The Dead and the Deadly – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1982
Director: Wu Ma
Writers: Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Barry Wong
Cast: Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Wu Ma, Ching-Ying Lam, Cherie Chung, Fat Chung, Mei Hui Leung, Ching Po Chang, Lung Chan, Chau-Sang Lau, Yuet-Sang Chin

Release Date: November 21st, 2022
Approximate running time: 99 Minutes 25 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese (Theatrical Mix), LPCM Mono Cantonese (Home Video Mix), LPCM Mono English (Classic Dub)
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £17.99 (UK)

"Wu Ma also stars as a man who fakes his death in order to steal his family’s funeral treasure. When the treasure is instead bequeathed to Ma’s unborn son, his co-conspirators kill him (for real this time). His vengeful spirit seeks out the help of his friend (played by Sammo Hung) and together they seek revenge on his murderers." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "a brand new 2K restoration!".

The Dead and the Deadly comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.8 GB

Feature: 30.9 GB

The source used for this transfer is in excellent shape. Colors are nicely saturated; flesh tones look healthy; image clarity, black levels, and compression are strong.

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono Cantonese (Theatrical Mix)), 4/5 (LPCM Mono Cantonese (Home Video Mix), LPCM Mono English (Classic Dub))

This release comes with three audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese (theatrical mix), a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese (home video mix), and a LPCM mono mix in English (classic dub). All three audio mixes are in great shape; there are no issues with background hiss or distortion. Dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and fight scenes sound appropriately robust. That said, the LPCM mono Cantonese (theatrical mix) sounds more robust than the other two tracks, which quality-wise sound similar. There are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track and a second removable English subtitle track for the Cantonese text and signs when watching the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (4 minutes 33 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actor Sammo Kam-Bo Hung at the 2016 Udine Far East Film Festival (21 minutes 11 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an archival Q&A with Sammo Kam-Bo Hung from the 2016 Udine Far East Film Festival (57 minutes 8 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and Michael Worth, an audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, a O-Card slipcase (First 2000 copies only) and a booklet (First 2000 copies only) with cast & crew credits, an essay written by James Oliver and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

Whether as an actor or director, Sammo Kam-Bo Hung was responsible for some of the most memorable martial arts films from the late 1970s and early 1980s. His most notable films from this era include Knockabout, Magnificent Butcher, The Prodigal Son, Wheels on Meals, and Yes, Madam.

The Dead and the Deadly, like most of Sammo Kam-Bo Hung’s early 1980s films, is a mixture of genres. Though the premise is ripe with horror genre tropes, The Dead and the Deadly doesn't waste an opportunity to throw humor into the mix. Wah Li, played by Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, is at the center of the comedy.

Content-wise, The Dead and the Deadly has many elements that are similar to those in another Sammo Kam-Bo Hung film, Encounters of the Spooky Kind. The narrative revolves around malevolent ghosts who come back to the world of the living to exact revenge against those who did them wrong.

The Dead and the Deadly features an excellent cast that is led by Sammo Kam-Bo Hung in the role of Wah Li. He delivers another memorable performance that allows him to show off his fighting skills, and his ability to deliver physical humor is second to none. Cherie Chung (Wild Search) plays Miss Yuen, a woman whose feelings for Wah Li are rejected by him, and Wu Ma (Righting Wrongs) plays Ma Lun Chio, a friend of Wahg Li who is murdered when a play to collect an inheritance goes wrong.

From a production standpoint, The Dead and the Deadly has all the elements that have become synonymous with 1980s Hong Kong martial arts cinema. The premise is well-executed, and the briskly paced narrative ensures there is never a dull moment. Also, despite the fact that there are not as many fight scenes as one would expect for this era of 1980s Hong Kong martial arts cinema, all of the fight scenes are exceptional. Ultimately, The Dead and the Deadly is a very satisfying mix of horror, humor, and martial arts.

The Dead and the Deadly gets an excellent release from Eureka Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer