City of the Living Dead 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		0.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

City of the Living Dead 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman August 28, 2025

You can't help but laugh when some of the rather amazingly abundant interviews Arrow has assembled for their 4K UHD release of City of the Living Dead don't shy away from what might be charitably called less than charitable assessments of Lucio Fulci, to the point that one interview begins with a memorable, "Lucio was a real bastard". The supplemental content on this release from Arrow may indeed be at least as captivating for some "discerning cineastes" as the film itself, and as some of the supplements also address, City of the Living Dead wasn't exactly greeted with praise when it was first released, though as with many cult items in general and perhaps with regard to Fulci in particular, reassessments (including some on this disc) may provide debate points for any fans of the film.

For such a perceived cult item, City of the Living Dead has been rather well served in the high definition era on both 1080 and 4K UHD discs. Those interested have several options for previous coverage on this site of the film in other editions:

City of the Living Dead 4K Blu-ray review is Stephen Larson's take on the 2023 release from Cauldron Films

City of the Living Dead Blu-ray review is Martin Liebman's take on the 2010 release in 1080 by Blue Underground

The Gates of Hell Blu-ray review is Brian Orndorf's take on the 2020 release in 1080 by Scorpion Releasing

City of the Living Dead 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: While this is a standalone 4K release without a 1080 disc, I am offering screenshots from Arrow's standalone 1080 release from 2018- 19 (in Limited and Special Editions) as I think it actually provides a better representation of the look of the palette in particular, rather than offering screenshots from the 4K disc which are by necessity downscaled to 1080 and in SDR. Because this release does not include a 1080 disc, the 2K video score above has been intentionally left blank.

City of the Living Dead is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.85:1. The review copy sent to me did not include an insert booklet, and so I'm not privy to any verbiage it may have included, but the back cover of this release states this is a 4K restoration from the original camera negative. This was reportedly sourced from the same master that Stephen Larson assessed in his 4K review linked to above, and as Stephen mentions City of the Living Dead has an intentionally "rough and gritty" appearance. I've been repeatedly on record as simply not always liking the look of heavy grain fields in 4K, but with an understanding that this film has always been virtually swimming in grain (especially in some darker moments), this offers a commendably organic if admittedly occasionally "swampy" grain field. When taken in the context of that aforementioned darkness and then additional potential stumbling blocks like mist and fog, compression is really pretty stellar, all things considered. The Dolby Vision / HDR grades may frankly not really help elucidate some occasionally iffy shadow detail, but the palette is nicely vibrant throughout, with the possible understandable exceptions of some opticals.

City of the Living Dead 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The actual choices of audio on this disc deserve an unabashed 5.0 score, but as with so many Italian films from this era, the actual sound may not qualify for top tier status. The English language version features DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 options, while the Italian language version features a DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track. As with virtually every Italian film from this era with an international cast, you're getting dubbing one way or the other, and so all the tracks can exhibit some (actually kind of funny at times) "loose sync". Both of the mono tracks sound a bit thin and pretty bright and brash on the high ends. The stereo and surround tracks on the English version are not particularly showy, but I actually prefer that kind of more restrained approach. The surround track in particular gives some nicely spacious accountings of ambient environmental sounds and scoring. Optional English subtitles are available.

City of the Living Dead 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary with Catriona MacColl and Jay Slater


• Commentary with Giovanni Lombardo Radice and Calum Waddell


• We Are the Apocalypse (HD; 53:02) is an interview with writer Dardano Sacchetti. Subtitled in English.


• Through Your Eyes (HD; 37:03) is an interview with actress Catriona MacColl.


• Dust in the Wind (HD; 13:13) is an interview with cameraman Roberto Forges Davanzati. Subtitled in English.


• The Art of Dreaming (HD; 45:52) is an interview with production designer Massimo Antonello Geleng. Subtitled in English.


• Tales of Friendship (HD; 30:51) is an interview with cinematographer Sergio Salvati. Subtitled in English.


• I Walked With a Zombie (HD; 22:51) is an interview with actor Giovanni Lombardo Radice. Subtitled in English.


• They Call Him "Bombardone" (HD; 26:57) is an interview with special effects artist Gino De Rossi. Subtitled in English.


• The Horror Family (HD; 19:16) is an interview with father and son actors Venantino and Luca Venantini. Subtitled in English.


• Songs from Beyond (HD; 19:49) is an interview with composer Fabio Frizzi. Subtitled in English.


• Building Fulci's City (HD; 37:74) is a video appreciation by Fulci expert Stephen Thrower.


• Reflections on Fulci (HD; 26:50) is a look at Fulci's "Gothic" period by Andy Nyman.


• The Dead Are Alive! (HD; 25:26) is a video essay by Kat Ellinger looking at Fulci and Italian zombie films.


• Behind the Fear (HD; 10:38) offers some fun behind the scenes 8mm footage with audio Commentary by cameraman Roberto Forges Davanzati. Subtitled in English.


• Alternative US Opening Titles (HD; 2:20)


• Archival Special Features

Introduction by Carlo de Majo (HD; 00:41)




Fulci in the House (HD; 18:35) is a 2009 documentary about Fulci.




Carlo of the Living Dead (HD; 18:13) is an interview with actor Carlo de Mejo.




Dame of the Dead (HD; 25:55) is an interview with actress Catriona MacColl.




Fulci's Daughter (HD; 28:44) is an interview with Antonella Fulci.




Penning Some Paura (HD; 18:59) is an interview with screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti. Subtitled in English.




Profondo Luigi (HD; 17:43) is an interview with Luigi Cozzi. Subtitled in English.




Live from the Glasgow Film Theatre (HD; 25:50) is a 2010 Q & A with Catriona MacColl and Giovanni Lombardo Radice.




The Many Lives. . .of Giovanni Lombardo Radice (HD; 52:36) is a 2010 documentary about the actor.

• Original Trailers and Radio Spots

UK Trailer (HD; 3:03)




Italian Trailer (HD; 3:05)




The Gates of Hell TV Spot (HD; 00:32)




Radio Spots (HD; 00:57) play to key art.

• Image Galleries are described as offering over 150 Stills, posters and other ephemera culled from the archives of FAB Press, Mike Siegel and Christian Ostermeier.

Stills (HD)




Poster and Press (HD)




Lobby Cards (HD)




Home Video and Soundtrack Sleeves (HD)

City of the Living Dead 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Is City of the Living Dead kind of silly? In a is the Pope Catholic? rhetorical "answer", some may parry that thrust with, Was Lucio Fulci a real bastard? This is another release where even those who aren't particularly fond of the film may find some genuine engagement with a really astounding array of supplements. Technical merits are generally solid, and City of the Living Dead comes Recommended.