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Danger: Diabolik – Kino Lorber (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1968
Director: Mario Bava
Writers: Adriano Baracco, Mario Bava, Brian Degas, Tudor Gates
Cast: John Phillip Law, Marisa Mell, Michel Piccoli, Adolfo Celi

Release Date: July 22nd, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 100 Minutes 20 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: PG-13
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD 5.1 English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region A (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: $44.95

"The suave, psychedelic-era thief called Diabolik (John Phillip Law, Barbarella, Death Rides a Horse) can’t get enough of life’s good—or glittery—things. Not when there are currency shipments to steal from under the noses of snooty government officials. And priceless jewels to lift from the boudoirs of the super-rich." - synopsis provided by the distributor

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

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand New HD Master by Paramount Pictures—From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative."

Danger: Diabolik comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 77.5 GB

Feature: 75.8 GB

It is immediately clear that this new transfer is a marked improvement over Shout! Factory’s dated-looking transfer. That said, there is some very minor debris that remains, mostly in the opening credits and whenever there are optical shots. Flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, contrast, and black levels are solid, there are no issues with compression, and the image always looks organic.

Danger: Diabolik comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.5 GB

Feature: 33.4 GB

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Audio: 5/5 (DTS-HD Mono English), 4.5/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 English)

This release comes with two audio options: a DTS-HD mono mix in English and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. Both audio tracks are in excellent shape; dialogue always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, ambient sounds are well-represented, and Ennio Morricone’s score sounds appropriately robust. Although the 5.1 audio track does a fantastic job opening things up, the mono audio track is still the stronger of these two. Included are removable English SDH.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include an archival audio commentary with actor John Phillip Law and Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava – All the Colors of the Dark, and an archival audio commentary with film historians Nathaniel Thompson and Troy Howarth.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a U.S. theatrical teaser (1 minute 6 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a U.S. theatrical trailer (2 minutes 24 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), the Beastie Boys music video Body Movin’ with optional audio commentary by Adam Yauch (6 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival featurette titled Danger: Diabolik – From Fumetti To Film (20 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and Italian with removable English subtitles), an archival audio commentary with John Phillip Law and Tim Lucas and an archival audio commentary with Nathaniel Thompson and Troy Howarth.

Other extras include a slipcover (limited to the first pressing) and, on the Blu-ray, trailers for Planet of the Vampires, The 10th Victim, Grand Slam, Arabesque, Robbery, Gambit, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Italian Job, Topkapi, Diabolik, Diabolik—Ginko Attacks!, and Diabolik—Who Are You?.

Summary:

Mario Bava is most remembered as a director of Gothic horror films, though he worked in just about every genre imaginable. Two things that have always been present in virtually every color film that he has directed are his ability to frame picturesque shots in his cinematography and his exquisite use of colors. Both of these assets would help him greatly when it came time to direct Danger: Diabolik, which was based on one of the longest-running fumetti, Diabolik, that was created by two Milan sisters, Angela and Luciana Giustani.

Right off the bat, Danger: Diabolik is a direct contrast to what we normally recognize as a superhero, especially since he really is the villain of the piece, who at best could be considered an antihero. He is cold and calculated to the point that he will kill anyone who gets in his way. His girlfriend, Eva Kant, is not as sadistic, as her personality relies more on her sexuality, which often gets her whatever she wants.

Mario Bava’s $400,000 budget for Danger: Diabolik would be the largest budget of his career, and the film benefits greatly from this. Many of Bava’s films struggle due to limited budgets. Although he excels at creating impressive results with minimal resources, these films often lack the overall polish that Danger: Diabolik achieves. The optical effects used in this film now feel dated, but still, no one could manipulate a miniature or a matte painting like Mario Bava. The sets and costumes are deliriously over the top in their design, which adds to the comic book feel of the film.

Acting-wise, Danger: Diabolik is blessed with strong leads and an equally strong supporting cast. John Philip Law has had a long and varied career as an actor, with 1968 being his most memorable year, as he starred in Death Rides a Horse, Barbarella: Queen of the Galaxy, and Danger: Diabolik. His performance as Diabolik is as good as any I've seen from him, perfectly balancing his sinister side with his laid-back ladies' man persona. Marisa Mell (Perversion Story, Gang War in Milan) has been known to steam up the screen in the various films that she has starred in, and as Eva Kant, she exudes sensuality with her sex kitten approach to the character.

No discussion of Danger: Diabolik is complete without the acknowledgment of Ennio Morricone’s contribution to the film via his masterful score. Just like his collaborations with Sergio Leone, he sets the mood and tone of the film with musical cues that are, in many cases, associated with certain characters. The music is playful most of the time, like in an early scene when the police officers are getting ready to transport the money.

There are many wonderful set pieces throughout Danger: Diabolik, with my favorite being the scene in which Diabolik and Eva make love on a rotating bed filled with money. Also, this version of Danger: Diabolik is a longer version that restores footage missing from the American release, most notably the scene where Diabolik and Eva make love in a bed filled with money. Visually Dangerous: Diabolik is a dazzling feast for the eyes that’s rich with texture as Mario Bava lays it on, layer after layer of eye candy. Ultimately, Danger Diabolik is Mario Bava’s greatest achievement as a director.

Kino Lorber gives Danger: Diabolik its best audio/video presentation to date; highly recommended.

Blu-ray screenshots.