Full Features Announced for Scream Factory’s RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD Blu-ray Set

’80s zombie masterpiece comes to Blu-ray in deluxe 2-disc edition.

This writer watched one of my favorite films, Dan O’Bannon’s 1985 black comedy cannibal corpse classic RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD recently, in a packed theater, a 35mm print. I watched it again from beginning to end and realized, or rather was reminded, that ROTLD is a PERFECT FUCKING MOVIE.

It really is. It’s like the best, bloodiest pop song ever. Which makes sense considering the entire film is driven by music, coming jam-packed with punk and pop classics that defined an entire generation of counter-culture horror kids.

Scream Factory, who frequently license titles from the MGM vaults, have announced a date of July 19th for their hotly anticipated, 2-disc Blu-ray release of ROTLD, featuring a 2K scan of the film and 12 hours of amazing extras, many of them brand new for this edition.

From the official Scream Factory press release:

This definitive set includes a collectible slipcover featuring newly rendered artwork and a reversible cover wrap featuring original theatrical key art. A must-have for movie collectors, zombie horror enthusiasts and loyal fans, THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD Collector’s Edition Blu-ray is available for pre-order now here and will be made available to other fine retailers.

Special Features List:

Disc 1:

• NEW 2K scan of the inter-positive
• NEW Audio Commentary with Gary Smart (co-author of The Complete History of the Return of the Living Dead) and Chris Griffiths
• Audio Commentary with director Dan O’Bannon and Production Designer William Stout
• Audio Commentary with the cast and crew featuring Production Designer William Stout and actors Don Calfa, Linnea Quigley, Brian Peck, Beverly Randolph, Allan Trautman
• The Decade of Darkness – featurette on ‘80s horror films (23 minutes)
• Theatrical Trailers
• TV Spots
• Still Gallery – Posters, Lobby Cards, Movie Stills and Behind-the-Scenes photos
• Still Gallery – Behind-the-Scenes photos from special make-up effects artist Kenny Myers’ personal collection
• Zombie Subtitles for the Film
• In Their Own Words – The Zombies Speak

Disc 2:

• NEW The FX of the Living Dead with Production Designer William Stout, FX make-up artists William Munns, Tony Gardner, Kenny Myers and Craig Caton-Largnet, Visual Effects artists Bret Mixon and Gene Warren Jr. and actor Brian Peck (Expanded Version) (30 minutes)
• NEW Party Time: The Music of The Return of the Living Dead with music consultants Budd Carr and Steve Pross and soundtrack artists Dinah Cancer (45 Grave), Chris D (The Flesh Eaters), Roky Erickson, Karl Moet (SSQ), Joe Wood (T.S.O.L.), Mark Robertson (Tall Boys) plus musicians Greg Hetson (Circle Jerks) and John Sox (The F.U.’s, Straw Dogs),  (Expanded Version) (30 minutes)
• NEW HORROR’S HALLOWED GROUNDS – revisiting the locations of the film
• Return of the Living Dead Workprint – includes 20 minutes of additional footage (in Standard Definition)
• More Brains: A Return to the Living Dead – The definitive documentary on The Return of the Living Dead (120 minutes)
• A Conversation with Dan O’Bannon – His final interview (28 minutes)
• The Origins of the Living Dead – an interview with John A. Russo (16 minutes)
• The Return of the Living Dead – The Dead Have Risen – interviews with cast members Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Brian Peck, Thom Mathews, Beverly Randolph, Linnea Quigley and more… (21 minutes)
• Designing the Dead – interviews with writer/director Dan O’Bannon and production designer William Stout (15 minutes)

Will you be re-buying ROTLD? I’ll likely dump my previous Blu-ray set but will never, ever, ever part with my original VHS. Ever. Nor my vinyl soundtrack. That original poster artwork…sigh…

Bonus! For extra fun, here’s a photo gallery from the 2008 LA ROTLD reunion screening!