Disc Size: 46,341,798,399 bytes

Edition Details:

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

NOTE: As Michael Brooke informs us on Facebook in regards to 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.' Sleeping Dogs is the same situation.

The new 1080P image is tighter than on the DVD. There is some minor movement in the frame much the Blu-ray's 1.85:1 seems marginally cropped beside the DVD on the top and left edges - sometimes gaining on the right edge. The higher resolution is not overwhelming - but probably accurate to the film's original appearance looking lighter and sharper. It is on a dual-layered disc with a supportive bitrate and looks fine in-motion.

The audio is transferred via the option of a linear PCM 2.0 channel at 2304 kbps (24-bit), or a, technically robust, DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround bump - both in the original English. There are plenty of aggressive effects - rifles, explosions etc. - and a score composed by Mathew Brown (his only film credit), the classically-trained actor David Calder and Murray Grindlay (Once Were Warriors). There is some traditional New Zealand music by Ariel Railway - also including 'Sleeping Dogs'. Everything sounds pretty clean and the surround has some depth and a few notable separations. Arrow add optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray disc..

Arrow include the same commentary by writer-director Roger Donaldson, actor Sam Neill and actor-writer Ian Mune as found on the 2004 Anchor Bay DVD. There is also the duplicated The Making of Sleeping Dogs also from 2004; a 65-minute retrospective documentary on the film’s production featuring interviews with Donaldson, Neill, Mune, Geoff Murphy and others. Another 'Making of' from 1977 is available - described as a contemporary behind-the-scenes documentary featuring interviews with Donaldson and Neill. There is a theatrical trailer and the package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sean Phillips and, for the first pressing, an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Neil Mitchell, a contemporary review by Pauline Kael and the original press books.

Always timely, the frightening possibility of how governments are taken over by totalitarian regimes with brutality is a political reality that should remind us that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. This is an excellent political drama within the backdrop of New Zealand. Nice to see a young Sam Neill, and some top direction from Donaldson. This Arrow Blu-ray has very good value.