Dawn Of The Dead ‘the zombie movie to end ’em all’ rises again on ‘Limited Edition stunning 4K UHD’ and ‘Limited Edition Blu-ray’ Out Now ( @SecondSightFilm ) |

My relationship with George A Romeros second film in the ‘Undead’ series goes back to around the late 1990s when I, as a 20something year eventually plucked up the cinematic courage to watch his 1968 classic, Night Of The Living Dead, after many years of being too nervous about what was Im sure a horrific gorefest. Of course after watching ‘Night’ on a very grainy VHS, I instantly fell in love with the film and clamored for more. Quickly seeking out the 1978 follow up ‘Dawn of the Dead’ and finally (at that time) the 1985 third and final part of what was known as the ‘Dead Trilogy’ Day Of The Dead. (of course since then, there have been Land Of The Dead, Diary of the Dead and Survival of the Dead)

Over the years I have revisited ‘Night’ many times and closely followed by rewatches of Dawn of the Dead nearly as many times. Both films I adore and when asked for my top 10 horror films, these two films end up on the list without any hesitation. If you havent seen Night Of The Living Dead or Dawn of the Dead, then please do treat yourself, and whilst the films do contain scenes that you dont want to watch whilst eating your dinner, these films definitely earn their ‘classic film’ status way behind the ‘horror film’ genre. Whilst there is a great Criterion edition of Night Of The Living Dead available, Im here for now to write about Dawn of the Dead.

Second Sight Films have put together one of, in fact no, let me rewrite that. Second Sight have put together THE best release of Dawn to date, Widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest horror films of all time (which I know I already mentioned), the film has now been painstakingly restored and arrives in two separate format releases: Dawn Of The Dead Limited Edition 4K UHD and Dawn Of The Dead Limited Edition Blu-ray from 16 November 2020.

Both Box Sets arrive in stunning packaging featuring the original iconic poster art plus newly commissioned artwork inside.

These include a whopping four discs – with three versions of the film: The Theatrical Cut, The Extended (‘Cannes’) Cut and The Dario Argento Cut, plus stacks of special features that take in new and archive interviews, including the previously unreleased The Lost Romero Dawn Interview. With commentaries and documentaries galore, soundtrack CDs and a stunning brand new 160-page hardback book which Im pretty sure could get you a PHD in Dawn Of The Dead if there is such a thing. Everything you could ever want to know or need to know about Dawn is in here.

The book alone ‘Dissecting the Dead’ complete with brand new writing, this is a veritable treasure trove and a must have for any collector.

So a quick intro to Dawn of the Dead. The film originally arrived 10 years after the seminal Night of the Living Dead and ushered in a new era of zombie films. It showed George A Romero once again ahead of the curve, mixing biting political satire with state-of-the-art-gore for a genre defining masterpiece that packs as much of a punch today as it did 40 years ago. With a zombie epidemic escalating, a small band of survivors seek refuge in that shrine to capitalism, the shopping mall. But the undead, still possessed by an instinctive desire to consume, have had the same idea…What follows is a nail-biting thrill-ride and fight to survive. Oh, and watch out for those helicopter blades!

The 4K restoration is glorious on all versions of the film and the sound is perfect. I tested the film on a 55 inch 4k television but also projected on my living room wall at 130 inches and it looks and sounds amazing. I wasnt fortunate enough (a.k.a. old enough) to see Dawn of the Dead on its cinema release but this is close (kinda) and was a stunning way to spend my evening. (I tested all 3 versions)

‘One of the best horror films ever made…gruesome, sickening, disgusting, violent, brutal and
appalling…also brilliantly crafted, funny, droll, and savagely merciless’

RogerEbert.com

‘Cynical, devastating and relentless, George A. Romero’s gruelling masterpiece…a brilliant blend of black comedy and hip, if harrowing, carnage’

★★★★★
Alan Jones, Radio Times

‘The greatest zombie film ever made’

Screen Rant

‘Grim, gruelling but beautifully shot…intelligent, sophisticated horror’

★★★★★
Empire

So lets check out the complete list of features that will take care of you for hours, and days and even weeks if you spread them out. Here they are.

DAWN OF THE DEAD LIMITED EDTION 4K UHD RELEASE

SPECIAL FEATURES

UHD DISC 1: THE THEATRICAL CUT (127 mins)
• NEW 4K scan and restoration of the Original Camera Negative by Second Sight at Final Frame New York and London supervised and
approved by DoP Michael Gornick
• Presented in HDR10+
• Audio: New restoration of the original OCN Optical presented in Mono 1.0, Stereo 2.0 and 5.1.
• Archive Commentary by George A. Romero, Tom Savini, Christine Forrest
• NEW commentary by Travis Crawford (this is a wonderful commentary by Travis who doesn’t go over any of the same information already given in the other commentaries, he talks about the different film versions, the restoration, and a hell of a lot more. Really worth checking out)
• NEW optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired

UHD DISC 2 – THE EXTENDED (‘CANNES’) CUT (137 mins)
• Produced using 4K scan of the Theatrical Cut Original Camera Negative and 4K scan of the Extended Cut Colour Reversal Internegative
• Presented in HDR10+
• DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono
• Archival Commentary from a previous Anchor Bay release by Richard P. Rubinstein (one of the films producers)
• NEW optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired

UHD DISC 3 – THE DARIO ARGENTO CUT (120 mins)
• 4K scan of the Interpositive by Michele De Angelis at Backlight Digital, Rome
• Audio: DT-HD Master Audio Mono 1.0 / Surround 5.1 / Stereo 2.0
• Archival Commentary by Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger, Gaylen Ross, David Emge
• NEW optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired

I have managed to c heck out all three versions of the films and the commentaries, however at the moment, I haven’t yet begun on the mammoth special features, but here they are. How amazing are they. What better way to spend a weekend, than ploughing through this lot.

