The House by the Cemetery: 4K Remaster – Blue Underground (4k UHD)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1981
Director: Lucio Fulci
Writers: Elisa Briganti, Lucio Fulci, Giorgio Mariuzzo, Dardano Sacchetti
Cast: Catriona MacColl, Paolo Malco, Ania Pieroni, Giovanni Frezza, Silvia Collatina, Dagmar Lassander, Giovanni De Nava, Daniela Doria, Gianpaolo Saccarola, Carlo De Mejo

Release Date: May 26th, 2020
Approximate running time: 86 Minutes 22 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Atmos English, DTS-HD 5.1 English, DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD Mono Italian
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish, English for Italian language track
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $49.95

"A young family moves from their cramped New York City apartment to a spacious new home in New England. But this is no ordinary house in the country: the previous owner was the deranged Dr. Freudstein, whose monstrous human experiments have left a legacy of bloody mayhem. Now, someone - or something - is alive in the basement, and home sweet home is about to become a horrific hell on earth." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

The House by the Cemetery comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD

Disc Size: 61 GB

Feature: 54.1 GB

This release was sourced from Blue Underground’s 2019 restoration that they used for their 2020 Blu-ray release. And as phenomenal as that transfer looked, this UHD release looks even better. Throughout, image clarity, shadow detail, color saturation, and compression are all excellent.

Audio: 5/5 (Dolby Atmos English)

This release comes with four audio options, a Dolby Atmos mix in English, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English, and a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian. The Dolby Atmos mix is new to this release, while the other three audio tracks are the same tracks from Blue Underground’s 2020 Blu-ray release. The Dolby Atmos mix is a solid track that takes full advantage of the sound spectrum. This release comes with four subtitle options: English SDH, French, Spanish, and English for the Italian language track.

Extras:

Extras on disc one include poster & still gallery #1 (71 images), poster & still gallery # 2 (2 minutes 21 seconds, music from the film playing in the background), a T.V. spot  (32 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), U.S. theatrical trailer (1 minute 47 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), International trailer (3 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a deleted scene: Bat Attack Aftermath (1 minute, no sound), and an audio commentary with Troy Howarth, author of Splintered Visions: Lucio Fulci and His Films.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include an archival interview with actress Catriona MacColl and actor Paolo Malco titled Meet the Boyles (14 minutes 17 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and Italian with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actor Giovanni Frezza and actress Silvia Collatina titled Children of the Night (12 minutes 18 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actress Dagmar Lassander titled Tales of Laura Gittleson (8 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor Carlo De Mejo titled My Time With Terror (9 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with screenwriters Dardano Sacchetti and Elisa Briganti titled A Haunted House Story (14 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with cinematographer Sergio Salvati, special make-up effects artist Maurizio Trani, special effects artist Gino De Rossi and actor Giovanni De Nava titled To Build a Better Death Trap (21 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Giorgio Mariuzzo titled House Quake (14 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), a Q&A with Catriona MacColl from the 2014 Spaghetti Cinema Festival (29 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with non-removable English subtitles), and an interview with Stephen Thrower, Author of Beyond Terror: The Films of Lucio Fulci titled Calling Dr. Freudstein (19 minutes 34 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Extras not carried over from Blue Underground’s 2020 Blu-ray release include, a lenticular slipcover, reversible cover art, a CD that contains the score for the film and a twenty-page booklet. This new release comes with a slipcover

Summary:

"No one will ever know whether the children are monsters or the monsters are children."

The House by the Cemetery is the third film in a trilogy of films known as Lucio Fulci’s Death Trilogy. The other two films are City of the Living Dead and The Beyond.

Though The House by the Cemetery has a simple setup, it is greatly aided by atmospheric visuals. And nowhere is this more clear than when it comes to the murder set pieces. which are meticulously laid out with the utmost brutality and are all always sufficiently gory. A knife through the head with the tip pointing out of the victim's mouth, a real estate agent being repeatedly impaled, and a young child's head being held to a door while an axe crashes through the door and narrowly misses his head are some of the more memorable moments. 

The one area of The House by the Cemetery that seems to divide most viewers are the performances of the cast, most notably that of the voice actor’s performance for the character Bob Boyle, who’s portrayed by Giovanni Frezza (Manhattan Baby). 

