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Return of the Living Dead (The) (Blu-ray) (1985)
They're Back From The Grave and Ready To Party!Director: Dan O'Bannon
OVERALL: Draw-
OVERALL: Draw
The 2022 Scream Factory CEs has 2 versions of the film, a 4K transfer for the theatrical version, altered and slightly unaltered soundtracks (both lossless), and the best set of extras.
Do note however, the UK release includes the completely original (unaltered) mono soundtrack (also lossless) and some exclusive extras.
Movie Censorship Comparisons:
- Theatrical Version and Workprint (Part 1)
- Theatrical Version and Workprint (Part 2) -
CUTS:
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Blu-ray A Collector's Edition America- MGM Home Entertainment / Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment - No cuts (90:46). But whilst the film hasn't been cut, the audio has been altered:
1.) 'Tarman' zombie has a deep, guttural voice that remains constant throughout the film.
2.) The "send more cops" zombie also had his voice lowered to accurately represent someone whose been dead for 100+ years.
3.) The film's score has also been altered. One song, "Dead Beat Dance," which played near the beginning of the film as we are introduced to the punk kids driving in Suicide's car, has been removed due to legal clearances. Sadly, this is not uncommon in Hollywood. Every time a movie is released on a new format, every song has to be cleared by it's respective copyright owners. The song which has replaced "Dead Beat Dance" is strangely uncredited.
4.) Frank's suicide – In the original, "Burn the Flames" played over the entire scene. The problem here was that the producers felt that Frank's death scream would be too "disturbing" for audiences, and ordered the song to be played loudly throughout. The thing is (as O'Bannon states on the commentary track), that "disturbing" is what he *liked* about that scene, and to drown out Frank's scream robbed it of it's impact. The song is still in that scene but is faded out as Frank gets into the crematorium.
5.) One other song, "Take a Walk" has been changed. This song was probably the biggest offender in terms of making the actor's dialogue very hard to hear (the producers amped up the music through the whole movie, regardless of it's affect on the performances.) Now, the song does not begin until after the punk kids run out of the UNEEDA warehouse.
6.) All of the other songs remain as they were without alteration.
7.) After Burt and the gang cut up the corpse at UNEEDA but before the bonesaw is brought out, listen to the corpse's body flopping on the floor in the background. - Blu-ray A Collector's Edition America- Shout! Factory - No cuts. Include the Theatrical Version containing the altered soundtrack and the unaltered soundtrack with the exception of one song (90:30) and the Workprint Version (108:05).
- Blu-ray A Collector's Edition America- Shout! Factory - No cuts. Include the Theatrical Version containing the altered soundtrack and the unaltered soundtrack with the exception of one song (90:26) and the Workprint Version (108:05).
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Blu-ray A Collector's Edition Canada- MGM Home Entertainment - No cuts (90:46). But whilst the film hasn't been cut, the audio has been altered:
1.) 'Tarman' zombie has a deep, guttural voice that remains constant throughout the film.
2.) The "send more cops" zombie also had his voice lowered to accurately represent someone whose been dead for 100+ years.
3.) The film's score has also been altered. One song, "Dead Beat Dance," which played near the beginning of the film as we are introduced to the punk kids driving in Suicide's car, has been removed due to legal clearances. Sadly, this is not uncommon in Hollywood. Every time a movie is released on a new format, every song has to be cleared by it's respective copyright owners. The song which has replaced "Dead Beat Dance" is strangely uncredited.
4.) Frank's suicide – In the original, "Burn the Flames" played over the entire scene. The problem here was that the producers felt that Frank's death scream would be too "disturbing" for audiences, and ordered the song to be played loudly throughout. The thing is (as O'Bannon states on the commentary track), that "disturbing" is what he *liked* about that scene, and to drown out Frank's scream robbed it of it's impact. The song is still in that scene but is faded out as Frank gets into the crematorium.
5.) One other song, "Take a Walk" has been changed. This song was probably the biggest offender in terms of making the actor's dialogue very hard to hear (the producers amped up the music through the whole movie, regardless of it's affect on the performances.) Now, the song does not begin until after the punk kids run out of the UNEEDA warehouse.
6.) All of the other songs remain as they were without alteration.
7.) After Burt and the gang cut up the corpse at UNEEDA but before the bonesaw is brought out, listen to the corpse's body flopping on the floor in the background. - Blu-ray A Collector's Edition Canada- Shout! Factory - No cuts. Include the Theatrical Version containing the altered soundtrack and the unaltered soundtrack with the exception of one song (90:30) and the Workprint Version (108:05).
- Blu-ray A Collector's Edition Canada- Shout! Factory - No cuts. Include the Theatrical Version containing the altered soundtrack and the unaltered soundtrack with the exception of one song (90 mins) and the Workprint Version (108:05).
- Blu-ray B United Kingdom- Second Sight - No cuts. Features the original audio as well as the altered one (90:48)
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Blu-ray A Collector's Edition America- MGM Home Entertainment / Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment - No cuts (90:46). But whilst the film hasn't been cut, the audio has been altered:
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Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!
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Comparison added by Noor_Razzak on 16/11/10
Comparison last updated by Anthony_DiPaola on 01/12/22UPDATE LOG:
22/06/12: Corrected DTS track on UK release
Please ensure you read our disclaimer.
04/06/12: Addition of the UK release.
08/11/14: Typo fixed.
06/04/16: Corrected film release year and added ASIN link and info on upcoming Scream Factory release.
17/06/16: Addition of the US Scream Factory release.
23/06/16: Updated info on Workprint Version presentation on the Scream Factory release.
25/06/16: Added runtimes to US releases.
02/12/16: Updated title.
09/04/18: Tidyup.
30/12/18: Corrected year.
02/10/22: Addition of the Canadian releases and 2022 Scream Factory 4K/Blu-ray combo.
25/10/22: Updated caps-a-holic link and added Movie Censorship Comparisons.
01/12/22: Corrected number of discs on the 2022 Collector's Editions.
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