Import Corner: The Dead and the Deadly (1982) (Eureka!) Blu-ray Review + 1080p Screenshots + Packaging Shots

Eureka Video brings us another Sammo Hung horror/comedy/martial arts film with The Dead and the Deadly and we take a look at the blu-ray.

Studio: Eureka!
Release Date: December 22nd, 1982 (theatrical) / November 21st, 2022 (blu-ray)
Run Time: 1 hour 39 minutes 25 seconds
Region Code: B (locked)
Picture: 1080p (2.35:1 aspect ratio)
Sound: Cantonese LPCM 2.0 (theatrical mix), Cantonese LPCM 2.0 (home video mix), English LPCM 2.0 (classic dub)
Subtitles: English
Slipcover: Yes
Digital Copy: No
Starring: Sammo Hung, Wu Ma, Lam Ching-Ying, Cherie Chung Hui, Leung-Mei Chin, Yuet-Sang To, Siu-Ming
Written by Sammo Hung and Barry Wong
Directed by Wu Ma
Rating: BBFC: 12 (moderate violence, language, sex references, scene of miscarriage)

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Poster

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What's It About?

Wu Ma also stars as a man who fakes his death in order to steal his family’s funeral treasure. When the treasure is instead bequeathed to Ma’s unborn son, his co-conspirators kill him (for real this time). His vengeful spirit seeks out the help of his friend (played by Sammo Hung) and together they seek revenge on his murderers.

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Video/Audio

Presented in the film's original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, and sourced from a brand new 2K restoration, THE DEADLY AND THE DEADLY looks amazing. Of course it does as Eureka! does great work. The first thing you will notice are the colors. There are scenes in the film that look like an Argento film and those colors pop right off the screen. Detail is impressive and skin tones are accurate. There is a thin layer of grain as well. The clarity does reveal the make-up used on some of the actors who are playing older than their actual age. Other than that, this is a great transfer.

Cantonese Mono (theatrical mix)

Cantonese mono (home video mix)

English mono (classic dub)

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Extras/Packaging

Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng and Michael Worth

Audio Commentary by Mike Leeder and Arne Venema

Sammo Hung Interview (2016 Udine Film Festival) (21m 11s, HD, 1.78:1)

Sammo Hung Q&A (2016 Udine Film Festival) (57m 8s, HD, 1.78:1) in English and Cantonses

Theatrical Trailer (Hong Kong theatrical) (4m 33s, HD, 2.35:1) in Cantonese with English subtitles

Both audio commentaries are wonderful, as they always are. It is always a pleasure to listen to commentaries from Frank Djeng, Michael Worth, Mike Leeder, and Arne Venema. Each time I listen to any of their tracks, I feel like I am in the room with them and they are schooling me on things I didn't know, or maybe something that I did know but didn't have as many details on it as these guys bring. The interview with Sammo is pretty decent, but nothing all that special. The Q&A is much better although the audio is terrible which makes it hard to hear. Sammo speaks in English for the interview while speaking both English and Cantonese for the Q&A.

THE DEAD AND THE DEADLY comes to us from Eureka! Video. The slipcover features beautiful artwork from Darren Wheeling who has done the artwork for other Eureka! releases like DUEL TO THE DEATH, THE SHAOLIN PLOT, and ENCOUNTERS OF THE SPOOKY KIND. His artwork is always great. The double wide clear amaray case is next and it features reversible artwork with one side being the Darren Wheeling artwork and the other side featuring the film's original theatrical poster. There is also a 20-page booklet featuring an essay by James Oliver.

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Overall

THE DEAD AND THE DEADLY is a lot of fun. The fight scenes, which are a bit fewer than in other Sammo Hung films, are great, as usual. The comedy, which I usually don't like, is actually pretty funny. This is especially true when Ma Lun Chio comes back as a ghost. There is a lot of good stuff here. Eureka has done some excellent work here with the picture and sound being great and some wonderful special features. This is a must-own for martial arts fans or those who want to see what a Chinese horror looks like.

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Extras/Menus