Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		2.5

Zombie Holocaust 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman February 12, 2024

Severin Films, long the purveyors of cult items, may have hit whatever the four disc version of a trifecta might be with this release, which offers 1080 and 4K UHD formats of Zombi(e) Holocaust and its Americanized cousin Doctor Butcher M.D. Zombi Holocaust was previously released in 4K UHD by 88 Films for the Region B UK market, and judging solely on the basis of screenshots, this release looks substantially different. Rather interestingly, while both releases offer a really great slate of supplements, there doesn't appear to be any shared material between the two.

For those wanting a plot summary of Zombi Holocaust, Svet Atanasov's Zombi Holocaust 4K Blu-ray review of the aforementioned 88 Films release should suffice quite handily. Svet's review is also a good resource for screenshot comparison and seeing how supplements stack up between the two labels.

Zombie Holocaust 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 discs included in this package. I've tried to come close to matching frames of some of the screenshots Svet included in his review of the 88 Films release so that those interested can do a side by side comparison.

Zombie Holocaust and Doctor Butcher M.D. are presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Severin Films with HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfers in 1.85:1. Similarly, the 1080 presentations in this four disc set are encoded via AVC and are in 1.85:1. Kind of interestingly, while the 88 Films release back cover states that it was culled from a "4K restoration of from the original 2 perf Techniscope negative", this release only mentions that both films have been "scanned in 4K from original vault elements discovered in Manhattan and Rome". While knowing the location of the elements may be of interest to some, I know I for one would have much preferred to know what kind of elements provided the source, as this is a manifestly different looking presentation than the one offered by 88 Films (again, judging solely by screenshots and some of Svet's comments in the review). Both versions of the film show some of the same anomalies in their shared footage, and since Doctor Butcher M.D. is really not that much different from Zombie Holocaust, I'll concentrate on Zombie Holocaust, since that has the 88 Films release some may want to compare this with. This is a much darker presentation than the 88 Films release, something that tends to at least slightly tamp down the palette, even with HDR/Dolby Vision, and which probably offers a significantly grittier looking grain field. The 88 Films version looks like it has a pronounced tendency toward blue grading that is certainly not as prevalent here (contrast screenshot 5 of this review with screenshot 1 of the 88 Films version for just one example). Whatever element was utilized also has some pretty noticeable age related wear and tear, including quite a few nicks, blemishes and rather large scratches. There is occasional image instability, especially in the very early going in both versions.

Zombie Holocaust 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Zombie Holocaust features either Italian or English language versions in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono. Doctor Butcher M.D. features an English track in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono. The Italian language track on Zombie Holocaust sounded considerably more full bodied than the English track to my ears, something that is especially noticeable when Nico Fidenco's pulsing synth laden score is playing. While there's nothing overly problematic with the English language track, and it's obvious Ian McCullough and at least some of the other principal actors were speaking English during the shoot, for those who like Fidenco's music, the Italian track is probably the way to go. Some of the almost brash electronic effects can be a little on the bright side in both tracks. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Zombie Holocaust 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc One: Doctor Butcher M.D. (4K UHD)

• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:48)


• Video Release Trailer (HD; 1:16)


• TV Spot (HD; 00:34)

Disc Two: Zombie Holocaust (4K UHD)

• Trailer (HD; 4:17)

Disc Three: Doctor Butcher M.D. (1080)

• Butchery & Ballyhoo (HD; 31:17) is an interview with Aquarius Releasing's Terry Levene, is a rather funny and self deprecating sit down with Levene, who recounts some of his general history and more particular connection to this film.


• The Four Boroughs of Blood (HD; 46:01) offers Michael Gingold as a tourguide of sorts showing various New York locations utilized in Italian horror films.


• Down on the Deuce (HD; 21:55) is described as a "nostalgic tour of 42nd Street" hosted by Temple of Schlock's Chris Poggiali and filmmaker Roy Frumkes.
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• Tales that Tore Our Hearts Out (HD; 18:17) features filmmakers Frank Farel and Brendan Faulkner in a Zoom call discussing an unfinished anthology film.


• Roy Frumkes' Segment of Unfinished Anthology Film Tales That Will Tear Your Heart Out (HD; 8:07)


• The Butcher Mobile (HD; 12:27) is an interview with Gore Gazette Editor and "Butcher Mobile Barker" (hey, it's their description, not mine) Rick Sullivan.


• Cutting Doctor Butcher (HD; 10:12) is an interview with editor Jim Markovic.


• Illustrated Essay: Experiments with a Male Caucasian Brain (. . .and Other Memories of 42nd Street) (HD) is a fun image gallery with text by Gary Hertz.


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:48)


• Video Release Trailer (HD; 1:16)


• TV Spot (HD; 00:34)

Disc Four: Zombie Holocaust (1080)

• Voodoo Man (HD; 8:14) is an interview with star Ian McCullough, who jokes that he started at the top and worked his way very quickly to the bottom.


• Blood of the Zombies (HD; 23:03) is an interview with SFX master Rosario Prestopino. Subtitled in English.


• Filmmaker Enzo G. Castellari Remembers His Father, DIrector Marino Girolami (HD; 7:46) is a kind of surprisingly sweet reminiscence.


• Neurosurgery Italian Style (HD; 4:36) is an interview with SFX artist Maurizio Trani. Subtitled in English.


• Sherry Holocaust (HD; 24:04) is an interview with actress Sherry Buchanan. Subtitled in English.


• New York Filming Locations: 1980 & 2015 (HD; 3:03)


• Audio Bonus: Ian McCullough Sings Down By the River (HD; 2:40) is a rather well produced single from 1964 that plays to photographs of McCullough.


• Trailer (HD; 4:17)

Severin has rather cheekily included a "barf bag" in the keepcase, and packaging features a doubleweight slipcover offering key art for each version of the film on either side.

Zombie Holocaust 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

My hunch is those aforementioned cultists Severin tends to cater to will find both pluses and minuses to this release. This features both versions of the film, which should certainly be a plus, but the video presentation in particular struck me as somewhat less pleasing than the 88 Films version. This release has some outstanding supplements, though that said, so does the 88 Films release. Completists may want to consider this version for its inclusion of Doctor Butcher M.D. and the supplemental features.