The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by two favorites; Steve Mitchell and Troy Howarth (Murder by Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento.) Steve leans toward production-focused insights, drawing on his practical experience, and he tends to emphasize storytelling, directorial decisions, and historical context. Troy's versatile, bringing detailed knowledge of directors, actors, and cinematic traditions. His delivery is typically scholarly yet accessible, packed with trivia and critical analysis. Steve plays off his co-commentator to keep the discussion lively. Together they form a complementary duo - Mitchell grounding the discussion in filmmaking nuts-and-bolts, Howarth enriching it with genre and cultural depth. They discuss Mastroianni and Ursula Andress, the adaptation from Robert Sheckley’s "Seventh Victim," Petri’s vision, and the challenges of shooting a futuristic tale in 1965 Rome. It's an excellent commentary. Included is a 1/2 hour featurette entitled Elio Petri - Subject for Further Research, directed by Roberta Licurgo and featuring Paola Pegoraro Petri (Elio Petri’s widow) and author/film historian Kim Newman (The Definitive Guide to Horror Movies.) There is a focused dissection of Elio Petri’s cinematic legacy - Petri’s widow talks in Italian with English subtitles and offers an intimate, firsthand perspective. There are comments of this sci-fi satire being ahead of its time as well as the director's politically charged satires. Kim draws parallels to international sci-fi (Alphaville, Fahrenheit 451) and Petri’s peers (Bertolucci, Pasolini). There are also theatrical trailers (Italian and English.) The Kino package has a slipcase and alternate artwork (see below.) 

Elio Petri's "The 10th Victim" is a delightful Italian sci-fi satire that blends dark humor, social critique, and avant-garde aesthetics. Mastroianni’s Marcello (playing Marcello Poletti) is a weary everyman turned killer, his trademark charm laced with existential fatigue. He navigates the hunt with a mix of cunning and detachment, reflecting a man shaped by a world that commodifies death. Ursula Andress brings a cool, calculating allure to Caroline, embodying the film’s critique of media-savvy celebrity. Her blonde bombshell persona is weaponized, turning vulnerability into a performance art as she manipulates the hunt for fame. The film skewers a society that sublimates aggression into a televised game, presaging reality TV and modern media’s obsession with sensationalism. There are other themes; consumerism and media, gender and power and existential absurdity. Elio Petri’s The 10th Victim has tangential links to Mario Bava’s Danger: Diabolik - both Italian genre films from the 1960s that blend pop-art aesthetics, comic-book sensibilities, and subversive undertones. While both share a stylish, futuristic flair and reflect the era’s fascination with mod culture, they diverge significantly in tone, intent, and execution - Petri’s work is introspective and satirical, questioning societal norms. Great film - nice to see the restoration in 1080P but the commentary and featurette on the Kino Blu-ray seal the deal. Absolutely recommended!

***

ADDITION: Blue Underground - Region FREE - Blu-ray - September 11': This is a pretty dramatic increase in visual quality. The comparatively drab SD-DVD looks very weak beside the richer, brighter 1080P transfer from Blue Underground. There is a nice sheen of grain, depth and notably more information in the frame on all 4 sides. Certainly a solid upgrade that impresses. Audio again gives the option of English or Italian - but now both in lossless (remaining 2.0 channel) and sounding pretty 'hip' with a crisper edge for the bouncy score by Italian composer and jazz musician Piero Piccioni (Adua and Her Friends, Hands Over the City, L'assassino, The Moment of Truth). There appears to be a slightly different subtitle translation and SDH, French and Spanish are now added.

Supplements are also advanced with an 1 1/2 hour documentary on Marcello Mastroianni entitled Marcello: A Sweet Life. It is quite informative in Italian with English subtitles transferred in 480i. There are also HD trailers and Stills galleries.

Overall a very impressive package for this swinging, color-infused, pop-art, groovy adventure that so many other films have referenced. It's Euro-fun at its best and the Blue Underground Blu-ray release is highly recommended!

***

ADDITION: Blue Underground - July 2009: Firstly, the new 2009 Blue Underground is the exact same disc as the 2001 Anchor Bay with one small exception - it starts with the Blue Underground logo. Otherwise the single-layered transfer has no improvement whatsoever and the psychedelic menus, audio, subtitles and supplements are all exactly duplicated (see the bitrate graphs).

The image is a shade hazy but anamorphic and progressive. It looks dulled by age but in this time of 1080P it's easy to get picky - this DVD is certainly very watchable if exporting some noise and a flatness that identifies it as SD. There may be some boosting as there is are blown-out whites.

The 2.0 channel sound is similarly lifeless, but consistent and dialogue is completely audible. I didn't even try the English DUB. There are optional subtitles available (see samples below).

Extras consistent of an anamorphic trailer and text bios.

The film is wonderful with the sexy style evoking such nostalgia. It's hard to put into words but I can see this 'sub-genre' eventually being modernized and duplicated just as 'Grindhouse' is. There is a smidgeon of Seijun Suzuki here as well. It's all unapologetic and very cool with the saxaphone, Mastroianni and Andress. I was anticipating and upgrade in AV but if you don't own this the price is right for the value.