‘Night Of The Creeps’ 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review – A Fun & Creepy Sci-Fi Cult Classic

Thrill me! When an alien experiment goes awry, it crashes to Earth in 1959 and infects a young college student. Twenty-seven years later, his cryogenically frozen body is thawed out by fraternity pledges … and the campus is quickly overrun by alien creatures whose victims turn into zombies! Fred Dekker’s thoroughly enjoyable throwback chiller deftly blends multiple genres and is rightfully hailed as a true cult classic.

For thoughts on Night of the Creeps, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: 

Video Quality

Scream Factory presents the Director’s Cut of Night of the Creeps with a dazzling 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a new 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negative approved by writer/director Fred Dekker with Dolby Vision/HDR. This film was last released on Blu-Ray by the label in 2019 which was derived from an older scan provided by Sony. While that release was welcomed at the time, there was major room for improvement which we are finally getting now. With this new presentation, the transfer is dynamite, and it serves as a vital horror upgrade that should please any longtime fan.

This disc preserves the glorious natural film grain which coaxes out a world of unique texture in the landscapes, the clothing, the makeup effects, and more. This grain resolves evenly with nothing ever appearing clumpy or noisy no matter the light source. This disc navigates every environmental shift with ease. The special effects are displayed with the utmost clarity which makes the work all the more impressive. Practical effects evoke a level of cohesion that one can appreciate when they give themselves over to a sense of wonder. This transfer has done a favorable job of cleaning up any potential lingering print damage with next to nothing in the way of specks or dirt remaining. This is tied together with a noble encode that does not falter with any dips in quality. 

A premiere aspect of this release is the utilization of Dolby Vision which blesses us with a world of depth and nuance even in the most shadowy spaces. Black levels are formidable with no obvious crush present, and the highlights remain firm and never get too hot. This is not the most overtly colorful film, but there are hues on display that look more alive than ever. Each shade achieves the greatest level of accuracy possible with crafts such as costumes and production design finding an avenue to shine. The new presentation reaches a level of precision and color detail that likely improves upon the original run in theaters. This is undoubtedly the best the film has looked on home entertainment, and fans will be thrilled to witness such an exceptional release.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with both a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track and a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio surround sound track which translates things quite deftly. The original stereo track is the way to go for purists, but the surround track expands things in thoughtful ways that do not go against the original sonic intentions of the experience. The score from Barry De Vorzon sets a great tone for the narrative that never sounds brittle or weak. Environmental sounds such as the slithering of creatures or chatter on campus come through with ideal clarity. Dialogue flows without being overshadowed, even during the more raucous developments. The fidelity of the movie is in good shape no matter what bubbles up. The low end of the track provides some extra texture, but it does not get too bombastic even in the 5.1 track. Scream Factory provided a noble audio experience for this one. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for those who want them.

Special Features

Disc One (4K UHD – Director’s Cut – 1:29:53) and Disc Two (Blu-Ray – Director’s Cut – 1:29:53)

• Audio Commentaries: A trio of commentary tracks is provided which tackles the film through personal reflections of the production. 

• • Audio Commentary #1 (Archival): Writer/Director Fred Dekker

• • Audio Commentary #2 (Archival): Actors Tom Atkins, Jason Lively, Steve Marshall, and Jill Whitlow

• • Audio Commentary #3 (New): Actor Suzanne Snyder and Filmmakers Jackson Stewart and Francis Galluppi

Disc Three (Blu-Ray – Bonus Disc)

• Original Theatrical Ending: The 29-second original ending is provided. There is not an option to watch it integrated into the movie in this set. 

• Interviews: An array of new and 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, the legacy of the film, and more. 

• • A New Breed Of Terror: The Films Of Fred Dekker – A Career Retrospective Interview with the Writer/Director (28:12)

• • Real Good Plan – An Interview with Actor Jason Lively (10:44)

• • The Bradster – An Interview with Actor Allan Kayser (7:41)

• • I Vote For That One – An Interview with Actor Ken Heron (10:11)

• • Worst Coroner Ever – An Interview with Actor Vic Polizos (6:27)

• • Answering The Door – An Interview with Actor Suzanne Snyder (4:00)

• • Final Cut – An Interview with Editor Michael N. Knue (11:20)

• Horror’s Hallowed Grounds – Revisiting the Locations of the Film: An 11-minute visit to some of the locations from the film from a modern perspective. 

• Thrill Me! – The Making Of Night Of The Creeps: A thorough documentary exploring the creation of the film is provided with insights from the cast and creative team.

• • Birth of the Creeps (10:42)

• • Cast of the Creeps (15:58)

• • Creating the Creeps (10:33)

• • Escape of the Creeps (11:35)

• • Legend of the Creeps (10:59)

• Tom Atkins – Man Of Action: A 20-minute interview with the performer in which he explores his life and career. 

• Deleted Scenes: A nearly eight-minute selection of unused footage is provided 

• Theatrical Trailer (1:32)

Final Thoughts

Night of the Creeps is a fun and somewhat creepy sci-fi horror romp that pays homage to classic genre cinema while forging its own path with amusing characters and delightful practical effects. Fred Dekker is a creative with killer instincts for what makes an entertaining film. The performances fit neatly into what the film itself demands with Tom Atkins making a particular impression that steals the movie away from the younger performers. If you enjoy when your horror does not take things overly seriously, you will have a good time here. Scream Factory has provided this one with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts a 5-star A/V presentation and a tremendous array of special features. This new presentation is the ultimate way to own this favorite. Recommended 

Night of the Creeps (1981) (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.