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

ADDITION: Cult Epics Blu-ray (November 2020): Okay, Cult Epics take a second kick at the can for the unusual Giallo Death Laid an Egg. Both versions are included and are cited as "2K HD Transfer (from original 35mm negative)". Their 2017 Blu-ray release was handily eclipsed by UK's Nucleus Films 1080P transfer in 2018. So, it looks like, to this reviewer, that Cult Epics have used the Nucleus D1 transfers - for both the Director's Cut and 'Giallo' cut (called the 'Plucked version' by Cult Epics). You can see the running time for both cuts are EXACTLY the same - to the 1/1000th a second - as both were put to Blu-ray by Nucleus Films. The difference is that this new 2020 Cult Epics DC transfer is not as technically robust as the Nucleus. It has a 50% smaller bitrate. This shows in the color depth and contrast. So for the image quality on the 14-minute longer Director's Cut version, Nucleus is the best but both the new Cult Epics and the 2018 Nucleus are heads and tails above the older releases. 

NOTE: We have added 70 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

Audio is also a duplicate of the Nucleus Films transfers with linear PCM dual-mono (24-bit) tracks in both English and Italian - for both cuts. So the delightful, but eclectic, Bruno Maderna score sounds crisp and clean.  Cult Epics also offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

NOTE: The English DUB is still not there for the additional scenes - there they revert to Italian briefly and then go back to the English DUB.

So the big differences are in the extras. The Nucleus Films included a new audio commentary with Alan Jones and Kim Newman (on the director's cut only) which was fun and informative exploring areas of the film production that fans will find fascinating to discuss. There is a 20-minute featurette "Discovering Questi" with James Blackford of the BFI discussing the director Giulio Questi (Django Kill... If You Live, Shoot!). Sonic Explorations runs 24-minutes and has Lovely Jon - a soundtrack collector - talk about the unique score. There is a 13-minute archival Interview with Questi short 5-minute review by Antonio Bruschini, there is an identification of the BBFC film cuts, galleries, optional credits and trailers plus the package has 5 postcard sized title-cards for the film. The Cult Epics Blu-ray has a new audio commentary by Troy Howarth (author of So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films vol. 1, 2, 3) and Nathaniel Thompson (author of DVD Delirium and founder of Mondo Digital) on the Director's cut version. As you might image it is excellent as they discuss the performers; Gina Lollobrigida, Jean-Louis Trintignant and Ewa Aulin unafraid to make critical observations including about director Giulio Questi and the film - although generally finding appeal over the year notably with superior transfers and the longer cuts. I don't think I have ever heard a commentary with either of them that I didn't like - and they can reveal many interesting facts especially about Giallo. After that it has the same Antonio Bruschini review as found on the Nucleus, and the archival Questi interview. There is also a 2002 short film by Giulio Questi; Doctor Schizo and Mister Phrenic running 1/4 hour and there are English & Italian language trailers in HD and the package has a reversible sleeve with the original Italian poster and a slipcase limited to first 2000 copies printed with fluorescent inks.    

So bottom line, both Cult Epics (2020) and the UK Nucleus Blu-ray packages have value. I recommend the Howarth / Thompson commentary although the Nucleus video transfer has the edge - and it too, has a good commentary. Giallo lovers might want both despite their similarity - for the two commentaries. You get two versions on both - and a cool package for the Cult Epics. Although there is no graphic nudity - it is a very sexy film with three highly attractive performers and it is a creepy murder mystery with an artistic bent. I agree with Howarth and Thompson in that it may not be a title to recommend for standard movie fare, but it does grow on you and I enjoyed this latest viewing (my 6th?) the best and the satisfying commentary probably helped with that appreciation.      

Gary Tooze