My Boyfriend's Back Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

My Boyfriend's Back Blu-ray Movie Review

A big improvement on the previous edition: this "special edition" rises from the dead

My Boyfriend's Back (which was originally titled “Johnny Zombie”) is the unlikely love-story of a teenage boy named Johnny (Andrew Lowery) as he meets an unexpected end, turns into an off-kilter zombie who rises from the grave, and attempts to win the romantic affections of his dream girl: the beautiful Missy McCloud (Traci Lind). As romance (and falling limbs) ensues, the story takes the conventional romantic-comedy and turns it on its head (pun intended, of course).

"So, you up for prom night?"

For more information and a full film review please refer to my colleague Martin Liebman's review. Please note that the rating on the film reflects my own opinion on My Boyfriend's Back.

My Boyfriend's Back Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation included on the Kino release of My Boyfriend's Back bears a striking similarity to the original release from Mill Creek Entertainment. To read more in-depth information about the transfer for the film, please refer to the original review by my colleague Martin Liebman.

My Boyfriend's Back Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The audio has been improved with a new lossless DTS-HD Master Audio presentation. The previous Blu-ray release of the film had lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 and the new re-release has rectified that huge issue with the previous edition. There is so much more depth and "oomph" to the lossless track that wouldn't be possible with the lower-quality encode on the standard Dolby Digital encoding. With a much finer spectrum available for fine detail in the soundstage, dialogue comes across with a much fuller sounding backdrop with immense clarity and precision on the track. The music quality gets a significant boost in quality as well with the track having a more detailed and immersive quality that brings viewers closer to the filmmaking and the world of the storytelling. From the unsettling creeks from the decaying body of zombie Johnny to the engaging soundstage of the prom, there are so many great sonic improvements that the new edition is worthwhile for anyone seeking the absolute best out of the presentation.

My Boyfriend's Back Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Unlike the previously-released Mill Creek Entertainment Blu-ray from 2016 (which was completely barebones with no supplemental features of any kind) this is a jam-packed edition with a set of new extras that are sure to entice longtime fans of the film. The new supplements include the following:

Audio Commentary featuring Director Bob Balaban with actors Mary Beth Hurt and Austin Pendleton

The Return of Johnny Zombie: Interview with Star Andrew Lowery (HD, 15:50) is the spotlight new extra included on the release. The interview is downright exceptional and Lowery gives a lot of fun tidbits about the production and what it was like working on the project. He delves into the film's response from fans and critics while discussing his own feelings on the work and its unique zaniness. The original title for the project was"Johnny Zombie" and he delves into why he prefers the title to the final version. (In this case, I agree: Johnny Zombie is a much better title.) A must see interview.

Directing the Dead: Interview with Director Bob Balaban (HD, 9:21) provides insights from the filmmaker responsible for bringing this unique cinematic oddity to life. Balaban (who is perhaps better known for his exceptional performances as an actor in the works of Wes Anderson and other acclaimed filmmakers) gives insight into his involvement into the production and what he thinks of the film. He discusses the test screenings, early reactions, and his own thoughts on the final product (and he also delves into discussing some of the scenes left on the cutting-room floor).

The Decomposing Composer: Interview with Composer Harry Manfredini (HD, 7:55) features the composer of the film discussing his involvement in creating the score. He delves into some of his inspirations (including a character-theme taken from a pop song highlighted in the last act of the production).

Paging Dr. Bronson: Interview with Actor Austin Pendleton (HD, 6:54) is a charming, insightful, and laid-back interview featuring the actor (in which he discusses his strong supporting role and his feelings about the film itself).

My Boyfriend's Back Trailer (SD, 1:10)

Trailers promoting other releases from Kino Lorber: My Science Project (SD, 2:09), Spaced Invaders (SD, 2:05), Transylvania 6-5000 (SD, 1:27), Haunted Honeymoon (SD, 2:19), and The Monster (SD, 1:37).

The release also includes a reversible cover-art with alternative art-work.

My Boyfriend's Back Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Johnny Zombie (err... I mean, My Boyfriend's Back) has received the "special edition" treatment from Kino Lorber. The new edition of the film includes a plethora of enticing supplemental features delving into the troubled history of the film (from its initial poor box-office to its critical ravaging) – while never forgetting the film has a growing fan-base – and these extras are to die for (pun intended).

The release includes an almost identical film transfer to the previous edition released from Mill Creek Entertainment in 2016. However, the Kino edition has its own major improvements: the audio has now been upgraded from lossy Dolby Digital to a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio presentation. Considering the dramatically improved audio presentation and the jam-packed supplemental package, the special edition re-release comes highly recommended for fans of the film.