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

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray (August 2020): Arrow have transferred Mike Hodges's Black Rainbow to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand new restoration from the original negative approved by writer-director Mike Hodges". Colors are vibrant with rich primaries - including greens and reds. It is very bright in 1080P and is reasonably consistent on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. The image is very tight, plenty of depth and fine grain texture evident.

NOTE: We have added 66 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Arrow provide the option of either a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround or a linear PCM 2.0 channel stereo track (both 24-bit) in the original English language. There isn't a ton of separation but what is there is notable in the surround lossless. The score is by John Scott who, in his career, had composed for restored silents like the 1920 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as well as Ted Kotcheff's classic Wake in Fright, Billy Two Hats, plus Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, A Study in Terror, Cop-Out, Symptoms, Satan's Slave, and Cult Camp Classics like 1970's Trog with Joan Crawford. There is also the church singing and Christopher L. Gray's "He's So Wonderful" performed by Lucy Williams.  It sounds clean and strong throughout - no issues. Arrow offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Arrow Blu-ray offers a new commentary by two of my favorites; film historians Kat Ellinger and Samm Deighan who talk about southern Gothic, mixed genres, how Black Rainbow may have been confusing to audiences as well for producers on how to market the film, ecological themes, Hodges as being versatile and experimental in his choice of projects, how Rosanna Arquette took the role on the advice of Martin Scorsese, Giallo-esque hints in Black Rainbow, evoking Lucio Fulci's The Psychic and some cinematic analysis that I was oblivious to in my viewing. Great to hear this pairing together again and I enjoyed it immensely - elevating my already budding appreciation for Black Rainbow. Wonderful job! There is also an archival audio commentary by writer/director Mike Hodges who talks about Kudzu weeds in the beginning to simplifying the filmmaking process allowing the movie to speak for itself without interfering in it. Arrow include previous video extras including Message in a Bottle - an archival Making of documentary running almost 20-minutes as well as short archival interviews with Jason Robards, Tom Hulce, and Rosanna Arquette along with archival featurettes; 8 Minutes, Disasters, Seeing the Future, and Behind the Rainbow featuring interviews with Hodges, Arquette, Robards, producer John Quested including behind-the-scenes imagery. There is also a dynamite looking trailer. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Nathanael Marsh and for the first pressing purchases they get a booklet featuring new writing on the film by author Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Mike Hodges and more illustrated with stills.

I liked Mike Hodges's Black Rainbow. I was intrigued by the story involving a religious-based medium and psychic predictions of murder coming true (great plot!), I don't recall disliking a film with Rosanna Arquette (with or without black garterbelts) and I was keen on the camerawork and movement here. There is some warping of reality (Martha's watch running unusually fast) and other mysterious subtleties. It's a film I am very happy to have seen on Arrow's vibrantly restored Blu-ray presentation and the two commentaries and interviews give it even more value. Great cover too! I think Black Rainbow is underrated. Absolutely recommended!

Gary Tooze