The Gates of Hell Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The Gates of Hell Blu-ray Movie Review

After scoring an unexpected success with 1979’s “Zombi 2,” writer/director Lucio Fulci maintains his reputation as a prolific moviemaker, returning to screens with 1980’s “The Gates of Hell” (aka “City of the Living Dead”), diving right back into all things undead. It’s the first of a three grisly features made with star Catriona MacColl (“The Beyond” and “The House by the Cemetery”), who gives a full-body performance of panic in “The Gates of Hell,” giving Fulci some thespian hustle while he works out the extreme gore of the endeavor, which details a quest to prevent the rise of zombies in rural America, organized by a dead priest. It’s all supernatural mumbo-jumbo without a decent ending, but Fulci’s never been one for details, turning his attention to atmosphere instead, giving the effort enough shock value and scenes of mounting dread to cover the viewing experience. It’s not remarkable work, but it really scores when concentrating on disgusting bodily harm.

The Gates of Hell Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

There's no shortage of Blu-ray releases for "The Gates of Hell," which ware previously issued by Blue Underground in 2010, and Arrow in 2019. Now Scorpion Releasing steps up with an AVC encoded image (1.84:1 aspect ratio) presentation billed as a "New 2020 4K color grading and restoration of the film from a 4K scan of the original camera negative." The results are mighty impressive, delivering a new level of clarity to the Fulci viewing experience, which favors goopy, grisly textures from extraordinary makeup effects. Facial surfaces are defined with characters both alive and undead. Locations are foggy but dimensional, highlighting neighborhood tours, and sets retain their decomposed state. Awful business with maggots and entrails is also sharp. Color is respectfully refreshed, accentuating the primary hues of horror as blood flows and lighting aims for a more varied view of zombie threat. Skintones are natural. Source issues are really only noticeable with some mild color fluctuations in the second half of the feature, suggesting some damage. Grain is fine and film-like, nicely resolved throughout. Delineation preserves frame information.

The Gates of Hell Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides a full listening event for "The Gates of Hell," offering direct dialogue exchanges, and while the feature is dubbed, voices are fresh and emotive. Scoring is supportive with welcome synth heaviness, adding some low-end throb to percussion. Surrounds are engaged with evocative atmospherics, managing claustrophobic and open air movement. Separation and panning effects are compelling, especially with more distinct genre elements. Sound effects are clear, capturing the macabre nature of the violence.

The Gates of Hell Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features film historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson.

• Commentary #2 features director of photography Sergio Salvati and camera operator Roberto Forges Davanzati.

• "Through Your Eyes" (37:01, HD) is a 2018 chat with actress Catriona MacColl, who recounts her early casting interests in Rome, catching the eye of a producer through a photo submission. Traveling to Italy to meet with Fulci, MacColl recalls the director's shy nature, while her own hesitation to star in violent features was weakened by her agent, who swore that the movie would "never be seen." The interviewee describes working with Fulci and his strange technical challenges, including the horror of creating horror with live maggots and rats, with MacColl expressing happiness that animal rights are more respected in modern productions. She recounts time with co-stars and offers thoughts on the legacy of "The Gates of Hell," which was one of many "Video Nasties" to bear MacColl's name. The star closes with memories of the picture's initial release, and articulates her ideas on the changing acceptance of genre work.

• "We Are the Apocalypse" (53:00, HD) is a lengthy, somewhat rambling interview with screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti, who dives into his relationship with director Lucio Fulci, with the pair collaborating on multiple productions, including "The Gates of Hell," which the interviewee declares their "weakest film." Sacchetti discusses Fulci's career and sense of competition, their dealings with dubious producers, and the ups and downs of their personal relationship. Other features are discussed, including "The Beyond" and "Manhattan Baby," and the interviewee makes time to get a little existential about his life and time in the Italian film industry.

• "Building Fulci's City" (37:34, HD) is a lengthy appreciation piece from author Stephen Thrower, who delves into Lucio Fulci's career after he scored a hit with "Zombi 2." Thrower details the long road to "The Gates of Hell," spotlights Fulci's on-set behavior and relationship with actress Catriona MacColl, and shares other casting tidbits. The interviewee primarily examines story points and editing panic, with so much of "The Gates of Hell" left a mystery due to the speedy production period. There's also a fair amount of critical analysis.

• "They Call Him 'Bombardone'" (26:55, HD) is an interview with special effects artist Gino De Rossi, who details his working relationship with Lucio Fulci, getting along with the helmer, who wasn't shy about revealing his temper with others. Technical achievements from "The Gates of Hell" are shared, with Rossi showing off a few props and mechanisms he's kept over the years.

• "Tales of Friendship" (30:49, HD) is an interview with director of photography Sergio Salvati, who made 12 movies with Lucio Fulci, exploring their working relationship over the years. Technical achievements from "The Gates of Hell" are shared, along with camera talk, with Salvati admitting to an abuse of zoom from Italian filmmakers. Some secrets are shared from "The Beyond," and the interviewee looks back at the highlights of his career, sharing an amazing anecdote about working with Maria Callas.

• "Dust in the Wind" (13:14, HD) is an interview with camera operator Roberto Forges Davanzati, who examines his career education, learning from Italian directors as he enjoyed many professional adventures. Davanzati inspects his working relationship with Sergio Salvati, and Lucio Fulci, commenting on his famous temper, which was mostly reserved for actors. Technical achievements from "The Gates of Hell" are also shared.

• "The Art of Dreaming" (45:50, HD) is an interview with production designer Antonio Geleng, who was actually a fan of Lucio Fulci before receiving a chance to work with the director. Geleng explores his anxiety about joining an already established crew, and production struggles while working in Georgia, which wasn't a scary enough location for the picture. His working relationship with Fulci is detailed, exploring the helmer's creative inspirations found in art and literature. Select technical achievements are highlighted, including the creation of a special coffin for Catriona MacColl to freak out in, and Geleng shares information on costuming, with the producers pushing the actors to wear their own clothes to help save money.

• "The Dead Are Alive!" (25:26, HD) is a video essay from Kat Ellinger.

• "Reflections on Fulci" (26:50, HD) is an appreciation piece from horror enthusiast Andy Nyman.

• "I Walked with a Zombie" (22:49, HD) is an interview with actor Giovanni Lombardo Radice, who admits he's not a fan of horror. However, employment opportunities kept him in the genre, which also brought him to Georgia multiple times. Thoughts on character are shared, and Radice explores Lucio Fulci's temper on-set, prone to white-hot flashes of rage. The interviewee also examines the famous drill scene, assesses his co-stars, and admits that most of his time away from the camera during the shoot was spent smoking marijuana.

• "The Horror Family" (19:14, HD) is a very entertaining chat with Venantino Venantini and his son, Luca, who both appeared in "The Gates of Hell." Dad is quite the character, sharing his thoughts on Fulci, special effects, and his career, also praising the American horror convention circuit, which offers big money for fan interactions. Son offers his take on the production experience, also exploring his appreciation for his father's career as the man gets up there in age.

• Alternate Title Sequences present English (2:20, HD) and Italian (3:13, HD).

• Radio Spots (:57) include two commercials for the film.

• And an Italian Trailer (3:01, HD) and an English Trailer (3:01, HD) are included.

The Gates of Hell Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Gates of Hell" receives an impressive Blu-ray upgrade from Scorpion Releasing, who deliver compelling A/V and collect as many interviews as possible to stack the supplementary section, hoping to give fans of Fulci and the picture a definitive package. At least until the next release of "The Gates of Hell."