Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Deathdream Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 10, 2024

Bob Clark's "Deathdream" a.k.a. "Dead of Night" (1974) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Blue Underground. The supplemental features on the release include new program with actor Gary Swanson; new audio commentary by critics Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson; archival video interviews with production manager John 'Bud' Cardos, composer Carl Zittrer, and actor Anya Liffey and writer/makeup artist Alan Ormsby; archival interview with special effects artist Tom Savini; large collection of original promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Somewhere deep in the jungles of Vietnam, an American soldier (Richard Backus) is shot down and soon after reported dead to his superiors. Back home, army officials promptly deliver the tragic news to his parents (Lynn Carlin and John Marley).

But while the family is still trying to come to terms with their loss, the ‘dead’ soldier reappears and then quietly begins a long recovery process. His mother, father and sister (Anya Ormsby) are so overjoyed to have him back that for a while they fail to notice that he actually looks different -- very different. His attitude is also odd, but once again, everyone assumes that he is just having a difficult time getting used to civilian life. Then as time passes, the father begins to sense that the improvement everyone has been hoping to see isn’t coming and that his son has actually started drifting even further away into a dark and very dangerous place. Around the same time, a friend of the family who knew the young man before he left for Vietnam agrees to examine him and recommend an effective treatment, but his shocking findings only speed up his mental and physical deterioration.

Bob Clark’s Deathdream is structured in pretty much the same way Adrian Lyne’s Jacob's Ladder is, which means that it is as effective as an unconventional horror thriller as it is as a psychological drama. The only notable discrepancy between the two -- aside from the fact that they were conceived with different budgets -- is that while exposing the same ugly truths about the devastating consequences of war, they choose to cage their victims in contrasting ways. Indeed, in Jacob’s Ladder Tim Robbins’ veteran has also lost his old identity and is stuck in a perpetual cycle of maddening thoughts and visions that are basically bending his reality in ways that routinely overload his mind. However, he is fully aware that the horror he experiences is directly related to his mind’s random decisions to unplug him from the real world. In Deathdream the young veteran’s mind has completely given up and transformed him into a monster. Clark also goes a step further and reshapes his reality into a permanent nightmare, but once again the main idea behind the ‘horror’ is identical -- which is to deliver a message that even if they are lucky to return home unharmed veterans are psychologically broken and their identities are irreversibly damaged.

The entire film has a rough look that reminds of John Cassavetes’ early work. The camera frequently and unapologetically seeks the right spot to observe the quarrels between the main characters, and later on this makes the horror material that much more unsettling because it gives it an authentic ambience that seems perfect for a documentary feature. Many of Cassavetes’ films from the 1960s and 1970s use the exact same technique to create the impression that one is viewing slices of real life, not scripted acts from fictional melodramas. (For reference, see Cassavetes’ Faces in which Marley and Carlin again play characters that are stuck in a difficult relationship).

The film was lensed by cinematographer Jack McGowan, who is probably best known for his contribution to the cult chiller Deranged: Confessions of a Necrophile. It is worth mentioning that this was also the film that kickstarted Tom Savini’s career as a makeup artist.

Deathdream Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Deathdream arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Blue Underground.

In 2017, Blue Underground introduced a wonderful 2K restoration of Bob Clark's Deathdream with this Blu-ray release. Now, the label has prepared an exclusive new 16-bit 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negative. The 4K makeover is also available on 4K Blu-ray. (You can see our listing and review of the 4K Blu-ray release here).

If you are reading this article, it is because you wish to know whether you should consider upgrading. Also, if you do not have a 4K system, you probably wish to know whether it is worth upgrading the previous Blu-ray release with this Blu-ray release.

I still like how the film looks on the previous Blu-ray release a lot because the 2K makeover was done very, very well. However, the new 4K makeover produces small yet meaningful upgrades that affect the dynamic range of the visuals and color reproduction. These improvements are more convincing in native 4K. However, they are easy to appreciate in 1080p as well. Why exactly? The improvements affect delineation, clarity, and depth, and with the superior color reproduction all visuals look lusher and more attractive. However, keep in mind that these improvements are small and vary in different areas of the film because of the nature of the original cinematography. (Some areas have a borderline documentary appearance). So, you should expect a combination of small improvements that strengthen the visuals, rather than a dramatic, across-the-board jump in quality. Image stability is excellent. The entire film looks clean and 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).

