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

ADDITION: Kino / Raro Blu-ray (August 2025): Kino have transferred Silvio Amadio's The Medium to Blu-ray. It is on a single-layered disc and looks a shade waxy at times. This HD presentation delivers a marked improvement over previous VHS and bootleg versions that suffered from faded colors and print damage; the restoration effort preserves the film's ethereal, soft-focus cinematography by Maurizio Salvatore, enhancing the muted palette of shadowy villa interiors and ghostly apparitions with balanced contrast, modest grain structure, and subtle detail in textures like antique furnishings and spectral white gowns, though occasional minor digitization can be noticeable. This 1080P transfer appears thoughtfully calibrated to evoke the original's hazy, atmospheric dread with the imperfections most likely a function of the original production limitations. The waxiness may deter some.

NOTE: We have added 42 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original Italian language. The transfer faithfully captures the film's sonic elements with clarity that highlights Roberto Pregadio's (Death Carries a Cane) dissonant synth score, eerie ambient effects like disembodied voices and creaking villa sounds, and dialogue delivery without significant distortion or background hiss, though the inherent limitations of the 1980 production yield a flat dynamic range typical of low-budget Euro-horror The sound design (e.g., spectral voices on tapes) attempts to blur reality and the ethereal, though budget constraints, result in occasionally stilted effects that lend a raw, cultish charm. It's a solid sonic package for atmospheric horror enthusiasts with weaknesses relating to the most production roots. Kino / Raro offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary from film historians and hosts of the Wild, Wild Podcast, Adrian Smith and Rod Barnett, who offer an enthusiastic, anecdote-filled track exploring Silvio Amadio's esoteric influences, the film's ties to Italian occult cinema of the late 1970s, production trivia like Claudio Fragasso's screenplay origins from alleged séances, and scene-by-scene breakdowns of possession motifs compared to contemporaries like The Exorcist and Don't Look Now, all delivered with engaging banter that balances scholarly depth with podcast-style accessibility. While the package lacks extensive documentaries or interviews - possibly due to the film's obscurity and limited archival materials - this focused analysis prioritizes insightful context over volume, appealing to Euro-horror devotees and aligning with Raro's tradition of spotlighting underseen gems through expert commentary.

Silvio Amadio's The Medium blends occult themes with giallo influences, reflecting Amadio's personal fascination with esoterism - stemming from his friendship with director Demofilo Fidani and involvement in spiritualist circles - resulting in an insidiously creepy narrative inspired allegedly by communications from the dead, though it received mixed reception for its atmospheric but derivative style. The narrative is inspired by séances and communications with the dead. Il medium emerged from Amadio's longstanding occult interests, sparked by his friendship with director Demofilo Fidani (Django and Sartana Are Coming... It's the End) and involvement in spiritualist circles since the 1970s. Screenwriter Claudio Fragasso (Violence in a Women's Prison,) in his debut script, claimed inspiration from a medium who asserted the dead dictated the story, adding a meta-layer of authenticity to the project's genesis. Reception at the time was lukewarm, with critics noting its derivative elements - echoing The Omen in child possession motifs and Don't Look Now in grief-driven hauntings - yet praising its insidious creepiness and Amadio's sincere occult passion. It's a hidden gem in Italian horror that prioritizes metaphysical intrigue and emotional depth, offering a haunting meditation on loss and the beyond in an era of cinematic transition. The Kino Lorber / Raro Video Blu-ray is a commendable revival for Silvio Amadio's overlooked 1980 supernatural thriller elevating the film's creepy occult ambiance and psychological depth, while the standout commentary by Adrian Smith (The Naschycast) and Adrian Smith provides valuable historical and analytical heft that justifies the release for genre collectors. It's a faithful, high-quality presentation of a cult curiosity blending giallo intrigue with esoteric horror, offering solid value at its boutique price point. 

Gary Tooze