By MICHAEL GINGOLD
Three different cuts and lots of extras will be included in this two-disc set.
Synapse Films has announced that it is currently working on a limited (6,000 units) 4K Ultra HD release of PHENOMENA, Dario Argento’s 1985 shocker, in conjunction with Arrow Films (which will release its own, UK-exclusive edition). In her first starring role, Jennifer Connelly plays an American student at an academy in the Swiss mountains who can communicate with insects. This talent will come in handy when she’s confronted with murder and other grotesque happenings, and helps entomologist Dr. John McGregor (Donald Pleasence) solve the mystery.
“Working with our friends at Arrow Films has been great,“ says Synapse Films president Don May, Jr. “We’ve been talking about working on some projects together for a long time, and we were finally able to do so this year with DEMONS 1 & 2. Now, for 2022, we’re working on PHENOMENA and discussing some other titles as well. Let’s see what the future holds!”
Complete specs for the PHENOMENA set, currently set to release March 8, 2022, are as follows:
- New 4K restorations of all three versions of PHENOMENA, including the original Italian version (116 mins.), the International cut (110 mins.) and the U.S. CREEPERS cut (83 mins.)
- 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentations in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Limited-edition slipcase packaging designed by artist Wes Benscoter
- Reversible sleeve artwork
- Collector’s booklet featuring liner notes from Mikel J. Koven, Rachael Nisbet and Leonard Jacobs
- Fold-out poster
- A set of lobby card reproduction artcards
Disc 1: Italian Version
- Lossless Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and PCM 2.0 stereo soundtracks, derived from the original 4-channel Dolby Stereo elements
- Lossless “hybrid” English/Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack
- English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the hybrid soundtrack
- Audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of MURDER BY DESIGN: THE UNSANE CINEMA OF DARIO ARGENTO
- OF FLIES AND MAGGOTS, a feature-length 2017 documentary produced for Arrow Films, including interviews with co-writer/producer/director Dario Argento, actors Fiore Argento, Davide Marotta, Daria Nicolodi and Fiorenza Tessari, co-writer Franco Ferrini, cinematographer Romano Albani, production manager Angelo Iacono, special optical effects artist Luigi Cozzi, special makeup effects artist Sergio Stivaletti, makeup artist Pier Antonio Mecacci, underwater camera operator Gianlorenzo Battaglia, and composers Claudio Simonetti and Simon Boswell
- Archival interview with Andi Sex Gang
- Original Italian and international theatrical trailers
- “Jennifer” music video, directed by Dario Argento
- Japanese pressbook gallery
Disc 2: International and CREEPERS Versions
- Lossless English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and PCM 2.0 stereo soundtracks on the international version, derived from the original 4-channel Dolby Stereo elements
- Lossless English PCM 1.0 mono soundtrack on CREEPERS, mastered from the original 3 track DME magnetic mix
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Audio commentary on the international version by Argento scholar and author Derek Botelho and film historian, journalist and radio/television commentator David Del Valle
- The Three Sarcophagi, a visual essay by Arrow producer Michael Mackenzie comparing the different cuts of PHENOMENA
- CREEPERS U.S. theatrical trailer
- U.S. radio spots
Retail price is $59.95; the set can currently be pre-ordered from Synapse and DiabolikDVD.
