The House by the Cemetery 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of "The House by the Cemetery" by Blue Underground, is a substantial technical upgrade from previous releases, thanks to its meticulous restoration and encoding. Leveraging a 4K 16-bit scan of the original uncut and uncensored 35mm camera negative, the film is presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio using HEVC/H.265 coding. It showcases a high dynamic range color grade in Dolby Vision (with HDR10 compatibility), significantly improving the depth and vibrancy of the film's palette. The restoration strikes an impressive balance, rendering naturalistic skylines and healthy blacks, bolstered by crimson reds, which were somewhat compromised in earlier editions. Grain levels are maintained organically, contributing to a steady and clean image that respects the film’s original texture while promoting fine detail visibility and fluidity across various lighting conditions.

Color representation is precise and balanced; the HDR pass revives the film's visuals with a more nuanced approach, enhancing the authenticity of its varied hues without betraying its suspenseful atmosphere. The improved resolution and sharpness come to the fore, particularly in wide shots and house exteriors, revealing intricate details previously unseen. Facial textures and costume details benefit from this clarity, enriching the viewing experience. Additionally, the blacks are deep and true, significantly enhancing shadow details, allowing for more immersive horror sequences. The Dolby Vision HDR further accentuates bold colors and moody lighting, elevating the visual impact of light and shadow interplay that is pivotal in genre films.

Despite minor visibility of chroma noise and an occasional wavering of sharpness due to source material constraints, "The House by the Cemetery" on 4K UHD Blu-ray delivers an undeniably superior viewing experience. The transfer garners high praise for its faithful color reproduction and enhanced detail, setting a new benchmark for the film's presentation. The nuanced whites and deep blacks complement each other, providing a visual depth that enriches both the atmospheric horror elements and the overall cinematic quality. This release not only surpasses its predecessors but also exemplifies how technological advancements can rejuvenate classic films for contemporary audiences, ensuring a more vivid and engaging encounter with Fulci's work.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The House by the Cemetery" presents a variety of audio experiences, offering listeners the choice between English Dolby Atmos, English DTS-HD Master Audio in both 5.1 and 1.0 configurations, and Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0. These options are complemented by a range of subtitle selections including English SDH, French, Spanish, and an English translation for the Italian audio track. The transition to Dolby Atmos from the 5.1 setup introduces a more spaced-out sound stage, enhancing the film’s atmospheric elements, though it does require some volume adjustments for optimal listening. The original Italian track, despite its flatter sound profile and minor hisses, offers a more authentic listening experience that complements the film's dialogue and setting.

The new Dolby Atmos mix indeed elevates the auditory experience of the film, imbuing scenes with a greater sense of directionality and spatial awareness, particularly in sequences that benefit from nuanced sound placement such as the unsettling bat attack and gory throat-slashing moments. Despite this, the quality difference between the Atmos and older mono tracks is more incremental than revolutionary, with both the English and Italian mono tracks maintaining their charm for purists, thanks in part to their superior sharpness and clarity of dialogue and music. However, slight audio caveats such as dubbing quality and sound effect harshness persist across formats, underscoring limitations inherited from the film’s original production.

This release strikes a commendable balance between preserving the original auditory essence of "The House by the Cemetery" and enhancing it for modern home theaters. While the Atmos certainly offers a fuller sound with added atmospherics over its 5.1 counterpart, the decision between audio tracks ultimately boils down to personal preference and system capabilities. Whether viewers opt for the immersive depth of Dolby Atmos or the nostalgic authenticity of the mono tracks, this Blu-ray provides an engaging auditory experience that complements the visual restoration of this classic horror film.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The House by the Cemetery" garners praise not only for the film's restoration but also for its comprehensive extras package, meticulously carried over from previous releases. Integral to the experience is the audio commentary by genre expert Troy Howarth, whose insights enrich our understanding of the film, its production, and Lucio Fulci's distinctive style. The inclusion of a deleted scene, albeit without sound, adds a unique layer, revealing a moment of calm post-chaos. The promotional materials and trailers provide a nostalgic glimpse into the movie's original marketing. On the Blu-ray disc, in-depth interviews with cast and crew delve into their personal experiences and the creative process behind this cult classic. Highlighting these conversations are the technical discussions on special effects and cinematography, as well as personal anecdotes that shed light on Fulci's working methods and the industry at large. While the set omits the soundtrack CD found in the 3-Disc Limited Edition, this release remains an essential acquisition for aficionados of Italian horror and Fulci's filmography, offering a comprehensive behind-the-scenes exploration of one of his most celebrated works.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Featuring Troy Howarth.
• Deleted/Extended Bat Attack Sequence (No Sound).
• Trailers: International and U.S. versions.
• TV Spot: A vintage TV spot for the film.
• Promo Materials: Two galleries of vintage promotional materials.
• House Quake: Interview with Giorgio Mariuzzo.
• Calling Dr. Freudstein: Interview with Stephen Thrower.
• Meet the Boyles: Interview with Catriona MacColl and Paolo Malco.
• Children of the Night: Interview with Giovanni Frezza and Silvia Collatina.
• Tales of Laura Gittleson: Interview with Dagmar Lassander.
• My Time With Terror: Interview with Carlo De Mejo.
• A Haunted House Story: Interview with Dardano Sacchetti and Elisa Briganti.
• To Build A Better Death Trap: Interviews with Sergio Salvati, Maurizio Trani, Gino De Rossi, Giovanni De Nava.

