Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Absurd 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 19, 2024

Joe D'Amato's "Absurd" (1981) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films. The supplemental features on the release include recent program with George Eastman; audio commentary by Eugenio Ercolani and Nanni Cobretti; recent program with composer Carlo Maria Cordio; recent program with director/actor Michele Soavi; vintage trailer; and more. In English or Italian, with optional English and English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Apparently, the unexpected success of The Grim Reaper a.k.a. Anthropophagous quickly convinced Joe D’Amato and George Eastman to consider a sequel, and at least initially, while speculating what this film should look like, Absurd was what they had in mind. However, over the course of several months, a lot changed. Absurd was still made, and Eastman again played a vicious character like the one he in Anthropophagous, but Absurd turned out to be a different film.

Genre aficionados who are passionate about Anthropophagous and Absurd disagree on a couple of details from the summation of the latter’s conception. Some believe that D’Amato and Eastman could not agree on what the sequel should look like and delivered a hybrid film that had little in common with the sequel they had initially discussed. Some believe that Absurd turned on exactly as D’Amato and Eastman wanted, but it is not the sequel they had touted. A small group of genre aficionados also believe that Absurd was never a complete project and evolved dramatically as D’Amato began shooting it.

Why does it matter how Absurd was conceived and what type of film it turned out? It matters because it clearly behaves as a relative of Anthropophagous, plus there isn’t a shortage of articles describing it as a sequel -- an imperfect one, but still a sequel. It also matters because in terms of excess Absurd performs better than Anthropophagous, and since both were banned by censors in several European countries, they share a common history and reputation.

Absurd is set in a small American town rocked by a series of gruesome murders. The man committing the murders is Mikos Stenopolis (Eastman), a Greek national, whose body has been genetically modified to regenerate itself. As he is tracked down by a jaded detective with a frustratingly unflexible mind (Charles Borromel) and a priest with a remarkably flexible mind (Edmund Purdom), Mikos quickly evolves into a deranged animal determined to leave a bloody trail for the history books.

Considering the massive amount of graphic violence that Absurd produces, it is rather easy to conclude that D’Amato and Eastman most likely did not have a good story for it. However, looking at Anthropophagous, it is just as easy to conclude that they probably were not trying hard to have one, either. The two were likely focused on the graphic content, and if any serious disagreements between them had a legit impact on how Absurd turned out, they must have been about the nature of the graphic content. This is why Eastman’s kills are effective, but the chase that is initiated to get him is not.

The production limitations are unmissable. For example, virtually all the material that is free of graphic violence was almost certainly done with single takes and later stitched up in the editing room as best possible. The disturbing material can look good, but the special effects and editing choices easily reveal that D’Amato and Eastman were working with a small budget and as quickly as they could.

A simple yet elegant soundtrack courtesy of Carlo Maria Cordio creates a good but not special atmosphere. In the 1980s, Cordio contributed to several infamous Italian knockoffs, including Terminator II, 2020 Texas Gladiators, Miami Cops, and Deep Blood.

*This combo pack release introduces new 4K restorations of two versions of Absurd -- an extended English language version, which is approximately 94 minutes long, and a theatrical Italian version, which is approximately 89 minutes long.

Absurd 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

88 Films' release of Absurd is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray discs are Region-Free.

Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.

Screencaptures #1-22 are from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #25-31 are from the 4K Blu-ray.

The release introduces a new 4K restorations of two versions of the film -- an extended English language version, which is approximately 94 minutes long, and a theatrical Italian version, which is approximately 89 minutes long. In native 4K, the two versions can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I viewed the extended English language version with Dolby Vision.

The 4K makeover is very impressive. Even though the film is cheaply made, large sections of it boast a rich organic appearance that can be quite attractive. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best it has ever looked. Delineation, clarity, and depth are consistently excellent, though in a few sections small density fluctuations can be observed. There are absolutely no traces of problematic digital corrections. Fluidity is very good, but there are a few odd editing choices that produce some small yet noticeable unevenness. Color balance is very good. All primaries and supporting nuances are set very well. Only during the final act in house, where light fluctuates a bit, I think that a few bits of white could be a tad more convincing, but the overall balance is solid. I did not see any troubling anomalies. Image stability is outstanding. Finally, the entire film looks immaculate.

I spent time with the 1080p presentation as well. It looks fantastic, too. In fact, I upscaled several segments to see how they compare to the native 4K material and was impressed with the quality of the visuals. For what it's worth, darker areas with plenty of darker shadow nuances look equally good in 1080p and native 4K.

