Two Evil Eyes 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		5.0

Two Evil Eyes 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 7, 2021

"Two Evil Eyes" (1990) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Blue Underground. The supplemental features on the disc include vintage promotional and production materials for the film; exclusive new audio commentary by author and critic Troy Howarth; new video interviews with composer Pino Donaggio, assistant director Luigi Cozzi, co-writer Franco Ferrini, stars star Madeleine Potter and Ramy Zada; and a lot more. In English, with optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Two of horror cinema’s greatest masters, George Romero and Dario Argento, direct two segments based on short stories by Edgar Allan Poe. However, the original concept for Two Evil Eyes was to be a four-part project, with two more segments directed by Wes Craven and John Carpenter.

The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar

When it becomes clear that a gravely ill businessman (Bingo O’Malley) has just a few weeks left to live, his younger wife (Adrienne Barbeau) and the handsome doctor (Ramy Zada) she has hired to look after him go to work to steal his money -- the doctor hypnotizes the old-timer and makes him inform his lawyer that he wishes to terminate all of his investments and accounts, while the wife quickly begins withdrawing as much cash as legally possible and moving the rest to her brand new account. However, while hypnotized the businessman dies and forces the two partners to begin improvising so that they can keep the ongoing large bank transfers uninterrupted. At first it seems like they would still manage to pull off the scam, but when the dead businessman’s soul tells them that it is stuck in the hypnotized body and ‘the other’ will come through it they panic.

Romero’s segment is the better of the two. It has a more interesting twist and superior atmosphere that ultimately make it appear spookier. Barbeau also nails her character, a double-faced gold-digger, who sees her life profoundly transformed, but not in the way she has imagined. Also, this segment has a better score from Brian De Palma’s favorite maestro, Pino Donnagio.

The Black Cat

Harvey Keitel is Roderick Usher, a jaded crime reporter who dismembers his girlfriend’s (Madeleine Potter) new black cat. However, the little creature refuses to leave his world -- or is it his mind? Eventually, Usher becomes overwhelmed by bizarre thoughts and visions and then plunges into the abyss of madness.

For a while Keitel keeps the segment intriguing, but the quality of the writing is underwhelming and eventually it hurts the story. Instead of clear direction and pure atmosphere, which make Romero’s segment attractive, Argento delivers only a sea of random references and special effects.

*Two Evil Eyes was first released on Blu-ray by Blue Underground in 2009. For additional thoughts on the film, please see Marty Liebman's review of the original release here.

Two Evil Eyes 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and encoded with HEVC/H.265, Two Evil Eyes arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Blue Underground.

This 4K Blu-ray release is sourced from a 4K master that was initially used to produce this Blu-ray release. On the 4K Blu-ray release, you can select to view the film with Dolby Vision or HDR. I viewed the entire film with HDR and did only a few random tests with Dolby Vision enabled.

Please note that the screencaptures that are included with our review are downscaled to 1080p and are not representative of the actual quality of the 4K content.

There are two areas where I think you will notice meaningful improvements. First, the density levels of the visuals are very clearly superior, which is why the few darker areas that appeared a tad 'loose' in 1080p now look superb. Unsurprisingly, fluidity is superior as well. (I think that this becomes very obvious on The Black Cat). Finer nuances are better defined and in daylight footage brightness levels look better balanced. However, I would not say that there is a substantial difference if you compare the same visuals in 1080p. Second, the entire spectrum of colors is more convincing. I had a feeling this would be the case while viewing the 4K restoration on Blu-ray, but with HDR enabled the difference is impossible not to acknowledge. There are some darker segments that look simply terrific now (see screencaptures #3, 4 and 5). However, I want to make it very clear that it is not just the improved saturation that contributes to the difference. You will see that there are ranges of supporting nuances that are expanded in ways that are impossible to replicate in 1080p. The rest is the same. Image stability is terrific. The entire film looks spotless as well.

Two Evil Eyes 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three standard audio tracks on this 4K Blu-ray release: English Dolby Atmos, English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, and French DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0. Optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles are provided for the main feature.

When I viewed the 4K restoration of Two Evil Eyes on Blu-ray, I used the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track, which is again included on this release. However, now there is a new Dolby Atmos track, which was prepared exclusively for this release. I viewed the entire film with it and my impression is that in some areas (like the basement footage) it opens the audio field and rounds it up a little bit better. I think that the sound could be a bit more 'even' in some areas as well, but I am unsure if this is a proper description. However, the truth is that the original 2.0 track is already very solid, so you will have to experiment with both tracks and determine which one you prefer. I am unwilling to recommend a winner.