Lucio Fulci's 1981 horror classic, "The House by the Cemetery," presented in a stunning 4K UHD Blu-ray edition by Blue Underground, encapsulates the essence of gothic horror while integrating Fulci’s notorious flair for the bizarre and macabre. Set against a backdrop of a New England town, the narrative spins around the Boyd family's perilous descent into a nightmare after moving into an old house with a dark past. Fulci’s direction combined with Sergio Salvati’s cinematography and Massimo Lentini’s costume design, elevates this film beyond its exploitation roots, giving it a visually rich texture that is both grotesque and atmospheric. The 4K restoration accentuates these elements with superb clarity, making Salvati’s use of light and shadow more pronounced, and Lentini’s detailed costumes and masks, especially Dr. Freudstein’s, notably vivid.

The film divides its focus between creating a dense atmosphere laden with foreboding in its first half and delving into the grotesque and surreal horror that Fulci is famed for in its second. Despite its heavy reliance on familiar genre conventions, it innovatively employs sound design to elevate suspense and horror, creating an immersive experience that often overshadows its visual storytelling. Its sound sequences, although not revolutionary in technique, play pivotal roles throughout the film, enhancing its eerie ambiance. The narrative’s cohesion may waver under the weight of Fulci’s ambition to blend gothic horror with his signature splatter style, yet it succeeds in maintaining a balance that keeps it from descending into farcical terror.

The performances, particularly by Catriona MacColl and Paolo Malco, anchor the film’s descent into madness with a semblance of normality, despite dialogue that sometimes undercuts their efforts. "The House by the Cemetery" stands as a unique entry in Fulci’s oeuvre, nominated for a Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Award, asserting its place among 1980s horror cinema with its successful Italian premiere preceding its contentious U.S. release. This 4K presentation not only serves as a testament to the film's enduring appeal but also offers aficionados and newcomers alike a definitive viewing experience that underscores Blue Underground's commitment to preserving cinema's eclectic classics.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The House by the Cemetery" from Blue Underground showcases a significant upgrade over its Blu-ray counterpart, delivering an enriched visual and auditory experience that intensifies the film’s inherently eerie atmosphere. Viewers will immediately notice the enhanced organic quality of the picture, thanks to a fully restored native 4K transfer equipped with HDR10/Dolby Vision, which faithfully elevates Lucio Fulci's original vision beyond previous limitations. Complementing this visual feast is a new Dolby Atmos track that deepens immersion into the movie's suspenseful narrative. Despite these advancements, the package slightly falters by not including the 31-track CD of the film’s score available in the earlier Limited Edition release, nor does it feature a selection of extensive bonus materials found in other versions, such as Arrow Video’s Region B Blu-ray.

Praises for this release extend to Blue Underground’s effort in curating a package that appeals to both audiophiles and cinephiles alike, notwithstanding the slight disappointment regarding the exclusion of previous special features and collectibles. This underscores an ongoing challenge for collectors faced with choosing versions based on either expansive content or technical superiority. However, the technical enhancements alone, from the vivid 4K imagery to the enveloping Atmos sound mix, mark this as a definitive viewing experience for fans of the genre. Fulci’s work, a genuine thriller that predicts an era of sinister narratives in cinema, is done justice here, albeit let down by occasional pacing issues and crude dubbing inherent to the original production.

In conclusion, "The House by the Cemetery" on 4K UHD Blu-ray from Blue Underground affirms itself as a highly recommended release, chiefly through its remarkable audio-visual refurbishment that brings a classic horror tale to unsettling life. While it may not offer a complete package for die-hard collectors due to certain omissions, the upgrade in picture and sound quality undoubtedly makes it a worthy addition to any horror enthusiast's collection. Blue Underground has triumphantly navigated the delicate balance between preserving and enhancing Fulci’s masterpiece, ensuring that both newcomers and longtime fans can experience the film in a way previously unimagined.