THE UGLY (1997)
Label: Unearthed Films
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 93 Minutes 22 Seconds
Audio: Original Theatrical English 2.0 Stereo and 4.0 DTS-HD MA Surround with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.78:1).
Director: Scott Reynolds
Cast: Paolo Rotondo, Rebecca Hobbs, Roy Ward, Paul Glover, Chris Graham, Darien Takle
The Ugly (1997), directed by Scott Reynolds (Heaven), is a supernaturally charged psychological horror thriller from New Zealand, in it serial killer Simon Cartwright (Paolo Rotondo, The Rule of Jenny Pen), has been confined to an Auckland mental institution for the past five years, after murdering over a dozen people, the asylum is run by the menacing Marlowe (Roy Ward). There he is regularly tormented and abused by cruel orderlies Philip and (Paul Glover, TV's Spartacus) and Robert (Christopher Graham), who seem like violent criminals themselves. Simon has requested that he be re-evaluated by Dr. Karen Schumaker (Rebecca Hobbs), who has recently gained notoriety in another serial killer case that caught the public's attention, to deem whether Simon is fit to be released back into society, much to the chagrin of the disapproving Marlowe.
As Karen begins a series of interviews with Simon we are shown how he ended-up becoming a serial killer through various flashbacks into his past, the abuse he faced from his manipulative mother Evelyn (Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Dead) and bullies at school. These non-linear flashback are quite stylish, with Karen becoming a part of the memory as they are being told, revealing the terrifying dark secrets of Simon's inner-mind as we explore the traumatic events that molded him into the serial killer that he has become. The sessions eventually reveal his alter-ego "The Ugly", and how he is spurred into violence by unseen ghostly tormentors, beautifully visualized by the Wētā Workshop team (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy). The film has an interesting use of color that pervades the films, the most striking being that most of the onscreen blood is not red, it's pitch-black, which is an interesting and stylish choice. The film is also full of moody lighting, skewed angles and fractured editing style that suits the psychological nature of the film quite nicely.
The violence is potent and sometime unexpected, there's a frenzy to it, yet Rotondo is a strong enough performer that I did feel sympathy for the killer at times, the torture and torments he suffered as a young lad that formed him are palpable, though what he does is not forgivable, it is understandable to a degree. I also enjoyed the supernatural elements, the ghostly tormentors that spur the killer to act, and a subtle psychic elements that allow the killer to get under the skin and into the mind of the Karen is nicely realized with hallucinatory visions that she experiences.
This is a film that has largely gone unnoticed since it received a DVD back in '99, so I hope that this new Collector's Edition Blu-ray from Unearthed Films puts more eyes on it, it's a terrifically stylish serial killer flick, and one worth checking out.
Audio/Video: The Ugly (1997) makes it's North American Blu-ray debut from Unearthed Films as part of their Unearthed Classics line-up, presented in 1080p HD widescreen (1.77:1), sourced from a 4K restoration of the film from the original 35mm interpositive. The image looks terrific, plenty of detail and texture on display, the colors are bold, and black levels are solid throughout. The blue-tinted gel lighting uses throughout looks wonderful, that black blood is creepy looking, with other primaries like red look especially vibrant. Audio comes by way of Original Theatrical English DTS-HD MA 2.0 stereo or a 4.0 DTS-HD MA Surround track with optional English subtitles. The tracks are clean and well-balanced, i heard no evidence of age-related hiss or noise, dialogue sounds terrific, and the score and sound design elements are terrific. I say give that 4.0 surround track a listen, it's quite good.
Unearthed do it up right with some terrific extras for this one, starting off with a brand new Audio Commentary with actors Paolo Rotondo and Rebecca Hobbs, moderated by Nathaniel Thompson of Mondo Digital, has a nice flow to it, Thompson keeps the commentary on track, probing the Hobbs and Rondo about their roles and experiences making the film. We also get an 18-min 8/19/97 Radio New Zealand Interview with Scott Reynolds with Host Jonathan Dennis. Reynolds talks about growing up as the kid of parents who worked at a mainstream theater, the influential films he saw there, including A Fistful Of Dollars and The Incredible Shrinking Man, he synopsizes the film, his thoughts on onscreen violence, and trying not to copy his influences, while inspiration from many realms, not just film, and his belief that it is better to take risks than doing the same old same, as well as the visual style and motifs.
Also included are two Scott Reynolds Short Films, we have the 17-min femme-fatale thriller 'A Game with No Rules' (1994) and the 9-min 'The Minute'. Next, the 19-min Getting To Know You - Dialogues with the Devil in 'The Ugly' and Serial Killer Cinema, a visual essay written and narrated by Howard S. Berger that explores the serial killer sun-genre and where The Ugly fits into that. The last of the disc extras are an Isolated Score (DTS-HD MA 4.0) highlighting the tension-filled orchestral score by Victoria Kelley (Black Sheep), a 4-min Photo Gallery and the 2-min Original Theatrical Trailer with both 2.0 and 4.0 sound mixes.
The single-disc release arrives in a clear keepcase with a Reversible Wrap featuring both the original Lionsgate DVD artwork and a new artwork by Scott Jackson/Monsterman Graphic. Inside there is a 6-Page Collectible Booklet with writing on the film by Jason Jenkins. The first=pressing also includes a Slipcover with the new Scott Jackson/Monsterman Graphic artwork.
Special Features:
- NEW! 4K restoration of the film from the original 35mm interpositive
- NEW! Original Theatrical 2.0 Stereo and 4.0 DTS-HD MA Surround
- NEW! Commentary with actors Paolo Rotondo and Rebecca Hobbs, moderated by Nathaniel Thompson
- NEW! Scott Reynolds Short Films: A Game with No Rules (16:54, 1994), The Minute (8:40, 1982)
- NEW! 8/19/97 Radio New Zealand Interview with Scott Reynolds with Host Jonathan Dennis (18:03)
- NEW! Isolated Score (DTS-HD MA 4.0)
- NEW Photo Gallery (3:37)
- NEW! Original Theatrical Trailer (2.0 Mix, 1:37)
- NEW! Original Theatrical Trailer (4.0 Mix, 1:37)
- NEW! The Ugly Visual Essay - Fetting To Know You - Dialogies with the Devil in 'The Ugly' and Serial Killer Cinema (19:22) - written and narrated by Howard S. Berger
- 6-Page Collectible Booklet
- Reversible Wrap
- Slipcover
Screenshots from the Unearthed Films Blu-ray:
Buy it!
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