A disturbed woman, adrift in steamy sexual fantasies. A New York psychiatrist who seems to have taken on one patient too many. A beautiful call girl caught between the cops and a vicious razor-wielding killer…and the killer herself: a tall, blonde, elusive psycho named Bobbi. Dressed to Kill contains all the heart-stopping elements of a classic suspense thriller. But writer-director Brian De Palma (Carrie, The Fury, Blow Out, Scarface, The Untouchables) turns up the heat and takes them one step further to create a masterpiece. Screen legend Michael Caine (The Ipcress File, The Italian Job) stars as a fashionable Manhattan therapist faced with a murderous puzzle: the sudden, hideous slaying of one of his patients—with a straight razor stolen from his office. Desperate to find the slasher before anyone else is hurt, the doctor soon finds himself lost in a provocative and deadly maze of obsession, deviance and deceit. Stunningly scored by Pino Donaggio (Body Double) with terrific turns by Angie Dickinson (Pretty Maids All in a Row), Nancy Allen (RoboCop), Dennis Franz (American Buffalo) and Keith Gordon (Christine), Dressed to Kill is a psychosexual tour de force from the modern master of the macabre.
For thoughts on Dressed To Kill, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Dressed To Kill debuts on 4K UHD Blu-Ray courtesy of Kino Classics with a tremendous 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer from a 16 bit scan of the Original Camera Negative. The Blu-Ray disc that accompanies this release is for the special features only and does not include a 1080p version of the film. The film was released on Blu-Ray from a 4K transfer in 2015 courtesy of the Criterion Collection, which I personally own and allows for easier direct comparisons. The improvements from that Blu-Ray are stark and numerous, especially when it comes to a few green-tinted color anomalies that plagued that disc. That release was far from terrible, but this brand new release appears to be what the film always deserved to be for fans.
The film features sumptuous natural film grain which remains intact and always resolves naturally free of clumping and swarming. As the film is allowed to harness the powers of its original source, the audience is treated to so much minute detail and texture never before seen on home entertainment. Just look at some of the work in the art gallery or the ripples of certain jackets and be amazed. Skin tones are dialed into their perfect natural hue, and the clarity of the transfer gives you a deep amount of facial detail. The Dolby Vision provides very natural, deep colors throughout free from unnatural color grading.
Articles of clothing and distinct lighting choices know how to leap off the screen with vibrancy. With the 4K UHD release, the transfer remains pleasantly crisp throughout with little in the way of softness or fluctuation. White levels are more stable and bright without ever blooming. Black levels are deep and allow the picture to maintain a tremendous amount of depth and detail in darker environments. The command over contrast and overall clarity is an asset to this cinematography, especially in unique details within the production design and the clothing. Fans are going to cheer for this one.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray presents the movie with a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio mono lossless track that sounds really great. While it might have been interesting to have a new Dolby Atmos surround track, we are just glad to have the original audio thriving for artistic integrity. Dialogue comes through without issue even during more chaotic moments in public spaces. The track balances every element of the audio so no one sounds gets the short end of the stick. The surround channels in the 5.1 mix provide some great texture to the world, but even here most of the material is focused on the center channel. Directionality of the sound is never an issue thanks to its distinct placement. The score establishes a mysterious atmosphere within this narrative, and it flows out with pleasing fidelity. The low end is not intended to be a powerhouse within the confines of the story, but it adds some texture to a few moments. This audio presentation is a satisfying experience for fans. There are optional English subtitles provided.
4K UHD Blu-Ray
- Audio Commentary: Film Critic and Author Maitland McDonagh delivers a very informative new commentary track in which she explores the themes of the film, the controversial elements of the time and in the modern era, the casting and acting choices, comparisons to Hitchcock, where this fits into the career of Brian De Palma and much more. This is well worth a listen if you are a fan of the feature or want to get more from it.