Besides this performance, there are no other major complaints about the cast's performances. With the standout performance coming from Catriona MacColl in the role of Bob’s mother. The House by the Cemetery would mark her third and last collaboration. She is also the only actor to have appeared in all three films that comprise Lucio Fulci's Death Trilogy. 

Other notable cast members include Ania Pieroni (Inferno, Tenebre) in the role of Ann, the babysitter, and The House by the Cemetery’s other child actor, Silvia Collatina, in the role of Mae Freudstein.

Though The House by the Cemetery is not held in as high of regard as the other two films that make up Lucio Fulci’s Death Trilogy, I have always had a fondness for The House by the Cemetery because of the way it puts its adolescent characters in peril and the film’s haunting coda, which is arguably one of Lucio Fulci’s finest moments as a filmmaker.

The House by the Cemetery gets an exceptional release from Blue Underground, who once again show why they are one of cult cinema’s premier boutique labels. Highly recommended.

                                                               4K UHD screenshots.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Zombie: 4K Remaster – Blue Underground (4k UHD)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1979
Director: Lucio Fulci
Writers: Elisa Briganti, Dardano Sacchetti
Cast: Tisa Farrow, Ian McCulloch, Richard Johnson, Al Cliver, Auretta Gay, Stefania D’Amario, Olga Karlatos

Release Date: May 26th, 2020
Approximate running time: 91 Minutes 24 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Atmos English, DTS-HD 5.1 English, DTS-HD 7.1 Italian, DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD Mono Italian, Dolby Digital Mono French
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Danish, Finnish, Dutch, Swedish, Russian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, English for Italian audio
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $49.95

"In Italy, it was considered the ‘unofficial sequel’ to Dawn of the Dead. In England, it was known as Zombie Flesh Eaters and banned as obscene. In America, it was called Zombie and advertised with the depraved tag line “We Are Going to Eat You!” Tisa Farrow (The Grim Reaper), Ian McCulloch (Contamination), Al Cliver (Cannibals), and Richard Johnson (The Haunting) star in this worldwide splatter sensation directed by ‘Maestro Of Gore’ Lucio Fulci (City of the Living Dead, The House by the Cemetery) that remains one of the most eye-skewering, skin-ripping, gore-gushingly graphic horror hits of all time!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Zombie comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD

Disc Size: 78.3 GB

Feature: 65.5 GB

Anyone who’s familiar with Blue Underground’s 2018 restoration of Zombie is sure to be wowed by how amazing this new 2160 presentation looks. Image clarity, black levels, and shadow detail look excellent, and color saturation looks perfect. Also, there are no compression-related issues, and the grain looks perfect.

Audio: 5/5 (Dolby Atmos English)

This release comes with six audio options, a Dolby Atmos mix in English, a DTS-HD 7.1 mix in English, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, a DTS-HD 7.1 mix in Italian, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian, and a Dolby Digital mono mix in French. All of the audio mixes except the Dolby Atmos and a DTS-HD 7.1 English track have been replaced by a DTS-HD 5.1 English track; the rest of the audio mixes are from Blue Underground’s 2018 Blu-ray release. For this review, we listened to the Dolby Atmos track. This new audio track sounds excellent. Range wise, the Dolby Atmos system provides a dynamic sound experience; the dialog comes through clearly, and the score and ambient sounds are well-represented. This release comes with these subtitle options: English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Danish, Finnish, Dutch, Swedish, Russian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and English for Italian audio.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include an introduction with filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a Poster & Stills gallery, four radio spots (2 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), two T.V. spots (1 minute 4 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), International theatrical trailer (3 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), U.S. theatrical trailer (1 minute 30 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an interview with Stephen Thrower, author of Beyond Terror: The Films of Lucio Fulci titled When The Earth Spits Out The Dead (33 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival audio commentary is with actor Ian McCulloch and Diabolik magazine editor Jason J. Slater, and an audio commentary is with Troy Howarth, author of Splintered Visions: Lucio Fulci and His Films.

