Arrow Video Presents George A. Romero's 'Dawn of The Dead' 4 Disc Edition Blu Ray

'Every dead body that is not exterminated gets up and kills, the people it kills get up and kill!'

 

 

Fig 1. The External Sleeve Houses the 4 Disc Set

 

 

Its 1978 and George A. Romero has just released the follow up to 'Night of the Living Dead'. This is another definitive horror from the original master himself, after the world went slowly zombie mad in 'Night' things seem to have now moved up a notch and there are undead hidden in basements and old buildings and its just about reaching an epidemic. Policemen are killing the hoards but it doesn't seem enough as modern society is consumed by zombies, 2 of the local news crew (Fran Played by Gaylon Ross and Stephen Played by David Emge) along with 2 policeman (Peter played by Ken Foree and Roger played by Scott H. Reiniger) escape and the four survivors barricade themselves inside a shopping mall to battle the flesh-eating hordes of the undead, but with solace on there minds. There are looters and gangs running around the cities trying to take what others have earned.. can the four survivors manage to hold off the zombies and looters?. Only time can tell.

 

 

 

This Deluxe 4 Disc set which is a bargain in anybody's money comes with some great extras included in this is selection of four covers so you can interchange the fronts as and when you like and the Artwork is from the various releases on various formats over the years, plus artwork made exclusively for this release, I think designed by Rick Melton, but if I'm wrong then please let me know.

 

 Fig 2. Alternate Cover 1

 Fig 3. Alternate Cover 2

Fig 4. Alternate Cover 3 

Fig 5. Alternate Cover 4

 

 

Also included in the package is a Double sided poster

 Fig 6 Landscape New York Style Poster.

Fig 7. The Portrait Poster As Seen On The Blu Ray And DVD Release.

 

 

 

 

VIDEO*****

Presented in 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio and in Glorious 1080p

You get 3 yes count them 3 versions of the film in this set. The theatrical version running at 2.07 minutes a Directors Cut running in at 2.19 minutes and the Argento Edit/Cut running at 1.59 minutes.

To been seen is to be believed with this remarkable transfer of the first 2 cuts and the slightly softer and grainer Argento Cut, what they have done with the first 2 is not short of amazing. The film is gritty and a quite surreal at times and so is the picture but for the good of the film. Staying true to the colour palette and trying its best to show true blacks, it holds up very well. Skin tones are spot on and not filled with that terrible orange kind of Satsuma like feel. The opening credits look pin sharp as does the inside of the shopping mall, just have a look at the shops inside it all looks pristine and natural, a stand out scene for me is the looters coming in on there bikes and just how well this has managed to stand up over the years, yes the make ups a little ropey compared to the standards we have come to expect these days and the blood does look a little fake (you know what I mean, watered down) but I can t blame the transfer for that can I?, so its a definite 5 out of 5 for me. Stick it straight in your BD Player and just enjoy movie making at its prime.

 

 

AUDIO***

DTS HD MASTER AUDIO 5.1 and English LPCM 2.0

To be perfectly honest with you I do love the original 2.0 Stereo soundtrack as it brings back old school memories of watching this on VHS back in the 80's, yes I know this audio has been cleaned up and there's an Re-mastered DTS Master Audio track on here but there isn't anything other than a couple of helicopters to warrant it. I have to admit that the movie isn't really a surround sound festival, the musical score that we all know and love sounds airy and light and can fill the room and the classical 80's keyboards are quite nice to hear , it could have been re-mastered better but that shouldn't and won't put off the hardcore or the 'New' to horror film fan, so with trepidation I have to give this 3 out of 5, good but could have been much, much better

 

 

 

EXTRA'S*****

Couldn't ask for 'Gore' sorry More!!!!

 

DISC 1.

Document of the Dead

Document of the Dead: The Lost Interview

Deleted Scenes

Fan of the Dead

DISC 2.

The Dead will Walk Documentary

DISC 3.

Publicity Vault Containing U.S and German Trailers

TV and Radio Spots

Reviews

Giallo trailers

Scream Greats a Documentary (focusing on Tom Savini and his effects)

 

Fig 8. The Included Booklet Which is a Nice Touch.