Blu-Ray
- Strictly Business – Interview with Actress Nancy Allen: A new 18-minute interview with Allen in which she discusses her approach to the character, the writing process of De Palma, the regrets she has about not taking certain chances during preparation, developing the look of her character, the filming of the subway sequence, working with her husband at the time and more.
- Killer Frames – Interview with Associate Producer/Production Manager Fred C. Caruso: A new eight-minute interview with Caruso in which he discusses his entry into the movie business, his early work on films such as The Godfather and Network, working with De Palma on Dressed To Kill, shooting within the budget and time constraints, shooting at certain locations and more.
- An Imitation Of Life – Interview with Actor Keith Gordon: A new 14-minute interview with Gordon in which he discusses working with De Palma, the audition process, developing this character without trying to mimic De Palma, memories of his costars, themes of the picture and more.
- Symphony of Fear – 2012 Interview with Producer George Litto: An 18-minute featurette in which Litto discusses his early career, his professional relationship with Brian De Palma, how collaborations happened on set, the grander ideas behind Dressed To Kill, the legacy of the picture and more.
- Dressed In White – 2012 Interview with Actress Angie Dickinson: A 30-minute conversation with Dickinson in which she discusses why she think Dressed To Kill is the best work of her career, why De Palma wanted her specifically in this role, her feelings about aspects of her performance, the “traumatic” moments on set and more.
- Dressed In Purple – 2012 Interview with Nancy Allen: A 23-minute interview with Allen in which she discusses having this as a breakout role, working with her husband, details behind key scenes in the film, memories of the ensemble, the practical nature of certain effects and more.
- Lessons In Filmmaking – 2012 Interview with Keith Gordon: A 31-minute piece in which Gordon discusses how important this movie was to him as a filmmaker, his relationship with De Palma, the comparisons to Hitchcock and more.
- The Making Of Dressed to Kill: A 44-minute archival featurette which delves into the origins of the project, the casting, the visual aesthetic of the picture, the motivations behind certain characters, technical challenges they faced and more.
- Slashing Dressed to Kill: A ten-minute look at the controversy caused by the content in the film and what changes had to be instituted to secure an R-rating. Some comparisons between the two versions are shown.
- Unrated/R-Rated/TV-Rated Comparison: A five-minute look at the changes instituted between the unrated cut, the R-rated cut and the version suitable for television.
- An Appreciation by Keith Gordon: A six-minute archival featurette in which Gordon discusses the visual motifs in the film and the expert direction of De Palma.
- 1980 Archival Audio Interview with Actor Michael Caine: A five-minute interview with Caine in which he discusses the film and the experience of working with De Palma.
- 1980 Archival Audio Interview with Angie Dickinson: A three-and-a-half minute piece in which Dickinson attempts to discuss the film without spoiling it.
- 1980 Archival Audio Interview with Nancy Allen: A nearly 15-minute interview with Allen in which she is asked some frankly misogynistic questions by the interviewer that she attempts to navigate with tact.
- Radio Spots: There are four-minutes worth of radio spots provided.
- TV Spots: A minute-and-a-half collection of TV Spots are provided.
- Trailers: There is a Teaser Trailer (0:54) and Trailer (2:12) provided for Dressed To Kill. There are also trailers provided for Play Misty For Me, And Soon The Darkness, Eyes Of Laura Mars, Happy Birthday To Me and Not For Publication. .
Final Thoughts
Dressed To Kill is not a movie free of issues, but it stands as one of the most compelling and utterly distinct Brian De Palma films. The film can be a bit excessive or even garish, but the style that the auteur brings behind the camera makes all of these elements feel genuine to the world. The entire ensemble fits together perfectly where no one person feels like a weak link. The shift in understanding certain communities more fully and the harm of stereotypes makes this a film that will invite discussion, which is a great way to more fully appreciate and understand cinema of the past. Kino Classics has given this one a 4K UHD Blu-Ray upgrade with a 5-star A/V presentation and a deep array of new and legacy special features. If you are a fan of the film and have yet to pick it up, this is the strongest presentation yet. Recommended
Dressed To Kill is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics 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.