In their first ever feature documentary nearly sixty years after they met as teenagers before the British Invasion music scene, THE ZOMBIES tell their story of navigating the tumultuous music industry over the decades and making one of the most influential albums of all time, Odessey and Oracle. “She’s Not There” made them the first British band after The Beatles to reach #1 in the US. After years of touring and many missteps in the 60s, sadly the band missed out on their biggest moment yet, when “Time of the Season” hit #1 and became a global success, inspiring new generations each year. The band looks back on their journey, where true friendship led them to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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Video Quality

Hung Up On a Dream: The Zombies Documentary comes to Blu-Ray courtesy of Utopia with a fetching high definition master that translates this material with great care. The feature combines archival footage and photos mixed with some newer interviews to fully capture the history of this iconic band. All of the newer material looks great within the context of the filming conditions. The contrast is dialed in perfectly throughout with no crushed blacks or blown highlights. There are some lush colors featured throughout that practically leap off the screen.

This older material seems to be sourced from the most stable origins possible, most of which look strong considering the vintage of some of this work. At its best, moments largely look clear and natural with some detailed features. The material exhibits only minor source deficiencies. The transfer does not succumb to anything in the way of compression artifacts or digital anomalies. We are pleased to be able to watch this in such nice quality.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray disc comes with a grand DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that brings this experience to life without a hiccup. Dialogue is forefront in the center channel as you get stories relayed in a stable manner. The surround sound presentation makes the overview more lively with certain moments truly making an impact. The film balances the interviews with a good amount of footage from the past, all of which is represented to the best of their abilities. The classic tunes on display radiate out with the utmost fidelity as you bask in the timeless nature of the songs. There are no age-related weaknesses or other issues observed. Utopia has done a fantastic job with this disc. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Q&As: Two terrific conversations are presented with the director and subject, in which they discuss how this project came to be. There is some overlap between the two conversations, but there is more unique material than not.
- Q&A with Zombies’ Lead Singer Colin Blunstone & Director Robert Schwartzman, moderated by Filmmaker Jason Reitman (50:53)
- Q&A with Zombies’ Lead Singer Colin Blunstone & Director Robert Schwartzman, moderated by Guitarist for The Strokes Albert Hammond, Jr. (49:45)

Teaser Trailer (1:05)

Final Thoughts

Hung Up On a Dream: The Zombies Documentary is a wonderful film that explores an amazing band that should have had an even bigger career than they have had. There are plenty of dramatic twists and turns within the journey, but the issues rarely stem from in-fighting between the band members. It is heartening to see these talented musicians still working together to capture some of the magic from their glory years and soak up the appreciation they so richly deserve. This documentary does not reinvent the format, yet it confidently takes you through the highs and lows of a band that deserves time in the spotlight. Utopia has released a Blu-Ray featuring a sturdy A/V presentation and some engaging special features. If you are a fan of the band, you will be in heaven. Recommended

Hung Up On a Dream: The Zombies Documentary is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Utopia 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.