Conquest 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Conquest 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Stephen Larson May 14, 2026

The only previous high-def edition of Lucio Fulci's Conquest (1983) was Code Red's BD-25, which my colleague Brian Orndorf reviewed over five years ago. For Brian's coverage of the film, a/v transfers, and supplements, please consult the link above.

A magical bow and arrow!

Conquest 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The following text appears in Cauldron's booklet:

Conquest was scanned in 4K from the original camera negative, graded, & restored by Augustus Color, Rome Italy. SDH subtitles, audio mastering, additional restoration by Outer Realm Studio. Additional restoration by Gamma Ray Digital. Dolby Vision HDR grade, authoring, & additional QC by Fidelity in Motion.

Cauldron Films' new four-disc set comprises a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray for the feature, a standard Blu-ray for the film, a separate Blu-ray for the bonus features, and a CD consisting of the original motion picture soundtrack. The UHD comes with Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible). Fulci's movie appears in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. In 2020, Brian reviewed a then-recent 2019 master taken from a 2K scan. He observed a high frequency of debris and scratches. Fortunately, the new master Cauldron has produced shares virtually none of those anomalies. It is important to keep in mind that Conquest was shot in the misty landscapes and mountainous terrain of Sardinia often in soft focus. In their audio commentary, Eugenio Ercolani and Nanni Cobretti surmise that fog machines were deployed on ground. In addition, they believe vaseline was applied over the camera lens. That could be the case, but I also think a gauze filter could have been affixed to the lens. I don't have the Code Red, but based on Brian's screen captures, Cauldron's UHD shows a definite uptick in texture. A grain field persists throughout but that's exactly what Fulci and his cinematographer Alejandro Ulloa intended. I have downsampled the 4K frame grabs to 1080p so it's in an SDR color space, but look at the dark pink tint to the left of Mace (Jorge Rivero) in #36. Additionally, the 4K displays a natural midnight blue in the blue tint shown in #34. Check out how crisp and solid the black levels are on the clouds (shot at dusk) in #40. Admittedly, though, the regular 1080p transfer retains better clarity. When I upscaled the BD to 4K, I still could more clearly see portions of the image compared to the 4K, which does a great job of amplifying the thick grain. I want to specify that the BD doesn't resort to NR and appear "cleaner". It's just that the D.V. and HDR accentuate the grain and textural properties with more abundance.

The UHD carries a rough average video bitrate of 88.6 Mbps for the feature and an overall bitrate of 95.2 Mbps for the full disc. The Cauldron Blu-ray has been given an MPEG-4 AVC encode and placed on a BD-50 (unlike the Code Red). The video and audio files occupy about 30 GB of space. It sports a mean video bitrate of 37441 kbps, which is essentially the max.

Screenshot #s 1-24, 32, 34, 36, & 38 = Cauldron Films 2026 4K Ultra HD BD-66 (downsampled to 1080p)
Screenshot #s 25, 27-30 = English Subtitles for Italian Audio: Cauldron Films 2026 4K Ultra HD BD-66 (downsampled to 1080p)
Screenshot #26 = English SDH for English Audio: Cauldron Films 2026 4K Ultra HD BD-66 (downsampled to 1080p)
Screenshot #s 31, 33, 35, 37, & 39 = Cauldron Films 2026 BD-50

Cauldron has provided twelve chapters on the first and second discs.

Conquest 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Cauldron has supplied three audio options to view Conquest: an English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo track (1452 kbps, 24-bit), which preserves the American release's original theatrical mix; an English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono mix (1033 kbps, 24-bit); and the original Italian monaural, encoded here in DTS-HD MA Dual Mono (1513 kbps, 24-bit). I listened to the English stereo (presumably from a similar master that Brian reviewed) and the native Italian mono, which makes its debut on HD. The Italian sounds flatter but certainly more natural than the dub prepared for the American cinema prints. When I listened to the English stereo, the prologue delivers not only a reverb, but some echo effects. I noticed this in some other scenes as well. Whereas the Italian is more center-channel oriented, the stereo demonstrates a wider dispersal of sounds across the two front speakers. It also displays a nice dimensionality in the front sound stage. According to an album review on the Discogs platform, composer Claudio Simonetti incorporates his Moog keyboard (which is featured in his interview on Disc Two), Linn drums, Roland gear, flutes, and arpeggios. I concur with Brian that the music sometimes sounds loud. It produces high-pitch atmospherics and pounding effects from the drums. Simonetti's score recalls both Goblin's works and Charles Bernstein's music during this period.

Cauldron has prepped two subtitle tracks: "traditional" English subtitles for Italian dialogue (see screen capture #s 25, 27-30) and separate English SDH for the two English tracks (see capture #26).

