Medusa Home Entertainment

Region 2 - PAL

Medusa Home Entertainment

Region 2 - PAL

International Cut: 1:50:06.433

Creepers Cut: 1:23:03.812

Creepers Cut: 1:23:06.356

1.67:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 7.89 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.62:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 7.85 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.66:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.76 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

Disc Size: 41,476,232,448 bytes

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

Medusa Home Entertainment

Anchor Bay Entertainment (Dario Argento Collection)

01 Distribution

Blu-ray

Blu-ray

Blu-ray

English (Dolby Digital 5.1); English (Dolby Digital 2.0 surround); French (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono)

Italian (Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo)

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.67:1

Edition Details:
• Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 2:39)
• Cast and Crew List

DVD Release Date: 1 February 2004
Amaray

Chapters 20
 

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 1.62:1

Edition Details:
• Audio commentary by Dario Argento, FX artist Sergio Stivaletti, composer Claudio Simonetti
• Theatrical Trailer (4:3; 2:35)
• Behind the Scenes Segment (4:3; 4:41)
• Claudio Simonetti Music Video [Jennifer] (4:3; 4:11)
• Bill Wyman Music Video [Valley] (4:3; 4:00)
• Director Dario Argento interview [interviewed by Joe Franklin] (4:3; 9:03)
• Biographies
• Filmographies
 

Chapters 20

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 1.66:1

Edition Details:
• none
 

Chapters 12

• Creeper and Creatures: Sergio Stivaletti LIVE Q & A Session (18:54 in 1080P)

Blu-ray Release Date: March 7th, 2011
Chapters 16

Edition Details:
• Audio Commentary Track on PHENOMENA (110 Version) from Argento scholar and author, Derek Botelho and film historian, journalist and radio/television commentator, David Del Valle
• Two completely different sound mix options on PHENOMENA (110 Minute Version), including the original 2.0 stereo mix, along with a rare alternate mix containing different sound effects and music cues
• English/Italian Hybrid Audio and Complete Italian Audio Options for PHENOMENA (116 Minute Version)
• DARIO ARGENTO'S WORLD OF HORROR Documentary. A fascinating look at the early films of director Dario Argento, including PHENOMENA, SUSPIRIA, DEMONS, DAWN OF THE DEAD, INFERNO and many more! Containing candid interviews and awesome behind-the-scenes footage, DARIO ARGENTO'S WORLD OF HORROR gives us a look into the mind of Italy's Master of Horror and is an essential viewing experience for all Argento fans. (1:10:51)
• Interview with Andi Sex Gang (3:57)
• PHENOMENA International Theatrical Trailer (2:35)
• CREEPERS U.S. Theatrical Trailer & Radio Spots (1:25 + 1:03)
• Optional English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard for Hearing on PHENOMENA (110 Minute Version) and CREEPERS Version)
• Multiple optional subtitle selections on PHENOMENA (116 Minute Version), including one for just the foreign English language segments of the hybrid version, complete English subtitles for the entire feature, and complete English subtitles for the Italian version of the film.

Blu-ray Release Date: September 12th, 2017

Standard Blu-ray case
Chapters 16 / 17 / 13

ADDITION: Synapse (2017) - Region 'A' Blu-ray - August 2017': Synapse states on their website "This release of PHENOMENA is NOT the same as our previously released Steelbook edition." Synapse have produced a 2-Blu-ray set of Argento's Phenomena. It has the Italian cut and Creepers Cut on the first Blu-ray and the International cut and supplements on the second Blu-ray. Unlike the Arrow - also with all three cuts - the HD quality varies between each version.

To cut to the chase: The Synapse is not 4K-restored, to my knowledge. Arrow did their own new 4K transfer while Synapse did clean up and color correction on older transfer. The result is slightly softer image that has less information in the frame beside the UK release. It also has less grain. In the Synapse package the International cut gets the max'ed out bitrate while the Italian version and 'Creepers' version are in the mid-20s. I think they look pretty good in-motion but not, visually, at the level of the 4K restored Arrow. We've compared a few Blu-ray captures from this new Synapse release below.

