7.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
On his first day on the job at an army surplus store, poor Freddy unwittingly releases nerve gas from a secret U.S. military canister, unleashing an unbelievable terror. The gas re-animates a corps of corpses, who arise from their graves with a ravenous hunger for human brains! And luckily for those carnivorous cadavers, there is a group of partying teens nearby, just waiting to be eaten!
Starring: Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Thom Mathews, Beverly RandolphHorror | 100% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
1985 was a major year for the “Night of the Living Dead” brand name. In July, George Romero added another chapter to his undead saga with “Day of the Dead,” which disappeared from U.S. theaters fairly quickly. Original co-writer John A. Russo also delivered a zombie experience for the summer season, taking a co-story credit on “The Return of the Living Dead,” with writer/director Dan O’Bannon making his helming debut with the endeavor. Romero went somber with his vision for a zombie apocalypse, while O’Bannon goes wild, eventually, with “The Return of the Living Dead,” electing for a more comedic version of a monster rampage, trying to separate himself from the competition with a punk rock soundtrack, unabashed exploitation, and a tone of hysteria that either delights or repulses, depending on the scene. O’Bannon isn’t big on style, and his sense of pace leaves much to be desired, but he has a vision for physical horror and zombie threats, with the last half of the picture capturing a pure cinematic insanity that’s rarely found in the genre.
Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.
"The Return of the Living Dead" has been previously issued on Blu-ray in 2011 and 2016, with Shout Factory returning with a new UHD release of the
film, sourced from "a 4K scan of the original camera negative." Highlights are appreciable during the Dolby Vision viewing experience, with warm orange
flames and sharp police lights. Blacks are deep and generally run darker, but frame particulars aren't lost, just a bit more shadowed. Detail is excellent,
capturing the strange appearances of the undead and their makeup applications, along with the grisly details of more advanced decay. Skin surfaces are
distinct, and town tours provide strong dimension. Signage and decoration are also open for inspection. Color is vibrant, handling punk hair and outfits
with care. Primaries are preserved, exploring interior design and decorative elements. Skin tones on the living and the deceased are enjoyable,
maintaining a defined line between monster and man. Grain is fine and film-like, with a little encoding slackness. Source is in good condition.
There are three audio options available for "The Return of the Living Dead," with a 2.0 DTS-HD MA mono, 2.0 DTS-HD MA stereo, and a 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix, as found on the previous Blu-ray release. Perhaps most fans will gravitate to the original mono mix, which offers a straightforward listening event befitting the low-budget nature of the feature. Dialogue exchanges are clear, maintaining some order to the argumentative behavior on display. Music emerges with authority, delivering messy punk power to the track, never overwhelming performances. The 5.1 option opens things up to expectation, for those who prefer such space.
"The Return of the Living Dead" is responsible for much of the zombie formula as we know it today, delivering more animated zombies and the special "braaaains" fixation that offers a unique pressure point on those hoping to survive the uprising. O'Bannon find ways to make his offering unique, dealing with a capable cast and excellent low-budget makeup effects, and he has some imagination for this type of chaos. It takes some time for "The Return of the Living Dead" to get going, perhaps too long, but once it does, there's shock value and appreciable elements of humor, contributing to a mischievous sense of doom to go along with all the flesh-tearing pandemonium.
1985
DVD Packaging
1985
1985
1985
1985
Collector's Edition
1985
Deluxe Limited Edition | Limited to 1,000 - SOLD OUT
1985
1985
1985
1985
1985
Includes Enamel Pin+Exclusive Poster | Collector’s Edition
1985
1985
1988
2011
Reissue
1985
Collector's Edition
1988
Collector's Edition
1984
Director's Cut
1986
Collector's Edition
1988
1986
Collector's Edition
1988
1985
Unrated Special Edition
2008
2016
2013
Collector's Series
1989
1987
2016
2007
2016
2013
1986