Legendary filmmaker John Carpenter is a master of horror, known for his incredible career filled with cult classics. Now, one of his more underrated masterpieces, In the Mouth of Madness, is receiving a fantastic new Limited Edition 4K Blu-ray from Arrow Video, slated for release on October 28th. This highly anticipated version boasts all-new cover art and a wealth of special features, making it a must-have for fans. You can currently pre-order this Lovecraftian thriller for just $36.69, a significant 40% discount from its original $60 price.
This Limited Edition from Arrow Video isn’t just a pretty face; it features a brand-new 4K restoration sourced from the original 35mm camera negatives. It’s enhanced with Dolby Vision and HDR10 compatibility, alongside Dolby Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0. As expected from Arrow Video, you’ll also get some impressive physical extras, including a reversible sleeve with both original and new artwork, a double-sided fold-out poster by Francesco Francavilla, and a collector’s book packed with essays from renowned film critics and historians.
The striking steelbook cover utilizes the original, unsettling theatrical poster art. On-disc, expect a comprehensive collection of special features:
In the Mouth of Madness 4K Blu-ray Special Features:
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned art by Francesco Francavilla
- Double-sided fold-out poster with original and newly commissioned artwork by Francesco Francavilla
- Perfect-bound collector’s book with new essays on the film by Guy Adams, Josh Hurtado, Richard Kadrey, George Daniel Lea, Willow Catelyn Maclay, and Alexandra West
- Archival commentary track with director John Carpenter and producer Sandy King Carpenter
- Archival commentary track with John Carpenter alongside cinematographer Gary B. Kibbe
- Newly recorded audio commentary from filmmakers Rebekah McKendry & Elric Kane, hosts of the Colors of the Dark podcast
- Making Madness: A new on-camera interview with producer Sandy King Carpenter
- Do You Read Sutter Cane: A brand-new conversation with actor Jürgen Prochnow
- The Whisperer of the Dark: An archived sit-down with actress Julie Carmen
- Greg Nicotero’s Things in the Basement: Vintage interview with FX maestro Greg Nicotero
- We Are What He Writes: A fresh featurette celebrating John Carpenter and In the Mouth of Madness
- Reality Is Not What It Used to Be: A new appreciation piece by film scholar Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
- Horror’s Hallowed Grounds: Archival featurette exploring the movie’s filming locations
- Home Movies from Hobb’s End: Candid behind-the-scenes footage
- The Making of In the Mouth of Madness: A classic making-of featurette
- Original theatrical trailer plus television promo spots
If you prefer not to wait or are content with 1080p, the standard Blu-ray edition of In the Mouth of Madness is available for just $18. This 2018 release from Shout Factory is a high-quality transfer, boasting 4K scans of the original film negatives. While it doesn’t include the brand-new features of the Arrow Video version, it still offers excellent archival bonus materials, including filming location tours, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and insightful audio commentary tracks.
In the Mouth of Madness stars Sam Neill as John Trent, an insurance investigator delving into the mysterious disappearance of a renowned horror novelist. As his search leads him to a secluded town, Trent’s grasp on reality begins to unravel, blurring the lines between fiction and his own sanity, and potentially threatening all of humanity. This film serves as the chilling conclusion to Carpenter’s unofficial ‘Apocalypse Trilogy,’ which also features The Thing and Prince of Darkness, all exploring themes of impending global catastrophe.
The movie draws heavily from the cosmic horror of H.P. Lovecraft, with its title itself a direct nod to Lovecraft’s novella, ‘At the Mountains of Madness.’ Despite its initial lukewarm box office performance, In the Mouth of Madness garnered positive reviews from critics and has since been re-evaluated as one of Carpenter’s most technically impressive films, praised for its polished production and clever meta-narrative.
In the Mouth of Madness isn’t the only John Carpenter film receiving a fresh look this year. Fans can also anticipate new collectible 4K Blu-ray steelbook editions of the Halloween saga, including Halloween, Halloween 2, and Halloween 3: Season of the Witch. Each features new artwork, stunning 4K restorations, and abundant extra content. Carpenter famously directed and composed the music for the original Halloween, and contributed to the sequels as a writer, producer, and composer. Additionally, Shout Factory offers Collector’s Editions of these Halloween films on 4K Blu-ray, complete with original case art and slipcase covers.
For those who enjoy a good vampire hunt, John Carpenter’s Vampires is also set to release a new 4K Steelbook Edition for $45 on November 4th. Though perhaps not as universally acclaimed as some of his other works, Vampires remains an entertaining horror romp, definitely worth a watch. This new Steelbook Edition is exclusively available for pre-order.
More John Carpenter Blu-Rays
- Halloween Limited Steelbook Edition (4K) — $45 | Available now
- Halloween: Collector’s Edition (4K) — $25.89
- Halloween 2 Limited Steelbook Edition (4K) — $45 | Releases September 30
- Halloween 2: Collector’s Edition (4K) — $20
- Halloween 3: Season of the Witch Limited Steelbook Edition (4K) — $45 | Releases October 28
- Halloween 3: Season of the Witch Collector’s Edition — $20
- John Carpenter’s Vampires Limited Edition Steelbook (4K) — $45 | Releases November 4
- John Carpenter’s Vampires (4K) — $27.49
- In The Mouth of Madness Limited Edition (4K) — $36.69 | Releases October 28
- In The Mouth of Madness Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray) — $18