In terms of audio, Synapse use DTS-HD Master encodes for all tracks on all 3 versions. They include two completely different sound mix options on Phenomena (International Cut), including the original 2.0 stereo mix, along with a rare alternate mix containing different sound effects and music cues. For the Italian version they have an English / Italian hybrid and complete Italian audio options. There are optional English subtitles for all versions - including multiple optional subtitle selections on the Italian version with one for just the foreign English language segments of the hybrid version, complete English subtitles for the entire feature, and complete English subtitles for the Italian version of the film. It is coded Region 'A'.

There are two notable extras in the package - an audio commentary track on the International version from Argento scholar and author, Derek Botelho and film historian, journalist and radio/television commentator, David Del Valle plus the 1-hour 10-minute, 1985, Dario Argento's World of Horror documentary which has input from Dario Argento, Jennifer Connelly, Mirella D'Angelo, Mimsy Farmer and many others. It is described as a "fascinating look at the early films of director Dario Argento, including PHENOMENA, SUSPIRIA, DEMONS, DAWN OF THE DEAD, INFERNO and many more! Containing candid interviews and awesome behind-the-scenes footage, Dario Argento's World of Horror gives us a look into the mind of Italy's Master of Horror and is an essential viewing experience for all Argento fans".

So Region 'A'-locked Giallo fans still have something to cheer for with the three versions in 1080P, the commentary and extensive, but older, documentary. Plenty of value here...

***

ADDITION: Arrow (Limited Edition 2017) - Region 'B' Blu-ray - May 2017':  Arrow include three versions of Dario Argento's Phenomena - each on their own Blu-ray disc. We get the 116-minute cut, the longest version of Phenomena, which corresponds to the original Italian theatrical release - often terms the Integral Cut (Troy Howarth) and is Argento's' preferred version. When viewed in English, some lines of dialogue (6-minutes no longer exist) revert to Italian with English subtitles. The 100-minute version is also know as the International Cut and runs 6-minutes shorter than the Italian version, with the cuts mostly consisting of brief trims to improve pacing. Lastly we also get the 83-minute version, re-titled Creepers, created got the US theatrical release of the film. It omits over half and hour of material and make significant changes to the structure and pacing of scenes. This are all 4K restored and cited, by Arrow, as "Brand new 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negative produced by Arrow Video exclusively for this release". So the quality of each does not vary with max'ed out bitrates. The image quality is significantly in advance of the 2011 Blu-ray from Arrow (which was in advance of all SDs to date.) I think it looked great - richer colors, tighter, better contrast, depth... quite the new film experience - the updating is that significant.

Audio is provides in many options, we get a new 5.1 surround mixes of the Italian (116-minute) and English (110-minute) soundtracks in lossless DTS-HD Master audio, derived from the original 4-channel Dolby Stereo elements, plus the new hybrid English/Italian soundtrack for the 116-minute version in lossless DTS-HD Master audio 5.1 and PCM 2.0 stereo where approximately six minutes of footage for which English audio no longer exists. In these instances, the hybrid track reverts to Italian audio with English subtitles. There are also options for an Italian soundtrack for the 116-minute version in lossless PCM 2.0 stereo, an English soundtrack for the 110-minute version in lossless PCM 2.0 stereo and a sole English soundtrack for the 83-minute, Creepers, version in lossless PCM 1.0 mono, There are both optional English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack and optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtracks. The score is credited to Simon Boswell (Santa Sangre, Delirium) and the legendary band Goblin (The Other Hell, The Bloodstained Shadow, Deep Red, Suspira) plays to varying, loudness and effectiveness, depending on the version. Some will note rifts by Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Andi Sex Gang, Bill Wyman, Claudio Simonetti, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and others. Unlike the 2011 Arrow Blu-ray, these discs are Region 'B'-locked.

