Arrow Films is set to release Dario Argento’s 1980 follow-up to Suspiria, Inferno, onto deluxe Blu-ray and DVD editions this August 2nd. This mostly nonsensical, but undeniably lush Technicolor nightmare has had a tough road to release in the United Kingdom after initially still being sliced of five seconds by the British Board of Film Classification. The “offensive” footage was a cat dining upon a mouse, taken as animal cruelty by the censors, despite the BBC producing several stunningly brutal high-def animal documentaries for British television in recent years. After a litany of letters and a special request for repeal, the BBFC surprisingly waived their prior decision and approved the 100% uncut version of this Argento great for video release.
Technical specs include an all-new 1080p high definition presentation with lossless English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 and 2.0 tracks. “Introduction to Inferno” by star Daria Nicolodi, “Dario’s Inferno” interview with the director, “Acting in Hot Water” interview with star Daria Nicolodi, “The Other Mother: Making the Black Cat” a look at Luigi Cozzi’s 1989 unofficial third Three Mothers sequel “Demons 6: De Profundis“, Dario Argento: An Eye for Horror documentary, an eighteen-film Argento trailer gallery, and hidden Argento interview easter egg. Also included are reversible cover art layouts featuring new artwork by Rick Melton (pictured) and three international poster designs, a doubled-sided foldout poster, and booklet with new liner notes by Profoundo Argento author Alan Jones.
So far, Arrow’s Blu-rays have been region-free for North American BD playback, but their standard def extras have been in the PAL standard which most U.S. Blu players can’t handle. Though if the film’s HD transfer and audio are great, it will be a no-brainer for import across the world. Inferno certainly deserves it as the only other edition worth mentioning is still the old Anchor Bay (and Blue Underground re-issue) DVD from a decade ago.
