Blu-ray News: Arrow’s Phenomena 4K Ultra HD
Dario Argento’s outstanding horror film Phenomena (1985) is coming to 4K Ultra HD later this month thanks to Arrow Video.
The film stars Jennifer Connelly, Daria Nicolodi and Donald Pleasence. It also has a fabulous film score provided by Goblin. However in the USA the film was cut and released under the name of Creepers.
Arrow Video it seems are releasing three versions on 4K Ultra Blu-ray at the end of February.
- Phenomena – 4K Ultra HD – Limited Edition,
- Phenomena – 4K Ultra HD Arte Originale Edition
- Phenomena – Creepers Edition – 4K Ultra HD Limited Edition (Arrow Store Exclusive)
Pricing at the time of writing (10th February 2022) has all three versions on the Arrow Video website at £35 each (although this may go up upon release).
Meanwhile Amazon (as of 10.02.22) has the Phenomena – 4K Ultra HD at £34.99 and the Phenomena – 4K Ultra HD Arte Originale Edition at £39.99.
I should mention that that one of the versions, Phenomena – Creepers Edition is an Arrow Store exclusive.
It should be noted that Arrow did a 4K restoration back in 2017 and released it on standard blu-ray. These new versions are simply giving you the full 4K experience.
The disc content is the same for all versions but the posters and artwork are different.
You can pre-order them now with the actual release coming on the 28th February 2022.
Phenomena – 4K Ultra HD – Limited Edition
Limited Edition Contents:
- New 4K restoration of the original 116minute Italian version, the 110minute international English version and the 83 minute US “Creepers” version from the original camera negative by Arrow films
- 4K (2160p) UHD Bluray™ presentations of all three versions in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Obviously Creative
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by Mikel J. Koven, Rachael Nisbet and Leonard Jacobs
- Foldout doublesided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Obviously Creative
- Six doublesided, postcardsized lobby card reproduction artcards
Disc 1 – Italian Version:
- Lossless Italian DTSHD Master Audio 5.1 and PCM 2.0 stereo soundtracks, derived from the original 4channel Dolby Stereo elements
- Lossless “hybrid” English/Italian DTSHD 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 featurelength 2017 documentary produced for Arrow Films, including interviews with cowriter/producer/director Dario Argento, actors Fiore Argento, Davide Marotta, Daria Nicolodi and Fiorenza Tessari, cowriter 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
- Original Italian and international theatrical trailers
- “Jennifer” music video, directed by Dario Argento
- Japanese pressbook gallery
Disc Two:
- Lossless English DTSHD Master Audio 5.1 and PCM 2.0 stereo soundtracks on the international version, derived from the original 4channel Dolby Stereo elements
- Lossless English PCM soundtracks on Creepers, mastered from the original 3 track DME magnetic mix and presented in two variants: 1.0 mono and an alternate 2.0 mix with stereo music.
- 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
- Rare alternate 2.0 stereo mix on the international version, featuring different sound effects and music cues
- US theatrical trailer
- US radio spots
The 116 minute Italian cut features approximately six minutes of footage for which English audio does not exist. In these instances, the hybrid track reverts to Italian audio with English subtitles.
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Phenomena – 4K Ultra HD Arte Originale Edition
- Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring two original pieces of poster artwork
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by Mikel J. Koven, Rachael Nisbet and Leonard Jacobs
- Foldout doublesided poster featuring two original pieces of artwork
- Six doublesided, postcardsized lobby card reproduction artcards
Phenomena – Creepers Edition
- Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring two original pieces of poster artwork
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by Mikel J. Koven, Rachael Nisbet and Leonard Jacobs
- Foldout doublesided poster featuring two original pieces of artwork
- Six doublesided, postcardsized lobby card reproduction artcards
Recent Blu-ray News / Releases
- Dune (2021) Arrives on 4K, Blu-ray & DVD
- Ghostbusters Afterlife (2021) 4K, Blu-ray & DVD Out Now
- Halloween Kills (2021) Blu-ray Out Now
- Mad Max Anthology 4K UHD Blu-ray Out Now
- The Lovers! (1973) Comes to Blu-ray
- The Man Who Finally Died (1963) Arrives On Blu-ray
Phenomena – The Arrow Story
The video below is from Arrow Video’s 2017 blu-ray release but should give you a general idea.
Let Us Know What You Think
Have you seen Dario Argento’s Phenomena (1985? Did you purchase the blu-ray back in 2017 and are you planning on upgrading to this new 4K Ultra HD version(s)? Let me know over on our Facebook page.
