Good news, Dario Argento fans who also happen to like their ’80s horror in 4K. The filmmaker’s 1982 classic Tenebrae is being made available in 4K Ultra HD for the first time ever this summer, courtesy of the folks at Arrow Video and Synapse. The limited release (emphasis on limited) will be arriving this summer in honor of the film’s 40th anniversary.
Tenebrae will be hitting shelves in its new Ultra HD glory on July 26, 2022. Interested parties will have a couple of choices as the movie will be available in a three-disc 4K UHD/Blu-ray box set that is limited to 6,000 pieces. An even more limited “variant” cover version will only be available from the Synapse Films website and the folks at Diabolik DVD. That particular version is limited to 2,000 pieces and retails for $64.95. The synopsis for the film reads as follows:
“American mystery author Peter Neal (Anthony Franciosa, Death Wish II) comes to Rome to promote his newest novel, Tenebrae. A razor-wielding psychopath is on the loose, taunting Neal and murdering those around him in gruesome fashion just like the character in his novel. As the mystery surrounding the killings spirals out of control, Neal investigates the crimes on his own, leading to a mind-bending, genre-twisting conclusion that will leave you breathless!”
Now, what is it that is contained within these disks, you may be wondering? Here is the rather meaty list of bonus features and all of that good jazz buyers can expect.
LIMITED DUAL FORMAT EDITION CONTENTS:
– New 4K restoration from the original camera negative
– Limited edition packaging with newly commissioned artwork by Wes Benscoter (6000 unit version) and original Italian art (2000 unit “variant” cover)
– Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by filmmaker Peter Strickland and Argento biographer Alan Jones, an interview with cinematographer Luciano Tovoli and a new, in-depth analysis of the film by critic Ashley Lane
– Fold-out double-sided poster featuring original Italian and Japanese poster art
– Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproduction artcardsDISC 1 (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY) – ORIGINAL VERSION
– 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio
– Original Italian and English front and end titles and insert shots
– Restored original DTS-HD MA lossless Italian and English 2.0 mono soundtracks
– English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
– Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack
– Audio commentary by authors and critics Alan Jones and Kim Newman
– Audio commentary by Argento expert Thomas Rostock
– Audio commentary by Maitland McDonagh, author of Broken Mirrors/Broken Minds: The Dark Dreams of Dario Argento
– Yellow Fever: The Rise and Fall of the Giallo, a feature-length documentary charting the genre from its beginnings to its influence on the modern slasher film, featuring interviews with Dario Argento, Umberto Lenzi, Luigi Cozzi and more
– Being the Villain, a newly edited archival interview with actor John Steiner
– Out of the Shadows, an archival interview with Maitland McDonagh
– Voices of the Unsane, an archival featurette containing interviews with writer/director Dario Argento, actresses Daria Nicolodi and Eva Robins, cinematographer Luciano Tovoli, composer Claudio Simonetti and assistant director Lamberto Bava
– Screaming Queen, an archival interview with Daria Nicolodi
– The Unsane World of Tenebrae, an archival interview with Dario Argento
– A Composition for Carnage, an archival interview with Claudio Simonetti
– Archival introduction by Daria Nicolodi
– International theatrical trailer
– Japanese “Shadow” theatrical trailer
– Alternate opening credits sequence
– “Unsane” end credits sequence
– Image galleriesDISC 2 (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY) – “UNSANE” VERSION – LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE
– 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio
– The re-edited 90-minute U.S. version, specially recreated for this release from the new 4K restoration of the full-length 101-minute version, exclusive to UHD
– Two audio options: a recreation of the original theatrical experience, complete with jump cuts and sudden audio shifts, and a new, more seamless edit created for this release, both in restored DTS-HD MA lossless English 2.0 mono
– Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
– Original “Take Me Tonight” stereo EP recording, performed by Kim WildeDISC 3 (BLU-RAY) – ORIGINAL VERSION
– High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio
– All the same content as Disc 1
At the very least, that is a lot of extra goods for the money, that much is certain. Not to mention that the box art, in both cases, is pretty impressive. It’s a win-win for Argento fans who would like to see this little gem in the best presentation possible. Not only that, but this would look mighty fine sitting on someone’s physical media shelf.
Dario Argento is not a name that needs an introduction for genre fans, as he is the filmmaker behind such genre classics as Suspiria and Phenomena, among many others. But Tenebrae truly represents not only one of his lesser-seen works, but also one of his most acclaimed. That makes this release all the more important as it offers a chance to shine a light on a gem within the catalog of a true horror master.
Those interested in pre-ordering a copy of Tenebrae on 4K can head on over to Synapse Films.