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

DISC ONE: 4K ULTRA HD — FEATURE FILM

• Audio Commentary by Eugenio Ercolani & Nanni Cobretti - this feature-length track encompasses the remarks of Ercolani and Cobretti, who were recorded together. The commentators discuss the fantasy film genre both in the US and in Europe during the 1980s at substantial length. Interestingly, neither observes much likeness between Conquest and Milius's Conan the Barbarian (1982). One sees similarities in this Lucio Fulci picture with Annaud's Quest for Fire (1981) while the other notices some commonalities with Boorman's Excalibur (1981). Ercolani and Cobretti compare the phases and trajectories of Fulci's career with those of Dario Argento. In addition, the commentators discuss Conquest's cast and crew. Their commentary is only sporadically screen specific. The track is highly dialogic. When one finishes a long discussion topic, the other immediately responds with his reaction rather than shift to an entirely different topic. The commentary has a nice flow. Both Ercolani and Cobretti each speak in English, not subtitled.

DISC TWO: BLU-RAY — FEATURE FILM

• Audio Commentary by Eugenio Ercolani & Nanni Cobretti - this feature-length track encompasses the remarks of Ercolani and Cobretti, who were recorded together. The commentators discuss the fantasy film genre both in the US and in Europe during the 1980s at substantial length. Interestingly, neither observes much likeness between Conquest and Milius's Conan the Barbarian (1982). One sees similarities in this Lucio Fulci picture with Annaud's Quest for Fire (1981) while the other notices some commonalities with Boorman's Excalibur (1981). Ercolani and Cobretti compare the phases and trajectories of Fulci's career with those of Dario Argento. In addition, the commentators discuss Conquest's cast and crew. Their commentary is only sporadically screen specific. The track is highly dialogic. When one finishes a long discussion topic, the other immediately responds with his reaction rather than shift to an entirely different topic. The commentary has a nice flow. Both Ercolani and Cobretti each speak in English, not subtitled.

DISC THREE: BLU-RAY — SPECIAL FEATURES

• Jorge the Outlaw: An Interview with Jorge Rivero (10:43, 1080p) - this interview with Rivero was conducted in Los Angeles back in 2009. The actor broaches Fulci's creativity, his conversations with the director in between scenes, filming in and around Sardinia, and his memories during the shoot (which also included Rome). Rivero also speaks about writer/producer Giovanni Di Clemente and cinematographer Alejandro Ulloa. In English, not subtitled.

• A Catalan Wolfman in Sardinia: An Interview with José Gras (33:15, 1080p) - Gras begins and returns towards the end of this interview talking about Hell of the Living Dead. He divulges that he developed a bond with the stuntmen and the grips while filming Conquest. (He explains why about the former.) Gras shares anecdotes about Conquest's location shoot. He reminisces about what it was like to don the wolfman costume and act in Sardinia. Gras delivers lots of details about the movies he made throughout the Eighties and the filmmakers associated with them. In Spanish, subtitled in English.

• Post-Goblin Conquests: An Interview with Claudio Simonetti (23:56, 1080p) - the composer talks about the distinction Goblin attained as the first rock group in Italy to ever compose a film score. He lays out the primary difference between American movie studios and record labels compared to their Italian counterparts. Simonetti also describes the music samplers that he has used for his scores. He goes into his concert performances for Deep Red, Suspiria, Dawn of the Dead, and Demons. He has things to say about each one of those scores. Simonetti discusses his collaborations with Argento and Fulci. He brings up Conquest but doesn't go into much detail at all regarding the music. Simonetti specifies which of his scores he wishes to be rediscovered. He reveals his closest collaboration is actually with film editors. In Italian, subtitled in English.

• Operating the Conquest: An Interview with Federico Del Zoppo (14:39, 1080p) - Del Zoppo describes his love for cinema, how he became a director of photography, learning about different cameras, and the responsibilities of a camera operator. Moreover, he discusses his collaborations with Luchino Visconti and briefly, Lucio Fulci. Del Zoppo tells some memorable anecdotes about making the TV mini-series Moses the Lawgiver (1974) with Burt Lancaster. In Italian, subtitled in English.

• Cavemen Talk: An Interview with Gino Capone (18:21, 1080p) - Capone shares his memories of seeing Dino Risi's comedies at age 14. He then delves into writing for theatre and penning a play for Domenico Modugno. Capone looks back at founding a theatrical company and writing his first movie script. He also covers the films he wrote for producer Giovanni Di Clemente, which includes some details about Conquest. Capone recalls that Di Clemente handed him an early script and asked him to revise it with Conan the Barbarian in mind. He describes Fulci's mercurial personality. In Italian, subtitled in English.

