Schlesinger’s film presents ’30s L.A. as a nightmarish circle in Dante’s Inferno.
Ashby’s plangent fable receives a smashing 4K restoration and a fine brace of bonus materials from Criterion.
John Carpenter’s Lovecraftian masterpiece finally receives its home-video due with an exceptional A/V transfer and a slew of extras.
Throughout, Ashby’s bemused direction tempers every blunt edge.
Did no one else involved in the making have a few words to spare?
John Carpenter wisely turns his focus on the fissures of his own microcosmic civilization under duress than that of their skin and veins.
This new edition is actually not much more than a perfect imitation of the previous Collector’s Edition, so beware.