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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (September 2019): This new Blu-ray from Kino, featuring a 4K Master, certainly shows a finer picture in many categories. Though the 88 Films Blu-ray was a rather good-looking transfer, here we find that it was somewhat cropped. The Kino shows more information on all sides of the frame. Colors also benefit slightly here, note how the skintones (of the beach party-goers in the following captures) show a more varied range of red/orange/yellow sun-burned hues, as opposed to 88 Film's more unified reddish color. This new Kino Blu-ray image also benefits from a maxed-out bitrate, as well as the film taking up a larger file size on the dual-layered disc.

Whereas the 88 Films' Blu-ray featured uncompressed linear PCM English (24-bit) and Italian (16-bit) tracks, the new offering from Kino only features a DTS-HD (16-bit) English track and a basic Dolby Italian track. Though only really noticeable when playing these two discs back-to-back, the average person will probably be fine with either release, though the point certainly goes to 88 Films here. There are also optional English subtitles on this Region 'A' Blu-ray from Kino.

The only new extra here of note on the Kino Blu-ray is an audio commentary by Film Historian Samm Deighan, and if this is anything like Deighan's previous tracks, you are in for a treat. I look forward to diving into this at a future date.

In brief, Kino's Blu-ray outdoes 88 Films' already pretty decent picture with this new 4K master. Though the audio is slightly better on the 88 disc, they are both acceptable offerings. The score is thanks to Goblin's Claudio Simonetti, a true genius responsible for many classic Italian Giallo scores (Argento's Dracula, Tenebre, Opera, Deep Red , Suspiria etc.). His score here is a little more Rock-and-Roll than usual, but the funky electronic music also makes an appearance. Fans of Giallo/Slasher/Cop-movie/Biker-Movie/Beach-Party-Movie/Rock-and-Roll-Movie mashups should be over the moon (myself included). Interesting side note, John Saxon (a fine character actor if there ever was one) seems to appear in many of these bizarre mash-up Italian/US productions (see Cannibal Apocalypse).

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ADDITION: 88 Films Blu-ray (November 2018): 88 Films present their 44th release in "The Italian Collection" with Umberto Lenzi's "Nightmare Beach" on Blu-ray. This is a brand new 2018 2k scan of the original negative and the film is presented in either 1.78:1 widescreen or in an alternative 1.33:1 open matte presentation. The choice of framing may depend on one's own taste, but I tend to prefer the widescreen. As far as image quality is concerned, this is a fantastic presentation, especially with regards to detail and contrast. The amount of detail in any given image is immense. The colors also benefit from this presentation, with a wide range reds, greens, blues, etc. Contrast has a very healthy spectrum of blacks. A top-notch Blu-ray transfer from 88 Films.

The original lossless stereo tracks are here in both English and Italian, with the former being a 24-bit linear PCM, and the latter being 16-bit.  Both tracks sound good to me, with the English being preferable. There are optional English subtitles on this Region-B Blu-ray.

The main extra here is "Nightmare Rock: An Interview with Composer Claudio Simonetti" this is a 16-minute interview with the musician discussing his career in composing for film, and otherwise. Near the end of the interview he discusses his memories of working on the score for "Nightmare Beach", notably mentioning that he never met director Lenzi, most likely because he had left the production at that point. The film's trailer is also available here. "Bloody Spring Break" is an interview (in the liner notes) with Lenzi by Eugenio Ercolani. There is a reversible sleeve with alternative Blu-ray cover art.

Though it's anyone's guess as to how much of this film is thanks to Umberto Lenzi, this is a fun time regardless. The Palm Beach spring-break setting lends itself to the Giallo genre rather well. The wild oscillating tone of the film is pretty laughable, though the film has some impressive special effects work and a great soundtrack. The quality of the Blu-ray image is fantastic. Good job 88 Films!

Colin Zavitz