• Jose Antonio De La Loma – More Than Just a Name: An Interview with Paco Marín (23:12, 1080p) - Marín first speaks about his early cinematographic roles in the Spanish film industry. He then gives a pretty long bio of Conquest's screenwriter, José Antonio de la Loma, and his movie career. Marín discusses the films de la Loma wrote as well as his unrealized projects. Marín works from prepared notes. Oddly, Conquest is not discussed. In Spanish, subtitled in English.

• The Arsenal of Fantasy: A Video Essay by Heather Wixon (14:32, 1080p) - Wixon gives a presentation on the fantasy film genres of the '80s, where Fulci was in his career at the time he made Conquest, and the movies that inspired Conquest. She highlights Boorman's Excalibur, Clash of the Titans, and Robbins's Dragonslayer. She makes special mention of the Conan films and their landmark status. In addition, she unpacks the themes of Conquest. In English, not subtitled.

• Conquering Occhipinti: A Video Essay by Pier Maria Bocchi (12:55, 1080p) - this program covers the elusive acting career of Andrea Occhipinti, who has been incognito about discussing the genre films he's appeared in. Pier Maria Bocchi explains why he thinks this has been the case. Bocchi looks at several of Occhipinti's films from the late 1970s and early 80s. Excerpts are shown from some of them. In English, not subtitled.

• CONQUEST or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Fulci's Bomb: A Video Essay by Mike Foster (13:20, 1080p) - Foster considers Conquest his personal favorite in Fulci's oeuvre and explains why in this featurette. He goes over Robert E. Howard's stories (including the Conan tales) from the 1930s He greatly admires them and extrapolates on some of their literary qualities. Foster articulates why he believes Conquest, out of all fantasy films inspired by Howard's stories, is the most faithful to them. Finally, Foster describes Conquest's shooting style and why it has a distinctive aesthetic. In English, not subtitled.

• Fulci Beyond CONQUEST: 1983–1988 – A Video Essay by Mike Foster (29:15, 1080p) - Foster first provides a nice summary of Fulci's films from the late 1970s and early 1980s. He delves into the director's Manhattan Baby (1982) in some detail. Foster also supplies some additional details on Conquest and other fantasy movies of the era. Additionally, he covers the decline of giallo and saturation of Italian dystopian as well as action films of the '80s. Also, he discusses the Italian production company Filmirage. Foster examines Fulci's Murder-Rock: Dancing Death (1984), The Devil's Honey (1986), Aenigma (1987), and Zombie 3 (1988), which Fulci partially directed. Foster praises Michele Soavi's StageFright (1987). In English, not subtitled.

• Introduction to Serurta (10:00, 1080p) - in this intro, co-directors Merlyn Roberts and Steven Lyons discuss the conceptual influences, budget, and shooting conditions of their short,Serurta. In English, not subtitled.

• Serurta: Conquest-Inspired Short Film (42:55, 1080p) - Presented in about 2.39:1 anamorphic widescreen and accompanied with an LPCM 2.0 track. Subtitled in English.

• Theatrical Trailer (1:11, 1080p) - the official 1984 US trailer for Conquest presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. Image quality is decent although it sports some scratches. Accompanied by English narration.

• "Grindhouse" Trailer (1:25, upconverted to 1080p) - very similar to the first trailer except a little longer.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT (LIMITED EDITION only)

• CD Soundtrack (15 tracks, 39 minutes) - Claudio Simonetti's score comes with a few bonus tracks of remixes from a decade ago.

• Booklet - a full-color 38-page booklet with essays by Michael A. Martinez and Andrea Meroni. Martinez's piece focuses on Fulci's Conquest. The article by Meroni analyzes Spanish/Italian co-productions with works by Fulci and other filmmakers. In addition, there are downsampled posters, production stills, and a reprint of an exhibitor's manual for Conquest. There's also excellent new artwork by Justin Coffee. My copy also came with Johnny Ryan's sticker sheet illustrations reproduced in the booklet. If you order directly from Cauldron, you can obtain the actual sticker sheet.

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

As you prepare to watch Conquest, you must go into it expecting to see a veritable Lucio Fulci picture and not a variation of the American fantasy adventure films of the early '80s. It features Fulci's characteristic zombies, wild beasts, and a nubile evil queen with a gold mask. Jorge Rivero gives a sterling performance as the brawny Mace the hunter. Andrea Occhipinti is dashing as Ilias. (He had an Orlando Bloom-like face.) The 4K restoration by Cauldron Films (with authoring and encoding handled by Fidelity in Motion) is nothing short of extraordinary. I am especially glad that the maiden Italian mono is included here. The supplements are so stacked that Cauldron had to give them their own disc. You really need to see Conquest at least twice. I didn't understand all that was going on with one of the characters until my second viewing. A SOLID RECOMMENDATION and a MUST OWN for Fulci fans!