ADDITION: Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray August 2017: This is being simultaneously released by Arrow on Blu-ray in both Region 'A' + 'B'. Regarding differences in the US and UK Blu's - This appears to be 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.' Erik the Conqueror is the same case.

The Arrow Blu-ray is advertised as a "Brand new 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative", and it is GORGEOUS! You can see the improvement next to the 2007 SD transfer - far richer colors, much more information in the frame - all all four sides, authentically darker, deep black levels... it's stunning image in 1080P. I saw only a brief vertical scratch (see last capture0 that only lasted a minute... otherwise exceptionally clean and beautifully thick visuals... WOW!

Linear PCM 1.0 channel in the choice of English or Italian (24-bit). The sound is solid - flat, clear and with the usual post-DUB charisma. Effects don't carry a ton of weight and stress the high end - which we presume to be authentic.  The score is by Roberto Nicolosi (Eye in the Labyrinth, Caltiki, Black Sabbath, Black Sunday, The Girl Who Knew Too Much). It adds a subtle atmosphere of mystery and sounds supported via the lossless.  Incidentally, the US version score was by Les Baxter (Tower of London, X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes, Panic in the Year Zero, and the US versions of Baron Blood, The Beast Within). There are optional English (SDH) subtitles that are more detailed than the DVD and the Blu-ray disc, as previously stated, is region FREE,

We get another information-filled audio commentary by Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava All the Colors of the Dark where Erik the Conqueror is described as being as visually ravishing as anything Bava ever did. He describes sets, performers and we even hear snippets from Cameron Mitchell from the included interview on a few occasions (3?) during the fabulous commentary. Gli imitatori, is a dozen minute comparison between Erik the Conqueror and its unacknowledged source, The Vikings. Arrow include the hour-long 1989 audio-only interview with star Cameron Mitchell talking with Tim Lucas. He is an intelligent, articulate individual and shed some valuable light on Bava and the film. We get to see the original ending if anyone is keen and the package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys. For the first-pressings there is a collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic Kat Ellingerd.

This is wonderful, not a Bava Giallo but it has all of the director's ingenuity, magnificent colors, camerawork, lighting and plenty of action. It's as brilliant a film as is the Arrow Blu-ray package. Our highest recommendation - but with extreme anticipation!

 -Gary and Gregory