The Addiction: Limited Edition – Arrow Video (4K UHD)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1995
Director: Abel Ferrara
Writer: Nicholas St. John
Cast: Lili Taylor, Christopher Walken, Annabella Sciorra, Edie Falco, Paul Calderon, Fredro Starr, Kathryn Erbe, Michael Imperioli

Release Date: December 9th, 2024 (UK), December 10th, 2024 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 82 Minutes 24 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: 18 (UK), NR, R (USA)
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 English, LPCM Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: £29.99 (UK), $49.95 (USA)

"Philosophy student Kathleen (Lili Taylor, The Conjuring) is dragged into an alleyway on her way home from class by Casanova (Annabella Sciorra, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle) and bitten on the neck. She quickly falls ill but realizes this isn’t any ordinary disease when she develops an aversion to daylight and a thirst for human blood…" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K 16-bit resolution at MPI / Warner Brother, Los Angeles. The film was restored in 4K and graded in HDR10 at R3Store Studios, London. Dolby Vision grading was completed by Fidelity in Motion, Florida."

The Addiction comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 78.1 GB

Feature: 59.3 GB

As outstanding as Arrow Video’s 2018 Blu-ray release looked, this new release is even better. The source used for this transfer is in immaculate shape. Details look sharp, contrast and black levels look solid throughout, grain remains intact and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English and a LPCM stereo mix in English. Both audio mixes are in excellent shape; dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced and, range-wise, the more ambient aspects of the soundtrack are well represented. Included with this release are removable English SDH subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (17 stills), a theatrical trailer (38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival piece from the time of production titled Abel Ferrara Edits The Addiction (8 minutes 42 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), An Appreciation by Brad Stevens (8 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with director Abel Ferrara (16 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a documentary about the film titled Talking with the Vampires made by Abel Ferrara especially for this release, featuring actors Christopher Walken and Lili Taylor, composer Joe Delia, Ken Kelsch, and Abel Ferrara titled (30 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Abel Ferrara and moderated by Brad Stevens, reversible cover art, a slipcover (limited to the first pressing) and a thirty-two-page booklet (limited to first pressing) with cast & crew information, an essay titled This is my Blood: Ferrara’s Addiction written by Michael Ewins, an essay titled Vampire Chronicles written by Paul Duane and information about the restoration.

Summary:

The Addiction was directed by Abel Ferrara whose other notable films include, The Driller Killer, Ms .45, King of New York, Bad Lieutenant and The Funeral.

Many films have explored vampirism and the lore that surrounds vampires. Early examples of vampirism in cinema include, F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu and Todd Browning’s Dracula. And though there is no denying these two films influence on how other films have depicted vampires. There have been a few films that have avoided the vampires well-treaded clichés by breathing new blood into one of horror cinema’s most celebrated characters.

Case in point Abel Ferrara’s The Addiction, a film that features what is arguably the most inventive spin on vampirism. And nowhere this clearer, than when it comes to how this film depicts the vampires. With their lust for blood being rooted in addiction, not survival. Symbolism and philosophy play a significant role in how this film depicts the vampires.

Though the characters are lacking when it comes to back-stories. This ultimately works in The Addiction's favor by allowing the words and images to become the focal point. With that being said, the cast are very good in their respective roles. With the standout performance being Lili Taylor (I Shot Andy Warhol) in the role of the protagonist Kathleen Conklin. Other performances of note include, Christopher Walken (The Dead Zone) in the role of Peina, a vampire who tries to educate Kathleen about her addiction and Annabella Sciorra (Jungle Fever) in the role of Casanova, a mysterious stranger who’s bite transforms Kathleen into a vampire.

From a production standpoint, there is not an area where The Addiction does not excel. The premise is superbly realized and the black and white cinematography is overflowing with atmosphere. Standout moments visually include, the scene where Casanova drags Kathleen into an alley and drinks her blood, the scene where Kathleen meets Peina and the films finale provides the perfectly coda for the events that have just unfolded.

The Addiction makes its way to 4K UHD via another exceptional upgrade from Arrow Video, highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer