NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (May 2024): Kino have transferred Charles Marquis Warren's Back from the Dead to Blu-ray. The 1080P image quality is strong - consistent throughout, a few errant speckles, but pleasing contrast - if overly dark, modest sharpness but overall I'd say it looks positive. The film has mostly been seen in poor SD bootlegs and this is a very welcome HD presentation.

NOTE: We have added 50 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Back from the Dead has no overt aggressive moments (mostly heard off-screen) but has a dramatic (often theremin) and occasionally pensive, music score credited to versatile journeyman Raoul Kraushaar (often credited as Ralph Stanley) who is has done film compositions for Invaders from Mars, She Should Have Said No, Billy the Kid vs. Dracula, Dirty O'Neil, September Storm - 3D, and Fritz Lang's The Blue Gardenia. There is also uncredited music contributions by Dave Kahn (Island of Lost Women, The Cool and the Crazy, The Unknown Terror.) Also played on a record is Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. sounding clean with consistent dialogue in the lossless transfer. No issues. Kino offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers two new commentaries. The first is by Tom Weaver (They Fought in the Creature Features: Interviews with 23 Classic Horror, Science Fiction and Serial Stars) talks about the production companies "Regal Films" and Emirau, opening ocean wave comparisons to The Uninvited and Tormented, the cast/crew who made mostly westerns, Catherine Turney's novel of which the film is based, an interview he conducted with Marsha Hunt who discusses her pseudo-blacklisting (grey-listing) and much more... later in the commentary is input from Gary D. Rhodes (author of The Birth of the American Horror Film) talks about music and horror - and Larry Blamire (Tales of the Callamo Mountains). It's an excellent commentary. The second is by film historians David Del Valle (author of Lost Horizons Beneath the Hollywood Sign) and Dana M. Reemes (author of Directed by Jack Arnold.) They cite the film as underrated, the "Regalscope" using CinemaScope lenses, the Turney novel (her first and last screenplay) how it greatly differs from the film, cinematographer Ernest Haller, Peggie Castle (I, the Jury) drinking herself to death at age 45, more on the crew, similar films and much more. I always enjoy David and it's a worthy listen. There are also trailers for It! The Terror From Beyond Space, The Colossus of New York and 99 River Street but none for Back from the Dead.

Charles Marquis Warren's Back from the Dead reminded me quite a bit of Tormented, with reincarnated drowned love-interest (Felicia) wreaking havoc / revenge on the current spouse. Maybe even hints at the possession angle of Donovan's Brain. We're forced to go along with an astounding plot feature in blasé fashion; that the new galpal's persona has been taken over by the deceased femme fatale. It's kind of a big deal, no? Husband Dick (Arthur Franz) his sister-in-law Kate (Marsha Hunt) just heave a collective sigh. Turns out the whole mind-swap occurred as part of nasty German Maître Renault's (Otto Reichow) Devil cult. Figures. I can see why Back from the Dead gained somewhat of a cult-interest, with a story echoing The Search for Bridey Murphy (how about that one on Blu-ray or even DVD?) with Teresa Wright and Louis Hayward. Tom Weaver states Back from the Dead was an attempt to cash in on the current interest in that phenomenon. A twist on cryptomnesia? - no, not a new digital currency. My turn to sigh. What can I say?, I liked it - warts and all. The Kino Blu-ray has the film looking very good, and two worthwhile commentaries.

Gary Tooze