The Ugly: Collectors Limited Edition – Unearthed Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: New Zealand, 1997
Director: Scott Reynolds
Writer: Scott Reynolds
Cast: Paolo Rotondo, Paul Glover, Chris Graham, Darien Takle, Rebecca Hobbs, Roy Ward, Jennifer Ward-Lealand

Release Date: April 21st, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 93 Minutes 22 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD 2.0 Stereo English, DTS-HD 4.0 Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH, English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $39.95

"Confined to a mental institution, disturbed young serial killer Simon (The Rule of Jenny Pen's Paolo Rotondo) is tormented by cruel orderlies and his own personal demons including "The Ugly" which compels him to kill. Now at his request, Dr. Karen Schumaker (The Brokenwood Mysteries' Rebecca Hobbs) arrives to discover whether Simon is fit to be released back into society. As the terrifying secrets within Simon's mind are revealed, no one will be left unscathed by the horrors about to be unleashed." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "New 4K restoration of the film from the original 35mm interpositive."

The Ugly comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37 GB

Feature: 27.7 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and grain remains intact.

Audio: 5/5 (Both Audio Tracks)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 2.0 stereo mix in English and a DTS-HD 4.0 stereo mix in English. Both audio tracks are impressive; the dialogue is clear, the overall sound is well balanced, and the ambient sound effects are effectively represented. Included are removable English subtitles and English SDH.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 37 seconds, LPCM 2.0 stereo English, no subtitles), a theatrical trailer (1 minute 37 seconds, LPCM 4.0 stereo English, no subtitles), a photo gallery with music from the film playing in the background, two short films directed by Scott Reynolds: The M1nute (8 minutes 40 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles) and A Game with No Rules (16 minutes 54 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a 1997 radio New Zealand interview with Scott Reynolds (18 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a video essay by Howard S. Berger titled Getting to Know You—Dialogues With the Devil in ‘The Ugly’ and Serial Killer Cinema (19 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an option to listen to the isolated score, an audio commentary with actors Paolo Rotondo and Rebecca Hobbs, moderated by Nathaniel Thompson, reversible cover art, a slipcover (limited to the first pressing), and an 8-page booklet with an essay titled Reflections: A Look Back at Scott Reynolds’ The Ugly written by Jason Jenkins.

The M1nute: A man receives a package from his adulteress wife and he imagines all of the bad things that are lurking inside.

A Game with No Rules: A man and his mistress conceive a plot to murder his wealthy wife. Unfortunately for them, even the best-laid plans go awry.

Summary:

A psychologist who wants to understand the mind of serial killers gets the opportunity to interview a notorious killer.

The mind of a killer has been the central theme of countless films. While the handling of said subject matter can widely differ, they all have a common link when it comes to their portrayal of the killers' crimes. Case in point, The Ugly, a film about an unrepentant, cold-blooded killer whose own trauma began as a child.

When the narrative begins, a killer named Simon Cartwright has already been caught and has spent the last five years in an asylum. The other key character is a psychologist named Karen Schumaker, who's just arrived at the asylum to interview and study Simon. From there, the narrative alternates between the present and the past as Simon retells key moments from his life.

The cast is anchored by two outstanding performances from its leads, Paolo Rotondo in the role of Simon and Rebecca Hobbs in the role of Karen. While Karen is a character who is clearly in control, Simon’s unpredictability creates tension and conflict that propels the story forward. Additionally, Jennifer Ward-Lealand delivers a noteworthy performance as Simon’s abusive mother.

From a production standpoint, The Ugly is a film that supersedes expectations. Its premise is superbly executed, and the narrative does an excellent job building momentum by delivering tense moments and creating an unsettling mood. Another area where The Ugly excels is its visuals, which take full advantage of the asylum setting, and the stylized kills are enhanced by using black blood in favor of red. Ultimately, The Ugly is a well-crafted psychological thriller that explores whether killers are inherently evil or if they are products of their environments.

The Ugly gets an exceptional release from Unearthed Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation, two short films, and insightful extras. Highly recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer