Alan Parker's Angel Heart on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD & Digital in October
9 August 2019
Studiocanal has announced that it will launch the newly restored neo-noir classic Angel Heart (1987) in October 2019, following an ambitious restoration project with specialists Silver Salt and with the approval of celebrated British director Alan Parker (Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, The Commitments, Evita, Angela's Ashes).
Angel Heart stars BAFTA winner and Academy Award nominee Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) in his seminal leading role amidst his catapult to fame, with a special performance from iconic Academy Award winner Robert De Niro (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull), as well as a controversial appearance from Lisa Bonet (Enemy of the State, High Fidelity) who was at the time still in The Cosby Show.
Adapted from the William Hjortsberg novel Falling Angel, Angel Heart follows private investigator Harry Angel (Rourke) who is hired by Louis Cyphre (De Niro) to track down a singer named Johnny Favorite. The investigation soon takes an unexpected and sombre turn as Angel uncovers the fate and identity of Favorite, with horrifying consequences for all involved. From the mean streets of New York to the backwoods of New Orleans, Harry finds himself being dragged into a world of sex, murder, voodoo and death. This is no ordinary case, and Harry is no ordinary detective.
Academy Award nominee Charlotte Rampling (45 Years) appears as Favorite’s wife, Margaret, with 19 year old Bonet appearing as Favorite’s illegitimate daughter, Epiphany Proudfoot. Angel Heart is a deeply disturbing film with an incredibly unsettling atmosphere. A prime example of late eighties neo-noir, it successfully manages to blend elements of detective fiction with dark horror.
The restoration process required over 200 hours of manual frame-by-frame fixes carried out, with Silver Salt restoring the film to how it would have looked upon original release. Senior colourist, Steve Bearman utilised the additional range of HDR to optimise the distinctive neo-noir aesthetic of the film, with heavy contrast between light and shadow adding to the general menace on screen, with the additional sharpness and contrast lending itself especially well to the HDR and Dolby Vision. Special attention was also given to all the effects which occur throughout the film. This process followed a semi-automated digital pass which had removed persistent dirt and sparkle, and applied general stability.
Angel Heart will be released on 4K UHS, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital platforms by Studiocanal on 14 October 2019 at yet to be confirmed RRP.
UHS, Blu-ray and DVD special features:
Alan Parker interview excerpt from Cinéastes des années 80
