killer upgrades
ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF 4K HORROR…
THE CAT O’ NINE TALES / DEEP RED 15/18 FILMS | EXTRAS |
1971/75, OUT NOW/25 OCTOBER 4K UHD EXTRAS Commentaries, Interviews, Alternate cut, Visual essay (Deep Red); Original ending (Cat…); Galleries, Booklet, Poster, Art cards
Dario Argento didn’t invent the giallo, but he definitely popularised the Italy murder-mystery sub-genre with his 1970 feature debut The Bird With The Crystal Plumage. A box-office hit, the film kick-started a glut of imitators, with around 30 gialli hitting Italian cinemas in 1971 alone – including Argento’s sophomore feature, The Cat O’ Nine Tails.
Despite several impressive setpieces, the film fails to recapture the energy and verve of Argento’s debut. Even the filmmaker himself considered it a disappointment, claiming it was “too American”. That said, The Cat O’ Nine Tales is far from a dud; merely a run-of-the-mill giallo that fails to stand out in a crowded field.
The same cannot be said of 1975’s Deep Red. Arguably Argento’s crowning achievement, its enthralling marriage of murder-mystery and sexual politics is further elevated by a breathtaking evolution in Argento’s aesthetic style. The meticulously crafted compositions and prog-infused soundtrack transcend the story’s exploitative nature to make it a true work of art.
Deep Red’s lush lensing looks magnificent on this 4K UHD revisit of Arrow’s remastered 2016 Blu-ray. The 4K Deep Red also adds a new commentary from critics Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson to its already extensive buffet of extras.