By MICHAEL GINGOLD
You’ll soon be able to witness a crazy cast and a crazier storyline in higher definition.
Arrow Video releases 1979’s THE VISITOR on a limited-edition 4K UHD on February 17. Directed by Michael J. Paradise (Giulio Paradisi) from a script by Lou (Luciano) Comici and Robert Mundy (Mundi), and produced by Ovidio G. Assonitis (BEYOND THE DOOR, TENTACLES, PIRANHA II: THE SPAWNING), it boasts quite the high-profile ensemble, including John Huston, Mel Ferrer, Glenn Ford, Shelley Winters, Sam Peckinpah and Franco Nero (as Jesus!), along with Paige Conner, Joanne Nail and Lance Henriksen. The official synopsis describes it as “a mind-bending tale of a girl and her pet hawk. Killer birds! Psychokinesis! Satanic conspiracies! Exploding basketball hoops! Any attempt to explain the exact plot of THE VISITOR is an exercise in futility, but in the maelstrom of madness and mayhem is the tale of an ancient intergalactic entity capable of bearing Earthly children endowed with great powers. Powers which some are keen to harness and some to destroy. Eight-year-old Katy Collins [Conner] is one such child, and as her powers emerge, the battle for her soul is about to begin.”
The disc features a new 4K restoration of the 109-minute European version from the original 35mm camera negative, presented in 4K (2160p) and Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible), with original lossless mono audio. The special features are:
- Brand new audio commentary by film critics BJ & Harmony Colangelo
- A Biblical Battle for the Cosmos, a brand new visual essay by film critic Meagan Navarro
- A Cosmic Right to Choose, a brand new visual essay by film critic Willow Catelyn Maclay
- Archive interview with actor Lance Henriksen
- Archive interview with screenwriter Lou Comici
- Archive interview with cinematographer Ennio Guarnieri
- Theatrical trailer
- Image gallery
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Erik Buckham
- Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing by Marc Edward Heuck, Richard Kadrey, Craig Martin and Mike White
Retail price is $49.95.