On the Italian version we get a new audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films. His talk is very educational but I found him unusually critical - obviously it was an Argento film that he did not embrace as closely as others by the director. He extols the International version and its pacing cuts. Overall excellent information, though. I also got a lot out of The Three Sarcophagi, a new 1/2 hour visual essay by Michael Mackenzie comparing the different cuts of Phenomena and making some excellent observations. Of Flies and Maggots, is a new 2-hour documentary including interviews with Dario Argento, actors Fiore Argento, Davide Marotta, Daria Nicolodi and Fiorenza Tessari, co-writer Franco Ferrini, cinematographer Romano Albani, production manager Angelo Jacono, assistant director Michele Soavi, special optical effects artist Luigi Cozzi, special makeup effects artist Sergio Stivaletti and more. It is mostly in Italian and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There are original Italian and English theatrical trailers, a 4-minute 'Jennifer' music video, directed by Dario Argento, a rare Japanese vintage pressbook and the package contains a remastered soundtrack CD featuring the complete Goblin instrumental soundtrack, plus four bonus tracks by Simon Boswell and Andi Sex Gang and a limited edition 60-page booklet containing new writing by Mikel J. Koven, Rachael Nisbet and Leonard Jacobs and has newly commissioned artwork by Candice Tripp.

Certainly the definitive Blu-ray of Phenomena - I absolutely garnered further appreciation for the film and the 4K-restored presentation was such a pleasure to view. So many options - our highest recommendation!

***

ADDITION: Arrow Video - Region FREE Blu-ray - March 2011': I'd say this is a pretty significant improvement in the video quality as compared to the previous DVDs. This Arrow Blu-ray appears to be the only digital representation that is both the longer cut and in theatrical running time (no PAL speedup). The screen captures should bear out a crisper image, accurate colors and it showcases some depth as well. I'm no expert on the film but this is displays a dramatic superiority over the flatter, and often boosted, SD visuals. It is dual-layered with a strong bitrate.

Audio stays faithfully 2.0 channel stereo but offers both English or Italian tracks in linear PCM (lossless) renderings. The films score has always been dominant but now adds some impressive buoyancy and heavier depth. Some may need to damper their volume levels in certain scenes. Arrow have seen fit to add subtitle options both for the English and Italian tracks as a choice and I have determined that the disc is region FREE - playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

No commentary as found on the Anchor Bay but we get a full Dario Argento's Monkey Business: The Making of Phenomena documentary-style featurette running over 50-minutes in 1080P plus Claudio Simonetti Remembering Phenomena for 6.5 minutes in 'Music for Maggots' and lastly, a LIVE Q & A Session with Sergio Stivaletti entitled Creeper and Creatures for shy of 20-minutes.

I think this is a strong release - supplying a solid presentation - some new extras and the fact that it is region FREE should please many Argento fans around the globe. Recommended!   

 - Gary Tooze

***

ADDITION: 01 Distribution - February 2010: Like the previous Medusa DVD, the 01 Distribution release represents the longer, rougher Italian cut of the film in a similar looking master but the new disc is non-anamorphic and lacking extras. The superior Medusa disc had a 16:9 transfer, English and Italian subtitles and a 5.1 upmix in addition to the 2.0 stereo mix. Like the Medusa disc, the 01 disc also has warmer than intended color timing. The new Anchor Bay transfer looks almost identical to their previous release with the correct blue tinting (absent on the Italian disc) but looks sharper and clearer with anamorphic enhancement (even though the bitrate has been slightly reduced from the older transfer - likely for the addition of the new 17m documentary "A Dark Fairy Tale"). Both Anchor Bay disc present the 110 minute export version of the film (New Line cut the film down to 84 minutes for its US theatrical release). The English 2.0 mix on the earlier Anchor Bay disc is not the film's original Dolby mix but a downmix of the 5.1 upmix (it would appear the same mixes are carried over to the new disc including the French mono track). The Italian cut runs longer in PAL than the export version because it is an earlier cut of the film (the export version is his approved cut).

***

ON THE OTHER Anchor Bay and Medusa discs: The new Anchor Bay transfer looks almost identical to their previous release with the correct blue tinting (absent on the Italian disc) but looks sharper and clearer with anamorphic enhancement (even though the bitrate has been slightly reduced from the older transfer - likely for the addition of the new 17m documentary "A Dark Fairy Tale"). Both Anchor Bay disc present the 110 minute export version of the film (New Line cut the film down to 84 minutes for its US theatrical release).

 - Eric Cotenas