Unspeakable evil is unleashed upon mankind in director Sam Raimi’s (Darkman, Drag Me To Hell ) outrageously hilarious third chapter in his Evil Dead Trilogy. Bruce Campbell returns as Ash, the handsome, shotgun-toting, chainsaw-armed department store clerk who is time warped backwards into England’s Dark Ages, where he romances a beauty and faces legions of the undead. Can Ash save the living, rescue his girlfriend, and get back to his own time?
For thoughts on Army Of Darkness, please check out my colleague Cassie Brown’s previous article here.
For additional thoughts on Army Of Darkness, please check out my unboxing on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3GpoJv6v40]
Video Quality
Scream Factory presents Army Of Darkness with a spectacular 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a new 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative with Dolby Vision/HDR. This particular 4K UHD presentation applies to the Theatrical Cut of the film which has been approved by Director Sam Raimi, Director Of Photography Bill Pope, And Editor Bob Murawski. The other various cuts of the film are provided on Blu-Ray discs, as detailed below in the special features.
One of our favorite aspects of the disc is the application of HDR for increased color output that will bowl over longtime fans with its depth and nuance. While the film does feature some dark, shadowy sequences either in dank castles or during the night for extended portions of the narrative, there is a world of nuance to be found during the daytime scenes in the open air. The new presentation features some colors in the production design and landscapes that pop off the screen with a notable vibrancy. Lighting is used well to establish the tone of this film, and this disc handles every distinct environmental change with ease. Black levels are favorable with virtually nothing in the way of crush present, and white levels are dialed in perfectly with no evidence of blooming.
The main drawback that keeps this from being perfect is some leftover specks of damage and dirt that were not cleaned up during the remastering process. If this is the tradeoff for the lack of DNR on this transfer, we will take it! The level of detail and clarity is stunning with a choice amount of natural film grain intact. The grain resolves incredibly well without ever feeling clumpy even during the smoky or murky environments. We did not spot any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances. The texture on display in the gnarly makeup, the outfits and within the production design are unbelievable. The special effects present with impressive clarity, and the added resolution does not make their practical roots seem any more jarring. This presentation is true to the original look of the film, and it marks a top-tier effort from the team at Scream Factory.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with what appears to be the previously released DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio tracks, both of which serve up the movie capably. From the very opening moments getting acclimated to this world, the track provides an immersive soundscape that perfectly captures the artistic intent with a fidelity that is accurately maintained. The environmental sounds such as horses or clanging swords are rendered well alongside everything else. The score has never sounded more robust, and it is used impeccably to establish the tone of the story. There is never a moment where it threatens to overwhelm competing sounds, and it maintains a fine balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. There does not seem to be any noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear outside a couple of boxy sounding moments that are fleeting. Scream Factory has done a swell job here. English SDH subtitles are provided for those who want them.
Special Features
Scream Factory has provided Army Of Darkness with the option of a sleek new SteelBook featuring artwork that is truly lovely in person. The front artwork is an animated depiction of Ash blasting through some deadites, and the rear features more deadite and demon action. The interior sports a textured still of Ash. Video of the SteelBook can be found at the top of this review.
Disc Two (Blu-Ray – Theatrical Cut)
- Theatrical Cut (1:21:08)
- Medieval Times – The Making Of Army Of Darkness: A terrific 97-minute documentary in which a whole slew of cast and crew members take you through the creation of Army of Darkness from the long wait post Evil Dead 2, working with Dino de Laurentiis, the backgrounds of so many tertiary characters, the special effects work, the financial constraints, the collaborative nature of the set, the music of the film, its theatrical rollout and more. This is the kind of doc that you wish all of your favorite movies could get.
- Original Ending: A five-minute look at the original ending, which you can watch inserted into the film in the Director’s Cut on the next disc.
- Alternate Opening: A three-minute look at the unused opening which connects more to the ending of the Director’s Cut version while recapping events. This is presented in rough quality, and you can view it with optional commentary by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell.
- Deleted Scenes: An 11-minute collection of unused scenes featuring the origin of Ash’s hatred of Arthur, additional time in the windmill and more. This is presented in rough quality, and you can view it with optional commentary by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.
- TV Spots: Two minutes worth of TV spots are provided here.
- U.S. Video Promo: A 32-second promo spot is provided here.
Disc Three (Blu-Ray – Director’s Cut)
- Director’s Cut (1:36:23)
- Audio Commentary: Director Sam Raimi, Actor Bruce Campbell and Ivan Raimi provide a really entertaining commentary track in which they give background on the origins of the film, the mandates implemented by Universal, stuntmen who didn’t match their acting styles, working with significant others on a film set, memories of the ensemble, the moments that were previously cut out of the director’s cut and more.
- On-Set Video Footage Compilation: A five-minute selection of footage from the set of the film, mostly showing off props and Raimi filming.
- Creating The Deadites Featurette: A nearly 22-minute featurette in which the mad geniuses behind KNB discuss being brought onto the film and the heavy leaning into Ray Harryhausen homages. There are many great interviews to go along with the interesting behind the scenes footage.
- Behind-The-Scenes Footage From KNB Effects: A 54-minute collection of footage from the production of the film with a heavy emphasis on the special effects.
- Vintage “Making Of” Featurette: A five-minute surface level overview of the film is provided here along with some on-set interviews.
- Extended Interview Clips: A five-minute selection of interviews with the cast and creative team as they discuss the movie a bit further.
Disc Four (Blu-Ray – International Cut)
- International Cut (1:28:51)
- Television Version (1:33:03 – Standard Definition)
- International Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided.
- Still Galleries with Rare Behind-The-Scenes Photos: Over 300 photos are provided here including early sketches, on set photos and more.
- Still Gallery Of Props and Rare Photos: Nearly 50 photos are provided here of different props.
- Storyboards: Nearly eight minutes of storyboards are provided here including a longer S-Mart sequence.
- The Men Behind The Army: A 19-minute piece which takes a look at how the team pulled off some of the visual effects, prop work and scene construction.
- Special Thanks: A minute-long acknowledgement of some of the people who helped make this release possible.
Final Thoughts
Army Of Darkness takes the Evil Dead franchise in a wildly different direction without feeling completely alienated to what came before it. Bruce Campbell continues to shape one of the most iconic protagonists in the horror genre with his perfect blend of charm and loveable cowardice. Sam Raimi directs the hell out of this film with a sense of scale that would give some insight into the bigger projects he would tackle just a bit later in his career. Scream Factory has provided the film with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts a terrific A/V presentation and an assortment of special features that are not to be missed. Plus, you have an option to get this in a stunning SteelBook package. Even if you already own this one on Blu-Ray, you owe it to yourself to upgrade and see this film in the best presentation possible. Highly Recommended
Army Of Darkness (Collector’s Edition) is currently available to purchase on Limited Edition SteelBook and Standard 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Scream Factory has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
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