Escape from Death 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Escape from Death 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 16, 2026

For this UHD release, the film is titled “Escape from Death.” The cover art features a deadly weapon, a character with their face bloodied, and a seductively posed woman. There’s a promise of mysterious, violent escapism to come with this Italian production, but the viewing experience quickly reveals extraordinarily little screen activity is actually involved in the production. Co-writer/director Enzo Milioni has an idea for a mystery involving a missing man, a lot of money, and a possible killer on the loose, but there’s no pursuit of thrills in the endeavor, which remains frustratingly talky as it tries to present itself as a study of suspects and potential madness. “Escape from Death” is a real bore that only gets something going in its final ten minutes, with the rest of the movie trapped in stillness with strangely defined characters and clunky, uninspired screenwriting.

Ann (Barbara Blasko) is struggling with her sanity after experiencing a recent trauma, and more trouble comes for her when her husband, Larry, has been shot and killed in a horse stable on their property. There’s no evidence of this event, and Dr. Marc (Jacques Sernas) is ready to send Ann to a psychiatric facility, concerned about her mental state. After a year, Larry (Alessandro Freyberger) returns from a break, with the successful author ready to pick up with a new mystery novel. His return leaves Ann confused but defiant, unsure who this man really is. Larry’s secretary, Mary (Zora Kerova), is tracking the situation, also managing the estate, encountering trouble with stableman Solly (Giuseppe Morabito), who’s acting suspiciously, while his daughter, Tania (Luciana Ottaviani), is lost in her own issues as a young, mute woman. As Larry revives his professional interests and personal life, Ann is stuck in paranoia, unsure if she can trust anyone as she pursues clues concerning the identity of the real Larry.

“Escape from Death” opens with the end of the film. While the killer’s identity isn’t revealed in full (it’s there if you look for it), we do see Larry get shot by the police, trying to explain the situation to the cops while he bleeds out on the floor. There’s random narration that suggests the story is being shared in flashback, but there’s no ongoing evidence of this dramatic approach, as Milioni simply switches to Ann’s issues with reality. The death of Larry is handled very strangely, set up as some kind of mystery, though throughout the movie, it’s very clear the two Larrys present in the tale look nothing alike. So much for a puzzle to solve.

“Escape from Death” begins with a bang and immediately falls asleep. Milioni is overseeing a collection of suspects and bizarre behavior, but the film is mostly devoted to conversations, and ones with bulky exposition that don’t always make sense. It’s all meant to conjure tension as Ann treats her inner circle carefully while her own sanity is tested through a few freak-outs that give Milioni something to actually shoot (including the jittery woman’s discovery of maggots in her toothpaste). However, the majority of the picture involves uninteresting characters with bad lines discussing things that aren’t always important to the plot, which takes long breaks from being anything of interest to follow.

Escape from Death 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

The image presentation for "Escape from Death" is listed as "presented in Dolby Vision HDR and newly scanned and restored from its 16mm original camera negative." Color is the big show here, with lush hues throughout the viewing experience. Period style is a major contributor, providing deep denim blues and assorted primaries on dresses. Greenery is distinct. Skin tones are natural, and red blood remains rich. Decorative choices around the house also maintain major hues. Detail reaches as far as possible, capturing compelling skin particulars and fibrous outfits. Interiors are dimensional, touring the main house and horse stable activity. Exteriors carry depth, examining the vast location. Blacks are consistent, handling evening activity well. Highlights are tasteful. Grain is heavy and film-like. Source is in good condition, but some frame damage is encountered, and hairs are visible. Splice marks are present as well.

Escape from Death 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix supplies a simple understanding of "Escape from Death" and its limited sonic reach. Dialogue exchanges register as intended, with reasonably defined emotionality. Scoring delivers decent instrumentation and dramatic support. Sound effects are blunt but appreciable.

Escape from Death 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth.

• "Zora, The Escapee" (17:55, HD) is an interview with actress Zora Kerova, who opens with an understanding of her career in the mid-1980s, finding her professional opportunities sabotaged by her then-husband, Petr Hapka, who wanted to further his own career while she took care of their newborn. Desperate for work after leaving her spouse, Kerova found help through previous collaborator Lucio Fulci, who brought her onboard "Escape from Death." Co-stars and crew are assessed, the interviewee expands on her working relationship with Fulci, getting used to his strong temper.

• "Victim of Circumstance" (16:19, HD) is an interview with actor Alessandro Freyberger, who followed in his father's footsteps, pursing an acting career, falling in love with the vocation after spending time on many sets as a child. The interviewee offers memories from early films in his career, and assesses the professionals he interacted with. Talk eventually turns to "Escape from Death," and Freyberger provides thoughts on his working relationship with director Enzo Milioni, also celebrating co-stars open to helping the young thespian during his formative years. The actor also reflects on his decision to end his career, feeling unsatisfied with the business.

• "Bloody Sonata" (19:28, HD) is an interview with composer Paolo Gatti, who admits he "got into music somewhat by chance," inspired to learn the guitar after hearing a neighbor play. The interviewee discusses his personal collection of guitars and his intertest in folk music. A move to movie scores is tracked, and Gatti pays tribute to colleagues and inspirations. Talk eventually turns to "Escape from Death," but nothing in-depth is shared, with Gatti reflecting on his hiring, some technical information, and the feature's position as a cult film.

• "Exhuming Lucio" (12:36, HD) is an appreciation piece from film critic Pier Maria Bocchi.

• "Escape from Death, Enter the Showbiz" (29:54, HD) is an appreciation piece from film historian Eugenio Ercolani.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included on this release.

Escape from Death 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Escape from Death" adds more mental illness, dipping into the taboo with Solly and his relationship with his semi-feral daughter. Other productions would run with this pairing, but Milioni pays close attention to it for one scene. The mystery of Larry is really no mystery at all, but red herrings waltz into view, and some motivation is attempted, but only in the slowest manner imaginable. There's a black-gloved killer in the area, but the maniac only arrives at the last possible moment, and Milioni doesn't have much command over giallo-style grisliness, giving viewers a few poorly staged murders. "Escape from Death" eventually ends as it begins, but there's nothing in-between that demands viewer attention or offers something to keep them in nail-biting mode. It's all just meandering screenwriting out to make a listless soap opera with dramatic elements usually employed to generate a nightmare.