By MICHAEL GINGOLD
Kidnappers, a black mamba and an all-star cast are a volatile mix in this newly upgraded ’80s chiller.
Blue Underground has announced that it will release 1982’s VENOM in a 4K UHD + Blu-ray edition March 25. Directed by Piers Haggard (THE BLOOD ON SATAN’S CLAW) and scripted by Robert Carrington (WAIT UNTIL DARK) from the novel by Alan Scholefield, it stars Sterling Hayden, Klaus Kinski, Oliver Reed, Sarah Miles, Nicol Williamson, Cornelia Sharpe, Susan George and Lance Holcomb. Set in London, it’s about a kidnapping plot that goes awry, with the criminals and their hostages under siege from the cops outside and terrorized by a black mamba on the inside. The movie is presented in a brand-new restoration, scanned in 4K 16-bit from its 35mm internegative, with Dolby Vision HDR and a new Dolby Atmos audio mix, accompanied by plenty of extras (including one by this writer):
Disc 1 (4K UHD Blu-ray) Feature Film + Extras:
- Audio commentary #1 by director Piers Haggard
- NEW! Audio commentary #2 by film historians Troy Howarth, Nathaniel Thompson and Eugenio Ercolani
- Trailers
Disc 2 (Blu-ray) Feature Film + Extras:
- Audio commentary #1 by director Piers Haggard
- NEW! Audio commentary #2 by film historians Troy Howarth, Nathaniel Thompson and Eugenio Ercolani
- NEW! Fangs for the Memories: Interview with editor/2nd unit director Michael Bradsell
- NEW! A Slithery Story: Interview with makeup artist Nick Dudman
- NEW! Mamba Memories: Interview with author & critic Kim Newman
- NEW! Pick Your Poison: Interview with The Dark Side’s Allan Bryce
- Trailers
- TV Spots
- NEWLY EXPANDED! Poster & still gallery
- BONUS! Collectible booklet with essay by Michael Gingold
Retail price is $49.95.
