By MICHAEL GINGOLD
Previous issued in a limited-edition boxed set, this lower-priced UHD release is still packed with extras.
Synapse Films has announced that its two-disc 4K UHD edition of Dario Argento’s PHENOMENA will be released March 14, 2023. It will contain 4K (2160p) UHD presentations in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of all three versions of the movie: the original Italian version (116 mins.), the international cut (110 mins.), and the U.S. CREEPERS cut (83 mins.). Jennifer Connelly stars as a young American girl who has the ability to communicate with insects, and encounters all manner of bizarre mayhem and murder while attending a private Swiss academy; Donald Pleasence co-stars. The full specs for this set are:
- Lossless English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 stereo soundtracks on the international version, derived from the original 4-channel Dolby Stereo elements
- Rare alternate DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo mix on the international version, featuring different sound effects and music cues
- Lossless Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 stereo soundtracks, derived from the original 4-channel Dolby Stereo elements
- Lossless English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 mono and 2.0 ‘stereo music version’ soundtrack on CREEPERS, mastered from the original 3 track DME magnetic mix
- Lossless “hybrid” English/Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the hybrid soundtrack
- Audio commentary on the Italian version by Troy Howarth, author of MURDER BY DESIGN: THE UNSANE CINEMA OF DARIO ARGENTO
- Audio commentary on the international version by Argento scholar and author Derek Botelho and film historian, journalist and radio/television commentator David Del Valle
- OF FLIES AND MAGGOTS, a feature-length 2017 documentary produced by Arrow Films, including interviews with co-writer/producer/director Dario Argento, actors Fiore Argento, Davide Marotta and Daria Nicolodi and others
- The Three Sarcophagi, a visual essay by Arrow Films producer Michael Mackenzie comparing the different cuts of PHENOMENA
- Original Italian and international theatrical trailers
- U.S. theatrical trailer and radio spots for CREEPERS
- “Jennifer” music video, directed by Dario Argento
- Slipcover/O-card with beautiful artwork from artist Nick Charge
- Reversible cover with original Italian PHENOMENA artwork
Retail price is $49.95; this edition can be pre-ordered at the Synapse website as well as DiabolikDVD.