Absurd 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH (for the English version) and English (for the Italian version) subtitles are provided.

I viewed the English version of the film. The lossless track is very healthy and the electronic score sounds wonderful. The dialog is clear and easy to follow. However, you should keep in mind that this track was overdubbed in English, so even though many actors utter their lines in English, you are hearing the dubbers' voices. For this reason, there is a bit of unevenness from time to time, which is a common limitation on soundtracks of Italian genre films that were completed during the 1970s and 1980s.

Absurd 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this new audio commentary was recorded by critics Eugenio Ercolani and Nanni Cobretti. The commentators address the production of Absurd and its reputation, but share a lot more information about the evolution of giallo and the slasher film, as well as the Italian film market during the 1970s and 1980s. Also, they compare Italian and American genre films, though I have to say that I could not disagree more with their comments about Black Christmas. The commentary can be heard on the English version of Absurd.

• Commentary Two - this new audio commentary was recorded by critics Joseph Henson, Justin Kerswell, Erik Threlfall, and Nathan Johnson, better known as The Hysteria Continues. Again, there is plenty of interesting information about the conception of Absurd and whether it is a sequel to Anthropophagous, its notorious Video Nasty reputation, different trends in Italian and American genre films from the 1970s and 1980s, Joe D'Amato's career, etc.

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage international trailer for Absurd. With music. (3 min).

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this new audio commentary was recorded by critics Eugenio Ercolani and Nanni Cobretti. The commentators address the production of Absurd and its reputation, but share a lot more information about the evolution of giallo and the slasher film, as well as the Italian film market during the 1970s and 1980s. Also, they compare Italian and American genre films, though I have to say that I could not disagree more with their comments about Black Christmas. The commentary can be heard on the English version of Absurd.

• Commentary Two - this new audio commentary was recorded by critics Joseph Henson, Justin Kerswell, Erik Threlfall, and Nathan Johnson, better known as The Hysteria Continues. Again, there is plenty of interesting information about the conception of Absurd and whether it is a sequel to Anthropophagous, its notorious Video Nasty reputation, different trends in Italian and American genre films from the 1970s and 1980s, Joe D'Amato's career, etc.

• When Luigi Met George - in this program, George Eastman, whose real name is Luigi Montefiori, recalls how he entered the film industry while being mentored by director Nanni Loy, his early parts in various westerns, and the birth of his famous alias. Eastman also discusses his with various big American actors, like Charlton Heston and Jack Palance, how they differed from Italian actors, and Joe Damato's working methods. Anthropophagous is quickly addressed and described as an "idiotic" film. The program was produced in 2023. In Italian, with English subtitles. (28 min).

• The Absurd Factor - in this program, George Eastman explains how Absurd came to exist after a meeting with Joe D'Amato and addresses some of the casting choices that were made for it. Eastman also mentions several other genre films he was involved with. In Italian, with English subtitles. (15 min).

• The Sound of Filmrage - in this program, composer Carlo Maria Cordio recalls his first experience of recording a film soundtrack and discusses his contributions to several genre films, including Absurd. In Italian, with English subtitles. (19 min).

• An Uncredited Biker - in this program, director/actor Michele Soavi recalls how he landed his minor part in Absurd and discusses Joe D'Amato's working methods. In Italian, with English subtitles. (18 min).

• How Absurd - An Italian Slasher - presented here is a new visual essay by critic Mike Foster. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage international trailer for Absurd. With music. (3 min).

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

• Cover - a reversible cover featuring new art by Graham Humphreys.

• Poster - double-sided poster.

• Booklet - 40-page illustrated booklet featuring writings on the film and notes about the new 4K restoration that was prepared for it.

Absurd 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Absurd has the reputation of being one of the most controversial films from that legendary Video Nasty list, and for a good reason. There are different stories about its conception floating around, one of which is shared by George Eastman on this release, but as far as I can tell they all twist the truth a bit. Why? Because Absurd appears to have undergone multiple transformations, and I do not think that while they lasted its creators were always on the same page. Does this make Absurd an intriguing genre film? It depends on how broad your definition of genre cinema is, or how flexible your tolerance for cinematic trash is, but I'd say that it is a pretty effective shocker. 88 Films' combo pack introduces a very good new 4K restoration of Absurd that looks great in native 4K and 1080p. Both discs in it are Region-Free, too. RECOMMENDED only to the fans.