Tartan Video

Region 0 - PAL

1.77:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.83 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

Total Video Bitrate: 34.94 Mbps

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Tartan Video

Arrow Blu-ray

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.77:1

Edition Details:
� Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 1:10)
� Trailers
� 4-page booklet with Justin Bower

DVD Release Date: 28 January 2013

Chapters 16
 

ADDITION: Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - October 16': This is being simultaneously released by Arrow on Blu-ray in both Region 'A' + 'B'. Regarding differences in the US and UK Blu's -I suspect it as Michael Brooke informed us on Facebook about Day of Anger: 'As the producer of Arrow's release, I can confirm first hand that the UK and US discs are absolutely identical: we only paid for one master, so there's no doubt about this at all! Which means that no matter which package you buy, the discs will play in any Region A or B setup (or Region 1 or 2 for DVD - and in the latter case the video standard is NTSC, to maximise compatibility). The booklets are also identical, but there are minor cosmetic differences on the disc labels and sleeve to do with differing copyright info and barcodes, and the US release doesn't have BBFC logos.'

Arrow's new Blu-ray transfer is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. It is in the correct 1.85:1 aspect ratio and shows a shade less information in the frame than the opened-up 1.78:1 of the Tartan DVD. The SD shows a green leaning and with the soft-focus style that the films was shot - the 1080P supports film's colors accurately and the texture more succinctly. It looks very good in-motion - heavy and film-like. The film's style was never meant to achieve a crisp glossy appearance.

Arrow use a very robust DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround at 3584 kbps (24-bit) in the original Japanese language. Effects can be subtle before exploding and the score by Kenji Kawai (Ghost in the Shell) and Shikao Suga does a wonderful job of sneaking up on you in certain sequences. Bass is deep and rich and the film, already offered an intense audio experience for the viewers - and that is exemplified via the lossless. There are optional English subtitles on the region FREE Blu-ray disc.

Arrow stack the lone Blu-ray disc with plenty of extras - many new and come from 2002. They include a brand new, 26-minute, interview with director Hideo Nakata, a new 20-minute interview with novelist Koji Suzuki from May 2016 and he discusses how he became Japan's pre-eminent horror novelist, and how Dark Water was adapted from one of his short stories. There is also a brand new, 20-minute, interview with director of photography Junichiro Hayashi and he speaks about his frequent collaborations with director Hideo Nakata. There are some archive interviews with actors Asami Mizukawa and Hitomi Kuroki and composer Shikao Suga plus the 1/4 hour original Making of documentary plus a trailer, teaser and TV Spots. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Peter Strain and for the first pressing only you can get an illustrated collector's booklet containing new writing by David Kalat, author of J-Horror: The Definitive Guide to The Ring, The Grudge and Beyond, and an examination of the American remake by writer and editor Michael Gingold. There is also a, second disc, DVD included! 

Another stellar package from Arrow - they just keep coming and this definitely made me appreciate the film to a higher degree than ever before - so much chilling atmosphere. For fans of Japanese horrors this Blu-ray amounts to a must own. Great cover too! Enjoy...

 -Gary Tooze and Eric Cotenas