Before developing his penchant forcrime thrillers and high-octane filmslikeHeatandFerrari, directorMichael Manntook an unexpected dive into the realm of horror and fantasy with his 1983 filmThe Keep. His second theatrical feature, after his 1981 projectThief, is widely known forbeing an unmitigated disaster in post-production, suffering from the death of its special effects supervisor and studio meddling that cut Mann’s original 210 minutes of footage down to just 96. For a time, the director himself even disowned the film. Its problems haven’t stopped it from becoming a cult classic though. Now, the war horror is finally coming home with a long-overdue upgrade thanks to a 4K Ultra HD release from Vinegar Syndrome which is now available for purchase.
The Keepis an adaptation of the 1981 novel byF. Paul Wilsonand takes place in Nazi-occupied Romania, where German soldiers have laid siege to a small village. Though warned by the locals, the men station themselves in an ancient structure in the Carpathian Mountains, only to soon realizethe supernatural horror that lies within. This malevolent force begins decimating the troops, growing more powerful with each victim it kills and forcing Captain Klaus Woermann (Jürgen Prochnow) to seek outside help. He learns that the only man capable of stopping the monstrosity is Dr. Theodore Cuza, an elderly Jewish historian played bythe legendaryIan McKellen, who is currently locked in a concentration camp with his daughter.
At the time, Mann’s cursed film was widely panned, and, to this day, it still holds a 39% score from critics and a 43% score from audiences onRotten Tomatoes. However, it has managed to generate a following in the years since, with plenty of fans calling for a release of a director’s cut showing the over 100 minutes of lost content. Regardless of the final result, it benefitted from an excellent cast. Joining theDas Bootbreakout Prochnow andLord of the Ringsstar McKellen wereScott Glenn,Gabriel Byrne,Alberta Watson,Michael Carter, andRobert Prosky, among others. Adding to the ambiance was a soundtrack by the German electronic bandTangerine Dream, who also lent their talents to Mann’sThief,Risky Business, andGrand Theft Auto V.
Re-Enter ‘The Keep’ With Plenty of Special Features
Vinegar Syndrome’s 4K restoration ofThe Keepcomes ineither a standard release or a special edition limited to only 12,000 unitsthat comes with a creepy new spot gloss hard slipcase and slipcover combo designed byEdward Kinsellahighlighting the monstrous Molasar. In addition to the 4K/Blu-ray discs, it also comes packed with a 40-page bound book for collectors who want even more content from the film. Rounding out the collection is a wide array of special features delving into the creation of the film with the author Wilson, film historians, and others who worked on the project. One featurette also appears to honor the unfinished work of late special effects supervisorWally Veevers. See the full list below:
‘The Keep’ 4K Ultra HD Special Features
The Keepis now available in 4K Ultra HD from Vinegar Syndrome for a discounted price of $44.99 USD for the limited edition and $34.99 USD for the standard edition. Check out the box art in the gallery above and visit the official website below to pick up a copy.
Nazis are forced to turn to a Jewish historian for help in battling the ancient demon they have inadvertently freed from its prison.
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