4K Ultra HD – Edition EN – Studiocanal – 97 min – 23 November 2022
Video format
• Intermediate Master: 4K
• Standard HDR: CSD
• Ratio: 1.37
Soundtrack
• English DTS-HD MA 2.0
• French DTS-HD MA 2.0
Subtitles
• French
It is brought to the attention of our dear readers as well as the viewing equipment specified and used by each tester of the MaG team, the rendering may differ from one installation to another, whether or not it is calibrated, as well as personal preferences and expectations may influence the rating. Moreover, the images in the article are not representative of the edition tested.
WORK – And Romero « creation » zombie
Every year Barbara and Johnny will bloom their father's grave. The night falls when suddenly a strange man appears and attacks Johnny who is left for death. Terrorized, Barbara runs away and takes refuge in a country house. She finds Ben there, along with other fugitives. The radio then tells them the terrible news: dead people attack the living.
Despite times dead in narrative, this classic of horror to ridiculous budget and minimalist staging of George A. Romero has set all modern cinema codes « zombiesque ». Totally assuming his subject while offering a very interesting sociological analysis (human nonsense persists in spite of a common threat), he multiplies the Gores scenes and creates a growing tension within the framework of a closed house where the threat emanates from everywhere (from outside and from inside). Undesirable, this midnight movie repeatedly copied has never been equaled!
IMAGE – The little house of horror
Immaculate and with superb shades in the dark, this SDR UHD transfer from the magnificent 4K restoration of 2017 (from 99% of the original 35 mm negative and supervised by the director shortly before his death) digs up once again the splendid black and white photograph of the work.
With excellent stability, the image that has been thoroughly cleaned is organic as desired. The sharpness has not been adjusted, the details are exposed in their entirety and the silver grain is kept under a good density. The greys are admirable and the contrasts, lush without excess, deliver deep black solids and pure white energy.
And while the differences with the Blu-ray are not always easy to spot, the less lit passages are more readable thanks to finer textures and better defined shadows. In both cases, compressive traces are visible here.
SON – There is coming to get you, Barbra!
The restored monophonic VO does not, however, suffer from any imperfection related to its age. Without breath or damage, it delivers always clear dialogues, distinct effects and predominant music. The rare « jumps » of the sound present since 1968 are less violent than in the past.
Cavern and hollow, the monophonic VF has no life.
CONCLUSION – Neither alive nor dead
While he changed the face of horror, The Night of the Dead Never been as beautiful as today. It must be said that this 4K Ultra HD presentation is protected by remarkable A/V performances that are not frightened by the ambient nightmare!
Artistic note
9
Video quality
8.5
Audio quality
8
0
[...] The Night of the Living Dead (1968), to eat without moderation? by the celest wolf [...]