When it comes to horror very few companies have put out quality film after film like the amazing folks over at Blue Underground. Before writing for Horror Society I was an avid collector. I collected anything and everything horror and one of my favorite companies to collect was Blue Underground. Up until this point I went about my reviews with a sense of modesty and assumed that the folks at BU would ignore my emails for review copies but I was mistaken and they kindly sent me a review copy of their newest blu – Blood-Soaked Double Feature: Hell of the Living Dead and Rats.
Those of you that follow my reviews know that this will strictly be for the blu release and will not include the full review for the films themselves. If you would like the film reviews then you can check out my Hell review here and my Rats review here.
When I review a blu or dvd re-release I typically look for three things. Those three things are artwork/cover, film restoration, and special features. As a collector that if what I base my purchases on and I am not the only one that does this.
The blu artwork (which can be seen above) has the original American release posters for both films plastered on the front of the blu. Both posters are amazing and BU was able to tastefully put the two together without ruining it like a Mill Creek Entertainment multi-film set. You can tell they really cared about this release and know that is what fans and film collectors would want to see and did it.
The film’s restoration is solid. I had seen Hell of the Living Dead before in a box set released by Anchor Bay so I knew what the film quality was like before this release. However, after seeing the blu I can safely say that BU did improve the quality of both film and it shows. They look great and that only heightens the film’s enjoyments.
Finally, the film does have some special features but not as much as I would like for a release like this. We do get Bonded by Blood – Interviews with Claudio Fragasso, Margit Evelyn Newton, Franco Garofalo, Ottaviano Dell Acqua, and Massimo Vanni, Hell Rats of the Living Dead – Interview with Bruno Mattei, and theatrical trailers. These are all great special features but I just felt it was missing something to make this set complete.
Overall, the blood-soaked double feature is an outstanding release by the pros over at Blue Underground. These are two movies sure to make your stomach churn and your skin crawl. Check em out and add them to your collection.
Artwork – 3.5/5
Film Quality – 3/5
Special Features – 3/5
