Dutch director Dick Maas introduced a killer elevator as a new horror threat with his 1984 film THE LIFT, then remade it in English with an all-star cast in 2001 as DOWN. Now both movies are set to make their U.S. Blu-ray/DVDebuts courtesy of Blue Underground. We’ve got the details on the disc contents (including—full disclosure—a contribution by yours truly), plus the cover art and trailers.
Blue Underground will issue THE LIFT and DOWN October 10 in Blu-ray/DVD combo packs. THE LIFT stars Maas regular Huub Stapel as a repairman who discovers that a high-rise elevator has been overtaken by an evil force and is claiming human victims; DOWN (previously released Stateside as THE SHAFT) shifts the action to New York City and stars James Marshall, Naomi Watts, Michael Ironside, Eric Thal, Edward Herrmann, Dan Hedaya and Ron Perlman. Both movies will be presented in brand new 2K restorations from the original negatives, approved by Maas, in 16×9-enhanced 1.66:1 (LIFT) and 2.35:1 (DOWN) widescreen (1080p HD on the Blu-rays). THE LIFT will come with Dutch 5.1 DTS-HD and Dutch and English 2.0 DTS-HD audio on the Blu-ray, and Dutch 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround EX and Dutch and English Dolby Digital stereo on the DVD; DOWN will include English and French 5.1 DTS-HD and English and French Dolby Digital stereo on the Blu-ray, and English and French 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround EX and English and French Dolby Digital stereo on the DVD. Special features are:
THE LIFT
• Audio commentary by writer/director Dick Maas and editor Hans van Dongen
• “Going Up”: Interview with star Huub Stapel
• LONG DISTANCE: Short film by Dick Maas (2003, 4 mins.)
• Dutch trailer
• U.S. trailer
• Poster and still gallery
• BONUS collectable booklet with new essay by writer and filmmaker Chris Alexander
DOWN
• Audio commentary by writer/director Dick Maas and stunt coordinator Willem de Beukelaer
• “The Making of DOWN”
• Behind-the-scenes footage (Blu-ray exclusive)
• Theatrical trailer
• Teaser trailers
• Poster and still gallery
• BONUS collectable booklet with new essay by author Michael Gingold
Each combo pack retails for $39.98.
