‘Fade To Black’ 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review – An Offbeat Psychological Spiral That Embraces Film History

Eric Binford (Dennis Christopher, Breaking Away, It) lives for the movies. He works at a 35mm print depot as a delivery boy, but spends all of his free time watching classic films and collecting Hollywood memorabilia. Endlessly tormented by his colleagues, Eric drifts further and further into a dream world where he embodies the screen characters that he so deeply worships. However, when the teasing pushes him too far, he snaps and dons the outfits of his big screen idols and begins killing off his tormentors in outrageous recreations of his favorite film scenes.

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Video Quality

Scream Factory presents Fade to Black with a stellar 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a new 4K restoration with Dolby Vision/HDR. This film was originally released on Blu-Ray by Vinegar Syndrome in 2020, which was derived from 35mm negative elements. We do not have that older release to compare, but word is that it looked pretty great for a film overlooked for so long. Solely judging this new 4K UHD release against the included Blu-Ray derived from the same new source, the 4K UHD release shows some nice improvements, so we can only imagine this is the best presentation to date. 

It is a joy to see the natural film grain retained and resolved so effortlessly with subtle texture in the evocative makeup, production design, clothing, and more. This grain can be a bit coarse at points, but it renders evenly with nothing ever swarming or spiking. This transfer does a tremendous job of eliminating most signs of print damage for a very pleasing source. This is elevated by a strong encode which does not experience any stumbling in quality. This disc plays well within the various environments for a consistent experience. There are some unique elements of the effects work that make an impression despite not being a traditional slasher film.  

The implementation of Dolby Vision allows for a noble degree of depth. The HDR ensures the black levels hold firm with immense detail and no signs of crush or other artifacts. This also applies to the highlights, which never veer into blooming from any lighting condition. This disc captures the nuances of the palette as they thrive on this format. The new presentation preserves the look of the film to achieve something pretty special. Scream Factory continues to thrive with its 4K UHD upgrades for fans of cult horror.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track which delivers a clean and consistent listening experience. Dialogue is the star of the picture as it emanates with the utmost clarity even during the more bustling sequences. Environmental noises such as chatter at work or movies playing in the background come through with a noteworthy definition. The low end of the track is not a particular standout, but there is a bit of texture experienced. The score sounds pleasant without any indication of age-related wear and tear. It aids in conjuring a distinct atmosphere which works really well. The film delivers a sonic experience that fortifies its fidelity in every scenario. Scream Factory provided an invaluable listening experience. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for those who want them.

Special Features

• Audio Commentaries: A quartet of commentary tracks is provided which tackles the film from an analytical point of view along with personal reflections of the production. 
  • Audio Commentary #1: Film Critic Drew McWeeny
  • Audio Commentary #2: Actor Dennis Christopher
  • Audio Commentary #3: The Hysteria Continues!
  • Audio Commentary #4: Film Historians Amanda Reyes and Bill Ackerman

• Interviews: An array of archival interviews is provided with key creative figures from the movie in which they discuss how they came to be a part of the film, memories from the set, inspirations from classic Hollywood, the legacy of the film, and more. 

• • Living and Dying For the Movies – Interview with Dennis Christopher (17:12)

• • Celluloid Heroes – Interview with Executive Producer Irwin Yablans (26:12)

• • A Brush with Darkness – Interview with Stylist Patricia Bunch (14:35)

• • Experimenting with Sound – Interview with Composer Craig Safan (12:30)

• • Finishing the Story – Interview with Editor Barbara Pokras (8:46)

• • Audio Interview with Actress Linda Kerridge (31:19)

• • Taking the Hits – Interview with Special Effects Artist Wayne Beauchamp (11:39)

• • A Shiny Quality – Interview with Actor Marcie Barkin (18:43)

• Still Gallery (10:08)

• Theatrical Trailer (3:04)

Final Thoughts

Fade to Black is an engaging psychological drama that finds our protagonist losing his grip on reality as the world of film proves to be a more welcoming sanctuary for his psyche. The violent ramifications are not to the level of your average exploitation film, but there are enough thrills to keep you glued to the screen. Dennis Christopher delivers a memorable performance that evolves quite naturally over the course of the story. If you are an old-school film fan, you will especially appreciate some of the nods to the Golden Age of Hollywood. Scream Factory has provided this one with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts a fantastic A/V presentation and a fine selection of special features. Recommended 

Fade to Black (Collector’s Edition) is currently available to purchase on 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.