Death Ship Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Death Ship Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 1, 2026

Alvin Rakoff's "Death Ship" (1980) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by critics Paul Corupe and Jason Pichonsky; new audio commentary by critics Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson; archival documentary on the making of the film; vintage trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The text below was previously used in our review of British label Nucleus Films' Blu-ray release of Death Ship, produced in 2020.

I had a very difficult time enduring Alvin Rakoff’s Death Ship. I was prepared to see a silly film but hoped that it would be as atmospheric as Ken Wiederhorn's Shock Waves, which has similar evil characters and twists reality in equally bizarre ways. However, these two films could not be any more different. Death Ship wants to be mean and spooky and perhaps even controversial, but it only manages to look silly and cheap. Shock Waves offers a very different experience. It was made with a small budget as well, but oozes an incredible atmosphere that actually makes the silly in it look genuinely creepy.

The ship in Rakoff’s film is some sort of ancient freighter without a crew, traveling the seas and destroying other ships it dislikes. In the prologue, the freighter rams and sinks a big cruise ship, and then lures a few survivors who slowly begin exploring it. While a few of the survivors die in bizarre ‘accidents’ and the rest slowly begin to realize that the ship might be alive, the injured Captain Ashland (George Kennedy) miraculously recovers and then becomes possessed by an evil spirit. Shortly after, the survivors discover that in the lower cargo area of the ship, multiple torture chambers were used by the Nazis.

There are several big problems with Rakoff’s film. First, its story is underdeveloped. After the survivors board the freighter, there are only a couple of unique events to generate excitement, which is why the constant exploration of different empty areas quickly becomes tiresome. The film also pushes the survivors into supposedly dangerous situations in ways that seriously hurt their credibility. For example, in one sequence, the adults are seen having excellent instincts, and just minutes later, in another sequence, they behave like children terrified by their own shadows. The two children who are with the adults are routinely left alone so that they can keep getting ‘lost,’ and yet, for some reason, they frequently seem much more rational while facing danger. Perhaps the most consequential problem, however, is the lack of a consistent strategy that can make the film legitimately spooky. Indeed, there is a part of it that seems very comfortable with the type of tricks that mystery thrillers utilize to impress, which is where the most atmospheric visuals emerge. Another part, however, pulls in a direction that psychological horror thrillers usually explore, which is where the graphic and disturbing material comes from. As a result, it often looks like the film is undecided on its stylistic identity and even the characterizations that are most suitable for it. (Kennedy's transformation, for instance, could not be any more disappointing).

Rakoff booked cinematographer Rene Verzier, who had previously done the genre favorites High-Ballin' and Rabid, but his work is difficult to praise. A lot of the footage used to convince that the freighter is alive looks quite mediocre. Only the quick flashbacks revealing the truth about the freighter’s horrific past and the disturbing shower sequence bring the authentic genre intensity the film should have had to look impressive.

Death Ship Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Death Ship arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release presents a new 4K restoration of the Theatrical Cut of Death Ship. The Extended Cut of the film, which was previously restored in 2K, is included as well.

The screencaptures included with this article appear in the following order:

Screencaptures #1-31 are taken from the 4K restoration of the Theatrical Cut.
Screencaptures #32-40 are taken from the 2K restoration of the Extended Cut.

The new 4K restoration is also made available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack release. I viewed it in its entirety in native 4K and performed various comparisons with the 2K restoration of the Extended Cut.

While there are a few things that I like slightly better on the 4K restoration of the Theatrical Cut, I prefer the overall appearance and color grade of the 2K restoration of the Extended Cut. For example, in numerous darker areas, the 4K restoration struggles to reveal all the existing detail on the 2K restoration of the Extended Cut. Sometimes the discrepancies are small, but sometimes they could be pretty significant. Also, there are small yet unmissable adjustments in the color values of select primaries and nuances, some of which begin altering the overall color temperature of the visuals. I think that some of the tweaks on the 4K restoration of the Theatrical Cut are perfectly fine. However, I noticed fluctuations in the dynamic range of the visuals, introduced by the tweaks, that make the 2K restoration of the Extended Cut preferable. Delineation, clarity, and depth are extremely similar on the presentations of both cuts. Both presentations are equally healthy as well. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Death Ship Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The comments below are from our review of the combo pack release of Death Ship.

I decided to revisit the film with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. I only sampled the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track in several areas. The audio effects are quite surprising because the film was apparently shot with a modest budget, and very little of it must have been spent on the soundtrack. Or, perhaps this is an incorrect assumption because the various spooky sounds and noises keep popping up in the right places at the right time. Clarity, sharpness, and depth are great. I suppose in a few areas, the balance could have been slightly better. However, I also believe that any perceived unevenness is intentional.

Death Ship Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary One - this exclusive new audio commentary for the Theatrical Cut of Death Ship was recorded by critic Paul Corupe of Caunxploitation.com and critic Jason Pichonsky. The two commentators, both Canadians, instantly declare their love for Death Ship, and instantly concede that it has numerous flaws. Later, the commentators discuss in great detail the production history of Death Ship, some of its unique strengths and flaws, characters, and critical reception. I also found their comments about the Canadian film industry and the business environment in which films used to be made in Canada very interesting.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive new audio commentary for the Theatrical Cut of Death Ship was recorded by critics Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson.

• Stormy Seas: The Voyage From Bloodstar to Death Ship - in this archival program, director Alvin Rakoff, stars George Kennedy and Nick Mancuso, and screenwriter Jack Hill discuss the conception of Death Ship, its visual style and tone, and its reputation as a cult classic. There are some very interesting comments about the evolution of the script and Hill's desire to shoot the film. In English, not subtitled. (42 min).

• What the Ship is Saying - in this archival program, Katarina Severen of Katarina's Nightmare Theater provides a hillarious short commentary on Death Ship. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Bloodstar - presented here are pages from Jack Hill's original screenplay for what will eventually become Death Ship. Silent. (4 min).

• Trailer One - presented here is an original theatrical trailer for Death Ship. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• Trailer Two - presented here is an original theatrical trailer for Death Ship. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

Death Ship Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Death Ship should have been directed by Jack Hill. The original concept Hill describes in an archival program included on this release, I think, would have produced a much more colorful film than the one Alvin Rakoff directed. As it is, Death Ship is just a very small film that essentially incorporates several genre cliches to tell an underdeveloped story. Hill would have made it wild and unpredictable, plus he would have worked with actors who shared his enthusiasm for the project. Small genre films can be very entertaining, but they have to be directed and acted by people who understand how to transform their limitations and weaknesses into their biggest strengths.

Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release presents a new 4K restoration of the Theatrical Cut of Death Ship. The Extended Cut, which was previously restored in 2K, is included as well. While there are a few things that I like slightly better on the 4K restoration of the Theatrical Cut, I prefer the overall appearance and color grade of the 2K restoration of the Extended Cut. RECOMMENDED, but only to fans of the film.