From a script by the master architect of giallo, Ernesto Gastaldi (THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS. WARDH, ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK, DEATH WALKS ON HIGH HEELS), comes genre director Giuliano Carnimeo’s sexually-charged giallo debut (credited as Anthony Ascott), presented here, for the first time, in 4K ultra-high definition. The gruesome murders of two young women send a shockwave of fear through the tenants of a high-rise apartment building. For photo models Jennifer and Marylin, it presents a welcome opportunity to move in together in one of the emptied flats. But the aura of terror catches up with everyone and soon, Jennifer feels like prey, stalked and targeted by the gloved killer. As her paranoia grows, Jennifer suspects everyone–her fanatic ex-husband, her spinster neighbor, the lesbian from down the hall, and even her boyfriend. But she is determined to stay one step ahead of the depraved killer!

Starring giallo’s ultimate scream queen, Edwige Fenech (STRIP NUDE FOR YOUR KILLER, HOSTEL: PART II), alongside George Hilton (THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS. WARDH, THE CASE OF THE SCORPION’S TAIL) in their third collaboration together, “The Case of the Bloody Iris” is “pure giallo fun” (Mondo Digital). With its beautiful cinematography masterfully contrasted by its brutal violence, the film is every bit as exploitative and blood-spattered as it is sultry and salacious, turning it into “a luxuriant banquet of sumptuous visuals, sinister chills, and otherworldly beauty” (Deadshed). Celluloid Dreams is proud to present this newly scanned version, restored in 4K from the original camera negatives. It is the version of “The Case of the Bloody Iris” you’ve been dying to see.

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Video Quality

Celluloid Dreams presents The Case of the Bloody Iris with a miraculous 2160p transfer in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 2023 4K restoration of the original 35mm 2-perf Techniscope negative and graded in HDR10. This transfer has eliminated virtually everything in the way of print damage for a pristine viewing experience. This new release is authentic to the original look of the film with the added resolution making elements seem more clear and natural. The level of detail and clarity will blow you away with the ideal amount of natural film grain intact. The grain resolves favorably with no fluctuations detected at any point. The texture on display in the clothing and within the setting is second to none. Even the makeup effects like blood and burned skin blend naturally for something beautifully grotesque.

A notable aspect of the disc is the application of HDR for increased color output which deserves high praise for its intense beauty. The new restoration features colors in the clothing and production design that hypnotize with unparalleled wonder. This disc handles every shift in location with ease. Black levels are first-rate with nothing in the way of crush present, and highlights are firm with no evidence of blooming. Nearly every single frame offers something to admire. When it comes to the encoding, there does not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such nuisances. This presentation is a five-star debut from the crew at Celluloid Dreams.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of the film comes with newly remastered DTS-HD 1.0 mono tracks in Italian and English, both of which represent the film pleasingly. The dialogue has been post-looped which results in some loose sync instances that may be annoying to some, but it is a product of this period in filmmaking. This dialogue comes through crystal clear without being swallowed up by the sound effects or score. All of the various sounds in the mix seem carefully rendered so that nothing ever feels off.

Everything is presented with excellent fidelity with only fleeting instances of sound presenting as a bit thin or boxy. The memorable score from Bruno Nicolai sets the tone of the proceedings which is represented well in the mix. The environment of the city creates a din of sound that creeps through to provide some exceptional ambient details. There are moments of light scuffles that ratchet up the thrills without becoming a muddled mess in the fallout. This presentation is primarily free of any hissing, humming, or other age-related wear and tear. The audio complements the video side of the equation quite well.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Film Historian Guido Henkel delivers an enthusiastic and informative commentary track in which he discusses the elements that stand out in this feature, how it fits into the genre, the background of the title, the camera work, the direction of Giuliano Carnimeo, the background of the performers, and so much more that is well worth a listen.

Ernesto Gastaldi & Giuliano Carnimeo Interview: A new nearly 30-minute interview with the screenwriter and director that was filmed separately and has been edited together. This is mostly a conversation with Gastaldi, but the two discuss their background, their early collaborations with one another, making this film during the explosion in gialli films, building up the film around the big reveal, shooting with minimal blood, and more.

George Hilton Interview: A 21-minute interview with the actor in which he discusses the desire to change the trajectory of his career, working with Giuliano Carnimeo, his streak of working with Edwige Fenech, the qualities of his character, his experiences working in Italian cinema, and more.

Paola Quattrini Interview: A 12-minute interview with the actress in which she discusses her career at the time, her aversion to watching her own performances, how it feels to watch the film after all of these years, the qualities of her character, memories of the body paint scene, and more.

Outtake Reel: A two-minute reel of discarded footage is provided here that was trimmed or excised to conform to Techniscope editing specifications.

Image Gallery: The disc contains an image gallery of behind-the-scenes photos, marketing materials, and more.

Trailers: This disc includes the Italian Trailer (2:54) and the English Trailer (2:54).

Final Thoughts

The Case of the Bloody Iris is a seriously entertaining entry in the giallo subgenre that overcomes any lethargy in the conventions. The movie moves at a great pace, and the ensemble assembled do a nice job in their roles. We do question the lack of concern some characters show over a potential killer being in their midst, but you expect some level of plot exasperation in these films. Director Giuliano Carnimeo brings everything together for major tension even without going overboard on the violence. It may not be as well known as efforts from Dario Argento or Sergio Martino, but it deserves a place firmly alongside them. Celluloid Dreams has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a virtually flawless A/V presentation and a plethora of special features. This is as strong of a debut release as any label could possibly deliver. Highly Recommended

The Case of the Bloody Iris will be available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray on June 25, 2024.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Celluloid Dreams 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.