Deathdream Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0. Optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The lossless track is the same one that was used for the recent presentation of the 2K restoration of Deathdream on this release. It is excellent. While viewing the film in native 4K, I did not encounter any encoding anomalies to report in our review.

Deathdream Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• The First Andy - in this exclusive new program, actor Gary Swanson recalls his interactions with Bob Clark, the guidance he received during the audition process, and the shooting process. The program also features clips from Swanson's screen tests. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

• Commentaries - presented here are three audio commentaries. The first is an exclusive new audio commentary that was recorded by critics Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thomson. The other two commentaries initially appeared on Blue Underground's DVD release of Deathdream. Both offer an abundance of information about the film's production history, stylistic appearance and editing, the different titles under which it has been promoted and appeared on the home video market, and the social environment in which it emerged.
  
  1. Audio Commentary One - recorded by critics Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson.
  2. Audio Commentary Two - featuring co-producer and director Bob Clark moderated by David Gregory.
  3. Audio Commentary Three - featuring writer/makeup artist Alan Ormsby moderated by David Gregory.

• Featurettes and Interviews -
  
  1. Notes For A Homecoming: Interview with Composer Carl Zitter - in this brand new video interview, composer Carl Zitter recalls his first encounter with Bob Clark in Miami and explains how his career in the film business started, and discusses the conception of the original soundtrack for Deathdream. The interview was conducted exclusively for Blue Underground in 2017. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).
  
  2. A Recollection With Star Anya Liffey and Writer/Makeup Artist Alan Orsmby - in this brand new featurette, Anya Liffey and writer/makeup artist Alan Orsmby discuss their first professional work that they did together, their professional relationship with Bob Clark, and their contributions to Deathdream. There are also interesting comments about Deranged: Confessions of a Necrophile and Orgy of the Living Dead. The featurette was produced exclusively for Blue Underground in 2017. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).
  
  3. Flying Down To Brooksville - in this brand new video interview, production manager John 'Bud' Cardos explains where and how Deathdream was shot and recalls his interactions with Bob Clark, John Marley, and Lynn Carlin. The interview was conducted exclusively for Blue Underground in 2017. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).
  
  4. Tom Savini: The Early Years - in this archival video interview, Tom Savini discusses the early stages of his career as a makeup artist and some of the films that left an indelible impression on him, as well as his life-altering experience as combat photographer in Vietnam and his contribution to Deathdream. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).
  
  5. Deathdreaming - in this archival video interview, star Richard Backus remembers how he was cast to play Andy Brooks in Deathdream and discusses his initial impression of the script for the film as well as the shooting process and Bob Clark's working methods. There are also very interesting comments about Alan Orsmby's special effects and makeup work. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• Screen Test - presented here is a selection of screen tests with actor Gary Swanson, who was originally cast as Andy Brooks. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

• Alan Ormsby Student Film - presented here is a short student film directed by Alan Ormsby about a man that is executed because of a terrible lie. (10 min).

• Still Gallery - presented here is a large collection of original promotional materials for Deathdream from around the world: posters and ads; U.S. pressbook; publicity stills; behind-the-scenes stills; makeup effects descriptions, drawings, and photographs; original VHS and DVD covers; Alain Ormsby's movie monsters (text and drawings); and Alain Ormsby's creations. The gallery was compiled by Gregory Chick.

• Trailer - original trailer for Deathdream. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Alternate Opening Titles - in English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Cover - reversible cover with vintage poster art for Deathdream.

Deathdream Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In 2017, Blue Underground introduced a wonderful 2K restoration of Bob Clark's Deathdream with this Blu-ray release, which I assumed will remain the definitive presentation of the film on the home video market. I was wrong. This upcoming introduces an exclusive new 4K restoration that gives the film an even more convincing organic appearance. (The 4K restoration is also available on 4K Blu-ray). If you are a fan of the film, you should consider upgrading. The impressive selection of bonus features from the previous Blu-ray release is expanded with new content as well. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.