Two Evil Eyes 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Trailer - a remastered trailer for Two Evil Eyes. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).

• Gallery - a large collection of vintage promotional and production materials for Two Evil Eyes from around the world, which include posters, advertising materials, lobby cards. VHS and DVD covers, and Enzo Sciotti's original artwork. The materials were compiled by Gregory Chick. (1080p).

• Audio Commentary - in this audio commentary, Troy Howarth, critic and author of Murder by Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento, shares a lot of interesting information about Dario Argento's attempts to enter the U.S. market, the production history and evolution of Two Evil Eyes, the various casting choices, the visual appearances of the two segments, etc. It is a very informative commentary from a man that clearly cares and understands genre cinema. The commentary was recorded exclusively for Blue Underground.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Two Masters' Eyes - in this archival program features clips from interviews with directors Dario Argento and George Romero, Special Make-Up Effects supervisor Tom Savini, executive producer Claudio Argento, and Asia Argento. The interviewees discuss Edgar Allan Poe's classic writings and their tone, the conception of Two Evil Eyes, and the film's stylistic appearance and production history. In English and Italian, with optional English subtitles. (30 min, 480/60i).

• Savini's EFX - this archival program offers a glimpse at the work that special make-ups effects supervisor Tom Savini did for Two Evil Eyes. In a series of clips, Mr. Savini actually explains in great detail how specific shots/sequences were made. In English, not subtitled. (13 min, 1080p).

• At Home with Tom Savini - a personal tour of Tom Savini's home. In English, not subtitled. (16 min, 480/60i).

• Adrienne Barbeau - this archival interview with actress Adrienne Barbeau was recorded by director Roy Frumkes during the shooting of Two Evil Eyes for his documentary The Definitive Document of the Dead. In English, not subtitled. (5 min, 480/60i).

• Before I Wake - in this brand new interview, star Ramy Zada explains how he enters the film business and discusses his involvement with Two Evil Eyes as well as the film's longevity. The interview was conducted exclusively for Blue Underground. In English, not subtitled. (14 min, 1080p).

• Behind the Wall - in this brand new interview, star Madeleine Potter discusses the evolution of her acting career, her contribution to Two Evil Eyes, and some of the unique qualities of her character. The interview was conducted exclusively for Blue Underground. In English, not subtitled. (17 min, 1080p).

• One Maestro and Two Masters - in this brand new interview, composer Pino Donaggio discusses hie affiliation with Brian De Palma and the opportunities it gave him, and discusses the type of harmonic qualities he wanted for the soundtrack that he created for Two Evil Eyes. The interview was conducted exclusively for Blue Underground. In Italian, with imposed English subtitles. (16 min, 1080p).

• Rewriting Poe - in this brand new interview, co-writer Franco Ferrini explains how he discovered and fell in love with Edgar Allan Poe's work, and discusses his collaboration with Dario Argento on The Black Cat as well as the conception of Harvey Keitel's character. In Italian, with imposed English subtitles. (16 min, 1080p).

• The Cat Who Wouldn't Die - in this brand new interview, assistant director Luigi Cozzi (Devil Fish) explains what makes Edgar Allan Poe's stories unique and remembers what it was like to work with Dario Argento on The Black Cat. Also, there are some very interesting observations about the 'artistic competition' between Argento and George Romero. In Italian, with imposed English subtitles. (27 min, 1080p).

• Two Evil Brothers - in this new video interview, remembers his work with Tom Savini and some of the unique work that he did for various graphic sequences from The Black Cat. He also mentions a very funny experience he had the police in Pittsburgh after a 'dead body' was discovered by a stranger. In English, not subtitled. (14 min, 1080p).

• Working with George - in this new video interview, consume designer Barbara Anderson remembers what it was like to work with George Romero. There are plenty of comments addressing the production of Knightriders, Creepshow, Day of the Dead, and Two Evil Eyes. In English, not subtitled. (9 min, 1080p).

Two Evil Eyes 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Great 4K restorations are supposed to be experienced on 4K Blu-ray. Yes, they can look terrific on Blu-ray as well, but in native 4K you basically see everything that you should. Needless to say, the viewing experience is a bit more special. This upcoming 4K Blu-ray release of Two Evil Eyes is sourced from the same solid 4K restoration that Blue Underground introduced on Blu-ray in 2019, but features an exclusive new Dolby Atmos track. If you enjoy Two Evil Eyes, you should have it in your library because it gives you a top-quality technical presentation of the film that will never have to be upgraded again. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.