‘Creepshow 2’ 4K UHD Review (Arrow Video)
Stars: George Kennedy, Philip Dore, Tom Savini, Dorothy Lamour, Paul Satterfield, Daniel Beer, Page Hannah, Lois Chiles, David Beecroft, Tom Wright | Written by George A. Romero, Stephen King, Lucille Fletcher | Directed by Michael Gornick
When it comes to classic horror, few names command the same respect as George A. Romero and Stephen King. In 1982, these two genre titans teamed up to deliver Creepshow, a film that quickly transcended its cult roots to become a bona fide classic. Five years later, the pair reunited to unleash a second helping of terror with Creepshow 2. Now, Arrow Video has ensured this sequel’s legacy endures, giving it new life in Ultra HD with a stunning 4K release.
In ‘Old Chief Wood’nhead’, a group of young hoodlums face retribution from an unlikely source after looting a local hardware store. Meanwhile, ‘The Raft’ sees a group of horny teens wishing they’d read the warning signs first before taking a dip in a remote lake. Finally, an uptight businesswoman finds herself with some unwanted company following a hit-and-run incident in ‘The Hitch-hiker’.
One of the strengths of this sequel is that it doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Creepshow 2 embraces the same EC Comics–inspired flair that made the original so beloved. This time, however, Romero stepped away from the director’s chair and handed the reins to longtime collaborator Michael Gornick. While it’s rare for a sequel to fully measure up to its predecessor – and Creepshow 2 is no exception – it remains an enjoyable, spirited follow-up. It’s the kind of film that fits perfectly into a Halloween marathon or any day when you’re craving a dose of spooky, comic-book-style fun.
Arrow Video has restored Creepshow 2 in 4k from the original negative. The film has been transferred to 4k in (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) and is presented in 1.85:1 aspect ratio. There are two audio tracks: the Original English lossless mono, stereo, and English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio surround audio options. Finally, there is the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. The restoration is crisp and clean with no signs of damage to the print, there are no compression issues or audio anomalies. In addition to a tremendous restoration, Arrow Video added some fun bonus features on this 4K. Look at what is included:
Special Features:
- Audio commentary with director Michael Gornick
- Screenplay for a Sequel: an interview with screenwriter George A. Romero
- Tales from the Creep, an interview with actor and make-up artist Tom Savini
- Poncho’s Last Ride, an interview with actor Daniel Beer
- The Road to Dover, an interview with actor Tom Wright
- Nightmares in Foam Rubber, an archive featurette on the special effects of Creepshow 2, including interviews with FX artists Howard Berger and Greg Nicotero
- My Friend Rick, Howard Berger on his special effects mentor Rick Baker
- Behind-the-scenes footage
- Image gallery
- Trailers & TV spots
- Original screenplay galleries
- Creepshow 2: Pinfall, a Limited Edition booklet featuring the comic adaptation of the unfilmed Creepshow 2 segment “Pinfall” by artist Jason Mayoh
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by festival programmer Michael Blyth
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Mike Saputo
With the wonderful director’s audio commentary, interviews, featurettes and the booklet that features the comic adaptation, Arrow Video made this 4K release of Creepshow 2 something extremely special.
***** 5/5
Creepshow 2 is out now on 4K UHD from Arrow Video. Head over to Amazon to order your copy now.
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