Extras on the Blu-ray include a featurette titled Zombie Wasteland (22 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with producer Fabrizio De Angelis is titled Flesh Eaters on Film (9 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with screenwriters Elisa Briganti and Dardano Sacchetti titled Deadtime Stories (14 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with cinematographer Sergio Salvati and production/costume designer Walter Patriarca titled World of the Dead (16 minutes 29 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with special make-up effects artists Gianetto De Rossi and Maurizio Trani and special effects artist Gino De Rossi titled Zombi Italiano (16 minutes 34 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with composer Fabio Frizzi titled Notes on a Headstone (7 minutes 25 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with Lucio Fulci’s daughter Antonella Fulci titled All in the Family (6 minutes 8 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), and an interview with Guillermo del Toro titled Zombie Lover (9 minutes 36 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Extras not carried over from Blue Underground’s 2018 Blu-ray release include three different lenticular slipcovers, reversible cover art, a CD that contains the score for the film, and a twenty-page booklet. This new release comes with a slipcover.

Summary:

By the time Lucio Fulci directed Zombie, he had already directed thirty-three films.  His filmography includes a diverse range of comedies, westerns, thrillers, and two adventure films.  And, while some of his pre-Zombie films contained horror elements, it wasn't until Zombie that he firmly established himself in the horror genre.

Zombie was co-written by Dardano Sacchetti as an action/adventure thriller before George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead was released in Italy. Dario Argento would recut Dawn of the Dead for Italian audiences and rename it Zombi. Because of Zombi's success in Italy, Dardano Sacchetti's script was reworked by Elisa Briganti to more closely resemble George A. Romero’s film, making Zombie (Zombi 2) a sequel in name only.

Anyone familiar with Lucio Fulci’s thrillers or horror films knows that he has a knack for creating tension and atmosphere in his films by delivering nightmarish visions on minuscule budgets. And Zombie has some of Lucio Fulci’s goriest set pieces. The most notable example is the eyeball being forced into a splinter sequence. That said, Zombie isn't full of great performances, but most of Lucio Fulci's work from the late 1970s on isn't about the actors as much as it is about using them as objects.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Zombie does not excel. The well-paced narrative builds tension to a fever pitch by the time the finale arrives. Also, Sergio Salvati, who served as cinematographer on ten Lucio Fulci films. And with Zombie, he serves up a visual feast for the eyes as he uses every inch of the frame to capture all the carnage. Over the years, Lucio Fulci’s Zombie has built up a reputation that has made it a fan favorite and one of the zombie genre’s all-time classics.

Every time there’s a new home video format that comes along, too often there’s a rush to get products out into a new market, which often leads to inferior products. Fortunately, this is not the case with Blue Underground’s inaugural 4K UHD releases. If this release is any sign of what Blue Underground has in store for their future 4k UHD releases, then fans of cult cinema have a lot to look forward to. Blue Underground gives a flawless audio/video presentation for Zombie, highly recommended. 

                                                             4K UHD screenshots.

Written by Michael Den Boer

House on the Edge of the Park – 88 Films (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1980
Director: Ruggero Deodato
Writers: Gianfranco Clerici, Vincenzo Mannino
Cast: David Hess, Annie Belle, Christian Borromeo, Giovanni Lombardo Radice, Marie Claude Joseph, Gabriele Di Giulio, Lorraine De Selle, Karoline Mardeck, Brigitte Petronio

Release Date: February 27th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 91 Minutes 37 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region B (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: £24.99 (UK)

"When two low-lives gate crash a party, and are mocked by the posh hosts they decide to get their revenge by subjecting the guests to various forms of torture and violence." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (4K UHD), 4.25/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new 4K Remaster from the original negatives".

House on the Edge of the Park comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 61 GB

Feature: 60.2 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape, and any source imperfections have been cleaned up. Image clarity, contrast, and black levels are strong, and the image retains an organic look. That said, it appears that the framing is tighter for 88 Film's release than Severin’s release.

House on the Edge of the Park comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 39.4 GB

Feature: 26.8 GB

The Blu-ray uses the same source as the 4K UHD does for its transfer.

