Note: Publicity stills are NOT screenshots from the 4K master
A rooftop sniper guns down 14 pedestrians on the streets of New York City. A mild-mannered dad takes a shotgun and blows away his wife and children. A cop goes on a sudden shooting spree at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. And each of these unlikely killers makes the same dying confession: “God told me to.” Now a repressed Catholic NYPD detective (Tony Lo Bianco of THE HONEYMOON KILLERS and THE FRENCH CONNECTION) must uncover a netherworld of deranged faith, alien insemination and his own unholy connection to a homicidal messiah with a perverse plan for the soul of mankind.
For an in-depth conversation about God Told Me To, be sure to check of Mike Vaugh’s interview with film historians Steven Mitchell and Troy Howarth here.
For general thoughts on God Told Me To, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Blue Underground presents God Told Me To with a strong 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K restoration of the uncut original negative with Dolby Vision HDR. The application of Dolby Vision for increased color output ups the ante in a way that really wows you. The various New York City locations provide a visual palette where there is a world of nuance to be found. The new release features some colors in the production design and environments such as the yellow of taxi cabs that pops off the screen with a vibrant intensity. There is a discreet teal push to the color grade which is less obvious than many previous examples and likely to be overlooked by many. Lighting conditions are not always optimal due to the manner in which Cohen captures certain footage, but this disc handles every environmental change as well as can be expected. The black levels are deep with only a couple of moments that veer into crush such as a staircase attack, and white levels are solid as a rock with no evidence of blooming.
The level of detail and clarity is tremendous with an excellent amount of natural film grain intact. The grain resolves quite well with only some minor fluctuations due to the original photography. The texture on display in the outfits and within the production design are a revelation. Even the special effects details present with impressive clarity that makes certain eye-popping elements all the more visceral. This transfer does not register anything in the way of print damage. This presentation is true to the original look of the film with the added resolution making elements seem more natural. There does not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances. This presentation is another great effort from Blue Underground.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with three wonderful English tracks including a Dolby Atmos track, a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track and a DTS-HD 1.0 Master Audio track, along with a Dolby Digital 2.0 track in French. The English tracks provide an impressive soundscape that perfectly captures the artistic intent while leaning into the technology of the present. The track does not go overboard with constant activity in the side and rear channels, but it goes towards making the city feel more immersive. The environmental sounds such as car horns and the slamming of doors are rendered well alongside everything else. The score has never sounded better and is used impeccably to establish the mood of the story. There is never a moment where it threatens to overwhelm competing sounds, and it maintains a good balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. Thankfully, there does not seem to be any noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear. Blue Underground has delivered a perfectly preserved audio presentation that gives this movie new life no matter which track you go with.
Special Features
4K UHD Blu-Ray
- Audio Commentary #1: Writer/Producer/Director Larry Cohen is joined by Director/Blue Underground Founder William Lustig for a fantastic archival commentary track recorded in 2003 in which they discuss how Bernard Herrmann passed away right before he was supposed to score the film, the original notable name who was supposed to headline the film, the ease with which they were able to procure a rifle with a scope at the last minute, the difficulties that arose during shooting, the production design and shooting schedule, where various performers are these days, the response to the film and much more. This track should be considered a must listen.
- Audio Commentary #2: Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Troy Howarth deliver a very fun and informative new commentary track in which they discuss the film’s legacy, the history behind the performers and creative team, the ways in which Larry Cohen was notorious for “stealing” shots, the aspects that stand out with Cohen as a filmmaker and producer, the movie studios that influenced Cohen, the grimy aesthetic of the film and much more that gives a more critical assessment of the project to complement the personal nature of the competing commentary track.
- God Told Me To Advertising: This disc provides the Theatrical Trailer (1:04) and five 30-second TV Spots for God Told Me To.
- Demon Advertising: This disc provides the Theatrical Trailer (1:06) and two 30-second TV Spots for the movie under the title Demon.
Blu-Ray
The Blu-Ray features all of the extras on the 4K UHD disc plus the following:
- Heaven & Hell On Earth – Interview with Star Tony Lo Bianco: A 12-minute interview in which Lo Bianco discusses his approach to playing this character, the feeling about playing both sides of the law during his career, the unconventional directing style of Larry Cohen, his feelings about some more shocking elements in the film, getting over his discomfort with heights to secure certain shots and more.
- Bloody Good Times – Interview with Special Effects Artist Steve Neill: A nine-minute interview with Neill in which he discusses his initial inspiration for getting involved with special effects makeup, how he became involved with God Told Me To, some notable projects he was involved in and more.
- God Told Me To Bone – New Beverly Q&A with Larry Cohen: A 21-minute piece in which Larry Cohen discusses working with Andy Kaufman, the various sequences he stole, the stars from Hollywood’s Golden Age which he secured for the picture, the score of the picture, repurposing stock footage and more.
- Lincoln Center Q&A with Larry Cohen: An eight-minute video from 2002 which shows highlights from some Q&A’s that were hosted at Lincoln Center in which Cohen discusses working within the science fiction space, the St. Patricks Days parade, how New York factors into the story, the “lousy” ad campaign and more.
- Poster & Still Gallery: A collection of posters, advertising, lobby cards, stills and more.
Final Thoughts
God Told Me To is a wonderfully bizarre film which starts out on one path before evolving into an increasingly more shocking version of itself. The twists and turns are anchored capably by a talented cast who bring a lot of gravitas to their roles, including some legends of the screen from years back. The story is not completely cohesive, but you have to respect the confidence that Cohen brings to his chaos. It is certainly a story that will stick with you after the credits have finished rolling. Blue Underground has released a new 4K UHD Blu-ray release which features a lovely A/V presentation and an assortment of special features not to be missed. If you are a fan of Larry Cohen, you should have a great deal of fun here. Recommended
God Told Me To will be available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray on July 19, 2022.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Blue Underground has supplied a copy of this set 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.