7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Francesco Dellamorte Dellamore is the watchman at the Buffalora Cemetery, where the dead rise within seven nights of their last breath. Dellamorte has learned that the only way to stop them is to split their heads open; a spade works, but dumdum bullets work even better, and he casually uses whatever is at hand. Putting the dead back to rest is, he feels, a public service. One day, Dellamorte falls deeply in love with a mourner—a young woman burying her elderly but sexually tireless husband. When Dellamorte and the woman make love on her husband's grave, the earth moves... But when she dies, can Dellamorte kill her again when she inevitably rises? When eight motorcyclists, including the mayor's daughter, are killed on the highway, will Dellamorte be able to handle all the work... twice?
Starring: Rupert Everett, François Hadji-Lazaro, Anna Falchi, Mickey Knox, Fabiana FormicaHorror | 100% |
Foreign | 41% |
Comic book | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Romance | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Italian: Dolby Digital 2.0
English, English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Some of you may remember the rather provocative ending of the long running medical series St. Elsewhere, where it was at least implied that the entire show had been the figment of an autistic child transfixed by a toy snow globe with a hospital inside it. Without posting overt spoilers, let's just say that this film both begins with and then has a similarly baffling windup which rather improbably again features characters in a snow globe, though whose snow globe it may be in this case, or at least how it really pertains to the story, may be something of a mystery. Cemetery Man bears the on screen title Dellamorte Dellamore, which is the same title of the source novel by Tiziano Sclavi that at least partially inspired it (other inspiration was drawn from a Sclavi horror comic which was itself adapted as Dylan Dog: Dead of Night ). Though Dylan Dog was ultimately picked up for an English language version by a publishing house that's actually in my very neck of the woods, Dark Horse (located in a suburb of my hometown Portland called Milwaukie), I've never read an issue and it doesn't look like the novel version of Dellamorte Dellamore has even been translated into English as of the writing of this review, and so I can't authoritatively state whether Sclavi's original formulation contains some of the peculiarities of Gianni Romoli's screenplay, but suffice it to say an enigmatic wrap up featuring a snow globe is just one oddity in a film virtually stuffed full of oddities.
Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 presentation in this package. A 1080 standalone release is linked to directly below.
Cemetery Man is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Severin Films with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.67:1. This package also
includes a 1080 presentation of an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.67:1, which is also available from Severin as a standalone release. The back cover states this is "a Soavi approved 4K scan from the Cinecitta
negative". This is yet another dual 4K / 1080 release where I wouldn't be surprised if some prefer the lower resolution version due to some at times
thick, yellow grain. This particular set of transfers, however, tends to offer that clumpy, chunky quality intermittently, rather than all of the time. Some
of the brightly lit outdoor material offers a more tightly resolved grain field, and the 4K UHD version pops magnificently, with some pronounced
emphasis on primaries in particular that aren't quite as vivid in an already excellent 1080 presentation from Severin. Note, for example, the sudden
burst of red fabric in the ossuary scene, which in the 4K UHD version almost jumps right off the screen in frames that are otherwise noticeably more
sepia hued than in Severin's 1080 presentation. The film is full of old style composited effects, and grain understandably spikes, sometimes quite
aggressively, during many of these sequences, something that tends to be only more noticeable with the increased resolution of the 4K UHD version.
Fine detail is often exceptional on practical sets, props and costumes, barring any intermediary optical effects, and frankly even some of the optical
effects, like Valentina's flying cranium, offer at least decent detail levels. There are a few noticeably rough moments in passing in both 4K UHD and
1080, including a kitchen scene shortly after the 50 minute mark that has somewhat degraded visuals. HDR / Dolby Vision aid in shadow definition in
particular, if not necessarily quite as much in radically changing the overall palette.
Cemetery Man features a nice array of audio options, including Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, all in English, as well as a Dolby Digital 2.0 rendering in Italian. There's frankly not a whale of a lot of difference between the Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks, but you can hear occasional slight mixing and/or channelization variations, as in the very early knock on Francesco's door by one of the pesky walking dead types. Surround activity is best in some of the effects sequences, including the daffy lovemaking scene in the cemetery and, later, a lot of the equally daffy stuff with Valentina's head. The energetic scene leading up to the demise of Valentina and several other characters also offers some good engagement of the surround channels. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.
Note: For those interested, Severin released a website
exclusive release that contains another bonus 1080 disc as well as a soundtrack CD.
4K UHD Disc
Michele Soavi is often "summarized" vis a vis his relationship with other filmmakers like Dario Argento, but Cemetery Man proves what a stylish helmsman he was himself. This is one of my favorite performances by Rupert Everett, who either wittingly or unwittingly comes off to me personally almost as self parodying at times. The fact that this character in its original graphic novel form was evidently based on Everett (appearance wise) gives this enterprise a fun "meta" aspect as well. The story is outré to the point of reaching flat out gonzo levels by the time that aforementioned snow globe shows up to bookend things. Technical merits are solid and the supplements very enjoyable. Recommended.
4K Restoration | La chiesa | Cathedral of Demons
1989
E tu vivrai nel terrore - L'aldilà | Glow in the Dark Cover | Limited Edition to 3000
1981
AIP Cut | 60th Anniversary
1963
Paura nella città dei morti viventi | Standard Edition
1980
Zombi 2 / Zombie Flesh Eaters
1979
1980
Quella villa accanto al cimitero
1981
Un gatto nel cervello | Glow in the Dark Cover & Mini Portrait of Lucio Fulci Limited Edition to 3000
1990
1973
The Mask of Satan / La maschera del demonio | The Mario Bava Collection
1960
Le notti del terrore
1981
Standard Edition
1985
The Devil's Daughter
1991
1963
La notte dei diavoli
1972
2018
1990
La orgía nocturna de los vampiros
1974
2008
La perversa caricia de Satán
1976