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono Italian), 4/5 (LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Italian and a LPCM mono mix in English. The main theme during the opening credits has some sibilance issues, and there is a moment during the English language track when David Hess’ character's dialog is out of sync. Dialog always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. Also, the Italian language track sounds slightly fuller than the English language track. Included are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 41 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with David Flint and Adrian Smith, and an audio commentary with Zoe Smith and Rebecca McCallum.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 41 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), an interview with production designer Massimo Antonello Geleng titled Geleng’s House of Horrors (8 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with Massimo Antonello Geleng titled Geleng’s Park (18 minutes 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with cinematographer Sergio D’Offizi titled A True Professional (17 minutes 6 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with director Ruggero Deodato titled On the Edge (31 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with David Flint and Adrian Smith, and an audio commentary with Zoe Smith and Rebecca McCallum.

Other extras include reversible cover art, a slipcase (limited to first pressing), A3 fold-out poster (limited to first pressing), and a twelve page booklet (limited to first pressing) with an essay titled The Road Leads to Nowhere: From The Virgin Spring to House on the Edge of the Park written by Sean Hogan.

Summary:

Directed by Ruggero Deodato, House on the Edge of the Park was shot back-to-back with the notorious Cannibal Holocaust. These films are a pair of grim-in-your-face films in which the violence is pushed to its limits. Also, both of these films were produced by Franco Di Nunzio and Franco Palaggi, whose output as producers after these films is limited to a few films.

Italian genre cinema has a long history of appropriating elements from American films. And in the case of House on the Edge of the Park, it is Wes Craven’s The Last House on the Left that serves as its main inspiration. And to further solidify its connection to The Last House on the Left, House on the Edge of the Park shares one of its actors, David Hess (Hitch-Hike).

The narrative revolves around two deviants: a psychopath named Alex and his passive friend Ricky, who gets a kick out of watching Alex’s sadistic side. Through a chance encounter, these two friends are invited to a bourgeois party. Shortly after their arrival, they start to revert to their animal instincts when it becomes clear that those throwing the party are mocking them.

Before any characters are introduced, House on the Edge of the Park dives in headfirst with a graphic rape scene that perfectly sets the stage for the events that follow. From there, the narrative does a good job building up tension, and the finale provides a very satisfying conclusion.

Though the entire cast is very good in their roles. It is David Hess in the role of Alex and Giovanni Lombardo Radice (Cannibal Ferox) in the role of Ricky. They have a solid chemistry. Other notable cast members include Annie Belle (Absurd) and Lorraine De Selle (The Wild Beasts), in the roles of two bourgeois women who become the focal points of Alex and Ricky.

Though The Last House on the Left is the starting point from which House on the Edge of the Park’s premise came, The result is a film that actually stands apart from its influences, and nowhere is this more evident than when it comes to Ruggero Deodato’s direction. Another strength of House on the Edge of the Park is composer Riz Ortolani’s (Don't Torture a Duckling) magnificent score, which features a bouncy uptempo song and a sweet song that perfectly contrast the violence occurring on screen. Ultimately, House on the Edge of the Park has an ample amount of nudity, depravity, and carnage, making it a must-see film if you're a fan of 1970s and 1980s Italian exploitation cinema.

House on the Edge of the Park is a film that has yet to get a flawless release. And though there are a few areas where this release falls short, all other available releases have issues of their own. House on the Edge of the Park makes its way to 4K UHD via a good release from 88 Films that comes with a strong video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras.

                                                            4K UHD screenshots.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Hell of The Living Dead – 88 Films (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/Spain, 1980
Director: Bruno Mattei
Writers: Claudio Fragasso, José María Cunillés, Rossella Drudi
Cast: Margie Newton, Franco Garofalo, Selan Karay, José Gras, Gabriel Renom, Josep Lluís Fonoll, Bernard Seray, Víctor Israel, Joaquín Blanco

Release Date: February 27th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 100 Minutes 35 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region B (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: £24.99 (UK)

"There’s been a nasty outbreak of the living dead in Papua New Guinea and it’s up to an intrepid reporter (Margit Evelyn Newton), her cameraman (Gaby Renom) and an on hand squad of commandoes to find out why – and to try and stop it." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (4K UHD), 3.75/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new 4K Remaster from the original negatives".

