DEAD OF NIGHT COMING TO BLU-RAY

It's not much of a stretch to say that a large number of horror film fans count Ealing Studios' 1945 production of DEAD OF NIGHT at or near the top of the best genre anthology movies ever. The concept, which has been used countless times since, was virtually untapped at the time.

High on the creep factor scale, DEAD OF NIGHT consistently comes up in reviews and discussions as one of the scariest films ever. This is due in large part to the last segment that involves a nefarious ventriloquist's dummy. The trope has been copied many times over, including twice in the TV series, THE TWILIGHT ZONE.

There is no denying that the film is held together by a mysterious web of unease. A disquieting atmosphere permeates throughout and it is hard to escape its subtle hold. Critics of the film often cite its antique quaintness and lack of actual horror. True, it is not played for jump scares, and there is nary a monster in sight. Instead, it relies on the psychological aspects that the genre is capable of (Lewton/Tourneur come immediately to mind), and to great effect. If that's your type of horror, then the coming Kino/Lorber release of the DEAD OF NIGHT special Blu-ray edition this July will be just your cup of Dareeling tea.

Click HERE to pre-order your copy.

A 4K Restoration! A group of strangers, mysteriously gathered at an isolated country estate, recount chilling tales of the supernatural. First, a racer survives a brush with death only to receive terrifying premonitions from beyond the grave. Then a teen’s innocent game of hide-and-seek leads to an encounter with the macabre. Next, a young couple purchases an antique mirror that unleashes a horrific power from its past. In a lighter vein, two competitive golfers play for stakes that may haunt the winner forever. Finally, a renowned ventriloquist descends into an abyss of madness and murder when his dummy develops a mind of its own. But even after these frightening tales are told, does one final nightmare await them all? Britain’s venerable Ealing Studios brought together four brilliant directors, Charles Crichton (The Lavender Hill Mob), Basil Dearden (The Mind Benders), Alberto Cavalcanti (They Made Me a Fugitve) and Robert Hamer (It Always Rains on Sunday) to create this classic chiller that remains one of the most influential horror films ever made. This is the uncut and complete UK version of Dead of Night, now newly restored in 4K from original archival materials for the first time in decades.

Special Features:
-Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas 
-Remembering "Dead of Night" - Documentary (75:35) 

-Trailers

BONUS! British quad theater poster.

Lot # 85842
Dead of Night (Eagle-Lion, 1945). British Quad (30" X 40").
A chilling horror anthology, this film is made up of five stories of supernatural terror united by a simple framing device: a group of strangers inexplicably gathered at a country farmhouse, each compelled to tell a story of supernatural happenings. Several of the stories, like the story of a bizarre driver with "room for one more," and a ventriloquist whose mind begins slipping away as his dummy comes to life, have become nearly legendary in their own right, and the structure of this classic film inspired countless imitators in the ensuing decades. Offered here is an extremely rare country-of-origin poster for this wonderful film. With superb art by Leslie Hurry, we estimate that this is one of only a small handful of these posters known to exist. This particular copy had paper lifts in the borders, water staining in the bottom border, and some small tears in the left border, but expert professional restoration has returned this rare treasure to a like-new appearance. This may be your only opportunity to acquire this great piece, so get your bid in right away! Fine+ on Linen.
SOLD IN JULY 2009 by Heritage Auctions, FOR: $16,730.00