BLU-RAY DISC 4: SPECIAL FEATURES
• NEW Zombies and Bikers – With John Amplas, Roy Frumkes, Tom Savini, Christine Forrest, Tom Dubensky, Tony Buba, Taso Stavrakis
and a whole host of zombies and bikers! (59 mins)
• NEW Memories of Monroeville
A tour of the mall with Michael Gornick, Tom Savini, Tom Dubensky and Taso Stavrakis (34 mins)
• NEW Raising the Dead: The Production Logistics (25 mins)
With Michael Gornick, Christine Forrest, John Amplas, Tom Dubensky (23 mins)
• NEW The FX of Dawn with Tom Savini (13 mins)
• NEW Dummies! Dummies! – An interview with Richard France (12 mins)
• NEW The Lost Romero Dawn Interview: previously unreleased archive interview (20 mins)
• Super 8 Mall Footage by zombie extra Ralph Langer with option of archive commentary by Robert Langer and new commentary by
Ralph Langer (13 mins)
• Document of the Dead: The Original Cut (66 mins)
• Document of the Dead: The Definitive Cut with optional commentary by Roy Frumkes (100 mins) This documentary, originally released in 1980 is a great look back at the film and also the career of Romero and Savini. I had this on VHS way back when and have revisited it many times in the past.
• The Dead Will Walk 2014 Documentary (80 mins)
• Trailers, TV and Radio Spots (TBC)

LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
AUDIO CD DISC 1
• The Goblin Soundtrack – 17 tracks including Alternate and Bonus Tracks
AUDIO CD DISC 2
• Dawn of the Dead: A De Wolfe Library Compilation Part 1
AUDIO CD DISC 3
• Dawn of the Dead: A De Wolfe Library Compilation Part 2
PLUS
• Rigid box with lid featuring the original iconic artwork
• Two inner digipaks
• Dissecting the Dead – 160 page hardback book featuring 17 new essays, archive article and George A. Romero interview plus original
marketing, artwork and merchandise images and behind-the-scenes stills.
• Dawn of the Dead: The novelisation book by George A. Romero and Susanna Sparrow with exclusive artwork

DAWN OF THE DEAD LIMITED EDTION BLU-RAY RELEASE

SPECIAL FEATURES
BLU-RAY DISC 1: THE THEATRICAL CUT (127 mins)
• NEW 4K scan and restoration of the Original Camera Negative by Second Sight at Final Frame New York and London supervised and
approved by DoP Michael Gornick
• Audio: New restoration of the original OCN Optical presented in Mono 1.0, Stereo 2.0 and 5.1.

• Archival Commentary by George A Romero, Tom Savini, Christine Forrest
• NEW commentary by Travis Crawford
• NEW optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired

BLU-RAY DISC 2 – THE EXTENDED (‘CANNES’) CUT (137 mins)
• Produced using 4K scan of the Theatrical Cut Original Camera Negative and 4K scan of the Extended Cut Colour Reversal Internegative
• DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono
• Archival Commentary by Richard P. Rubinstein
• NEW optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired

BLU-RAY DISC 3 – THE ARGENTO CUT (120 mins)
• 4K scan of the Interpositive by Michele De Angelis at Backlight Digital, Rome
• Audio: DT-HD Master Audio Mono 1.0 / Surround 5.1 / Stereo 2.0
• Archival Commentary by Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger, Gaylen Ross, David Emge
• NEW optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired

BLU-RAY DISC 4: SPECIAL FEATURES
• NEW Zombies and Bikers – With John Amplas, Roy Frumkes, Tom Savini, Christine Forrest, Tom Dubensky, Tony Buba, Taso Stavrakis
and a whole host of zombies and bikers! (59 mins)
• NEW Memories of Monroeville
A tour of the mall with Michael Gornick, Tom Savini, Tom Dubensky and Taso Stavrakis (34 mins)
• NEW Raising the Dead: The Production Logistics (25 mins)
With Michael Gornick, Christine Forrest, John Amplas, Tom Dubensky (23 mins)
• NEW The FX of Dawn with Tom Savini (13 mins)
• NEW Dummies! Dummies! – An interview with Richard France (12 mins)
• NEW The Lost Romero Dawn Interview: previously unreleased archive interview (20 mins)
• Super 8 Mall Footage by zombie extra Ralph Langer with option of archive commentary by Robert Langer and new commentary by
Ralph Langer (13 mins)
• Document of the Dead: The Original Cut (66 mins)
• Document of the Dead: The Definitive Cut with optional commentary by Roy Frumkes (100 mins)
• The Dead Will Walk 2014 Documentary (80 mins)
• Trailers, TV and Radio Spots (TBC)