensuring that the dialogue remains clear and comprehensible. However, there are some inconsistencies; occasional hissing, popping in the background, and mild distortion during the loudest segments can be distracting. Foley effects and voice placements sometimes feel misaligned, which can disrupt the immersion.

Overall, for a 2.0 track, it does a commendable job of filling out the room with layered and well-rounded sound effects, notably during gory scenes. Optional English SDH subtitles are available, providing accessible viewing options. Despite a few limitations in the overall design and occasional background noise issues, the audio track for "Return of the Living Dead III" remains an appreciably cleaner and more precise upgrade from prior home releases.

The Blu-ray edition of "Return of the Living Dead III" features an impressive array of extras, combining new content with some notable inclusions from the prior DVD version. The audio commentaries are especially rich, with Director Brian Yuzna offering insights into the production's history and Star Melinda Clarke exchanging engaging anecdotes with Special Effects Supervisor Tom Rainone. New interviews such as "Ashes to Ashes" and "Living Dead Girl" provide viewers with deep dives into the film's creation and its impact on the careers of those involved. Special effects enthusiasts will particularly appreciate "The Resurrected Dead" for its detailed exploration of the film's makeup and effects.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Director Brian Yuzna.
• Audio Commentary: Star Melinda Clarke and Special Effects Supervisor Tom Rainone.
• Ashes to Ashes: Conversation with Brian Yuzna and John Penney.
• Living Dead Girl: Interview with Melinda Clarke.
• Romeo is Bleeding: Interview with J. Trevor Edmond.
• Trimark and Trioxin: Retrospective on the production and home video market.
• The Resurrected Dead: Focus on makeup effects with archival footage.
• Storyboard Gallery.
• Still Gallery.
• Theatrical Trailers.

"Return of the Living Dead III" offers a fresh spin on the zombie genre by interweaving elements of romance and horror within the established framework of the franchise. Directed by Brian Yuzna, known for his work in "Bride of Re-Animator," this sequel eschews the comedic tone of its predecessors in favor of a darker, more dramatic approach. The plot centers around Curt Reynolds (J. Trevor Edmond) and his girlfriend, Julie Walker (Melinda Clarke), who infiltrate a secret military lab experimenting with Trioxin gas. This government project aims to reanimate corpses into super soldiers. An ill-fated motorcycle accident precipitates the film’s central premise as Curt resorts to Trioxin in a desperate bid to bring Julie back to life, leading to increasingly gruesome and tragic consequences.

The film's strength lies in its character-focused narrative, especially Melinda Clarke's portrayal of Julie's transformation into a brain-hungry zombie, imbued with layers of pain and confusion amid extensive body modifications. These self-inflicted acts serve as a metaphor for addiction and withdrawal, adding a disconcerting depth to what might otherwise be dismissed as pure genre fare. However, the attempt at portraying a doomed romance doesn't always land; the story veers into melodrama which sometimes undermines the intended tension and gravity. The movie retains its cult appeal through its unique blend of horror and pathos, punctuated by moments of visceral—and often over-the-top—gore effects courtesy of talents like Steve Johnson.

While "Return of the Living Dead III" doesn’t shy away from gory zombie encounters that should satisfy fans of the genre, it also provides memorable visual and narrative innovations. Julie's transformation into a more lethal being by arming herself with makeshift weapons is particularly notable. Despite some narrative missteps, Yuzna's film remains distinctive for its bold thematic choices and striking practical effects. It’s a standout entry in the zombie canon that resonates with both nostalgic viewers and new fans seeking an unconventional take on the undead saga.

"Return of the Living Dead III" diverges from its predecessors' comedic tone, leaning more towards a serious horror narrative with ample gore. The storyline centers on the macabre love story of Julie and Curt, whose plight is exacerbated by Julie's unsettling self-destructive habits post-transformation. While the film struggles to balance the opposing plot elements, resulting in some disjointed pacing, it still delivers a range of gruesome scenes that satisfy genre fans.

The Vestron Video Blu-ray release showcases an improved, albeit modestly, video and audio presentation over its DVD counterpart, with the picture looking better than ever. Supplementary content is a significant highlight of this release, boasting numerous interviews and retrospectives, including "Ashes to Ashes" with Brian Yuzna and John Penney, "Living Dead Girl" with Melinda Clarke, and "Trimark & Trioxin". Additional features include audio commentaries, storyboard galleries, stills, and theatrical trailers, making it a comprehensive package for collectors.

As Brian Yuzna and John Penney discuss in some of the supplements included on this new release, it was a challenging task to combine sometimes oppositional plot elements from the first two Living Dead sequels into one reasonably coherent whole in "Return of the Living Dead 3", and those efforts, while fitfully engaging, show their struggles probably a bit more than is helpful to the overall flow of the film. There are some suitably gruesome deaths in the outing, but by far the most consistently upsetting imagery is the self-destructive tendencies Julie starts to exhibit after her transformation. Video has a few hurdles to overcome, while audio sounds fine and the supplementary package is very appealing (and may in fact appeal even to those who don't care for the film itself). For genre fans, if for no one else, "Return of the Living Dead 3" comes Recommended.