Hell of The Living Dead comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 75.6 GB

Feature: 74.8 GB

Though the foundation on which this transfer is based is in great shape, all print-related debris or imperfections have been cleaned. When it comes to colors, though there are many moments where colors look great, there are many instances where reds look magenta. That said, there is definitely inconsistency when it comes to colors. Image clarity looks strong (stock footage is not at the same level as the rest of the film), and black levels leave room for improvement. There are no issues with compression, and the image retains an organic look.

Hell of The Living Dead comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.8 GB

Feature: 32.9 GB

The Blu-ray uses the same source as the 4K UHD does for its transfer.

Audio: 3.5/5 (LPCM Mono Italian), 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Italian and a LPCM mono mix in English. The Italian language tracks sound muffled and lack the range that the English language track has. The English language track fared much better. Dialog always comes through clearly, and when it comes to ambient sounds and the score, it is more robust than its Italian counterpart. Included are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include an audio commentary with Italian genre film experts Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 46 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), a featurette titled Attack of the VHS Zombies (27 minutes 52 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Rossella Drudi titled Writing the Dead (22 minutes 56 seconds, LPCM stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Claudio Fragasso titled Vincent and Clyde (39 minutes 2 seconds, LPCM stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with Claudio Fragasso titled Poor Zombies (13 minutes 15 seconds, LPCM stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with actress Margie Newton titled Beauty and the Dead (26 minutes 36 seconds, LPCM stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth.

Other extras include reversible cover art, a slipcase (limited to first pressing), A3 fold-out poster (limited to first pressing), and a twelve page booklet (limited to first pressing) with an essay titled Keeping it Funny: The Giddiness of Bruno Mattei’s Zombie Creeping Flesh written by Francesco Massaccesi.

Summary:

Though there have been many Z-grade filmmakers who have built up a rabid following. One person’s garbage is another person’s treasure. There is a fine line between what is considered entertaining and what is flat-out so bad it's bad cinema. Case in point: a filmmaker like Bruno Mattei, whose filmography is filled with no-budget knockoffs of successful American films. That said, despite my not connecting with most of Bruno Mattei’s films, of the few I did enjoy, I would put Hell of the Living Dead at the top of the list.

Content-wise, besides being an obvious cash-in on George A. Romero’s The Dawn of the Dead, The Hell of the Living Dead also uses music cues from The Dawn of the Dead. Other films in which The Hell of the Living Dead uses music cues include Luigi Cozzi’s Contamination and Joe D'Amato's Beyond the Darkness. Also, The Hell of the Living Dead uses footage that was originally shot for New Guinea, the Island of Cannibals (aka The Real Cannibal Holocaust).

The narrative revolves around an elite group of soldiers who are sent to New Guinea after a chemical plant that was conducting secret government experiments explodes and unleashes a deadly virus. Once there, the soldiers cross paths with a reporter and her cameraman as they all fight for their lives as hordes of living dead surround them.

Hell of the Living Dead is not a film where you try to make sense of what is happening. The narrative does a good job setting everything up and then letting the chaos that unfolds take center stage. Also, when it comes to pacing, there is not an issue since things move along briskly. Another strength are the special effects, especially when it comes to the gory, gut-munching moments.

When The Hell of the Living Dead is not using stock footage, Bruno Mattei’s direction is actually very effective. Another area where The Hell of the Living Dead comes out ahead is its absurd dialog that provides an ample amount of humor. With lines like, "Hey you. What are you staring at? Are you hungry? Ah, I get it. You want a little bite out of me. Sure, why not? What meat do you like? Drumstick... or wing?"

The acting is best described as adequate. Though there are a few performances that do leave a lasting impression, most notably Franco Garofalo’s (Colt 38 Special Squad) delirious performance in the role of Zantoro, one of the soldiers sent to the plant in New Guinea. His character is also responsible for the above-quoted section of dialog. Another performance of note is Margit Evelyn Newton (The Bronx Executioner), whose character provides The Hell of the Living Dead with some much-needed T&A by stripping for the natives. And though it is easy for most to knock a film like Hell of the Living Dead, the end result is far from the train wreck many proclaim it to be!

Hell of the Living Dead makes its way to 4K UHD via a problematic release from 88 Films that comes with a transfer that has color space issues and an Italian language track that somehow is of lesser quality than the one that they used for their 2017 Blu-ray release.

                                                           4K UHD screenshots.

Written by Michael Den Boer