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(aka "Buio Omega" or "Blue Holocaust" or "Buried Alive")

 

directed by Joe D'Amato
Italy 1979

 

God bless the late, and dearly missed, Joe D'Amato (Aristide Massaccesi). Not only did the censor-baiting Svengali of sleaze give us such video nasty masterpieces as ABSURD (1981) and ANTHROPOPHAGOUS (1980), as well as the sexploitation classic ELEVEN DAYS, ELEVEN NIGHTS (1987), he also unleashed one of Euro-horror's grisliest gore-fests in 1979's frequently-censored BEYOND THE DARKNESS!

Focusing on a PSYCHO-style story of a young loner, under the authority of a besotted but blood-thirsty matriarch, who enjoys bouts of human taxidermy, bodily mutilation and cannibalism - this crimson-ridden splatter caper might just be D'Amato's crowning achievement. Starring the legendary Cinzea Monreale (THE BEYOND) as a beautiful blonde who is lured into the killer's premises, BEYOND THE DARKNESS also features a sublime score from prog-rockers Goblin (TENEBRAE) and a sick, but nonetheless satisfying, sense of humour. Also known as BURIED ALIVE, this D'Amato classic is finally making its UK HD premiere - uncut and uncensored!

Posters

Theatrical Release: 15 November 1979 (Italy)

Reviews                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                   DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Shriek Show - Region 1 - NTSC vs. 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Shriek Show Screen Caps!

(Shriek Show - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT)

Box Covers

 

    

 

  

 
Distribution

Shriek Show

Region 1 - NTSC

 88 Films
Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:34:12 1:34:15.650
Video

1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.99 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.66:1 Disc Size: 47,497,086,164 bytes

Feature Size: 29,366,931,456 bytes

Total Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

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

 

Shriek Show

 

Bitrate:

 

88 Films Blu-ray

 

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0)

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
LPCM Audio Italian 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles None English (for Italian track), None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Shriek Show

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
� Beyond the Darkness trailer
� Trailers for 3 other giallos
� Interview / Commentary over selected scenes with Art Director Donatella Donati (27:22)
� Interview with actress Cinzia Monreale (9:57)
� Slide show of posters and lobby cards (2:02)
� Collector's Edition booklet with writings by Nathaniel Thompson and Robert Monell

DVD Release Date: April 30, 2002
Keep Case

Chapters 14
 

 Release Information:
Studio: 88 Films

 

1.66:1 Disc Size: 47,497,086,164 bytes

Feature Size: 29,366,931,456 bytes

Total Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

 

Edition Details:
• Omega Rising: Remembering Joe D’Amato - Feature length documentary looking at the legendary career of notorious filmmaker Aristide Massaccesi A.K.A Joe D’Amato. Featuring interviews with Michele Soavi, George Eastman, Rossella Drudi, Carlo Maria Cordio and more! (1:08:51)
• Trailer (2:53)
• Alternate Italian Opening and Closing Credits (3:00)
• Beyond the Darkness Locations - Then and Now (20:06)
• Booklet Notes by Adrian Smith detailing BBFC cuts required on previous submissions)
 

Blu-ray Release Date: February 13th, 2017

Transparent Blu-ray case (thick - UK)

Chapters 12 

 

 

 

Comments

NOTE: Shriek Show had a Blu-ray Release in 2011 HERE, now out of print (and also missing an early scene - see below.)

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

ADDITION: 88 Films - Region FREE- Blu-ray - March 17': I suspect that these are from different sources. It is described as a "Restored in 2K From the Original 16mm Negative", but the 1080P is in 1.66:1 AR while the DVD is 1.85:1. The DVD adds some information on the left edge while losing some to the Blu-ray on the bottom of the frame. 16mm and not as significant improvement as the image quality, to start, is compromised by the modest production process. I would have liked to see more grain in the 1080P but it does, improve over SD - if only marginally in many sequences. The transfer is dual-layered with a max'ed out bitrate. From the source used - probably can't get much better digitally.

88 Films use linear PCM tracks at 2304 kbps (16-bit) for both English and Italian languages (both available seamlessly). It's, likewise, imperfect (DUB verbiage is awkward at times) but screams carry some heft. The score is credited to The Goblins and seems suitable to the production. There are English subtitles for the Italian version and my Oppo has identified it as being Region FREE, playable worldwide.

88 Films, go the extra mile with a few relevant supplements. Omega Rising: Remembering Joe D’Amato is an hour 8-minute, 2017, documentary, directed by Eugenio Ercolani, looking at the legendary career of notorious filmmaker Aristide Massaccesi A.K.A Joe D’Amato, the man behind the legendary Video Nasties Anthropophagus: The Beast and Absurd. It features interviews with Michele Soavi, George Eastman, Rossella Drudi, Carlo Maria Cordio and others. Great overview with select details. There is also a trailer, the alternate Italian opening and closing credits- running about 3-minutes and a featurette Beyond the Darkness Locations - Then and Now that showcases scenes of the film with what the location looks like today for over 20-minutes. It shows some very attractive countryside! The package has a booklet with essay by Adrian Smith detailing BBFC cuts required on previous submissions.

Too gruesome for my tastes - none of the campy innocence I like to see in this niche-appealing efforts. Nasty without the corresponding charisma. No, I wasn't a fan. Those keen should nab the Blu-ray for the a/v and the lengthy Joe D’Amato piece, locations featurette plus the booklet. Not for the squeamish!

 -Gregory and Gary

Menus
(Shriek Show - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT)
 

 
 

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Subtitle Sample 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

NOTE: Scene absent from the Shriek Show Blu-ray Release from 2011 HERE

(Shriek Show - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)

(Shriek Show - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)

(Shriek Show - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)

(Shriek Show - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)

(Shriek Show - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)

(Shriek Show - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)

(Shriek Show - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)

(Shriek Show - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM)

 

More 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray Captures

 

 

Report Card:

Image:

Blu-ray

Sound:

Blu-ray
Extras: Blu-ray

 
Box Covers

 

    

 

  

 
Distribution

Shriek Show

Region 1 - NTSC

 88 Films
Region FREE - Blu-ray


 


 


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