Before developing his penchant for crime thrillers and high-octane films like Heat and Ferrari, director Michael Mann took an unexpected dive into the realm of horror and fantasy with his 1983 film The Keep. His second theatrical feature, after his 1981 project Thief, is widely known for being 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.
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 on Rotten 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 the Das Boot breakout Prochnow and Lord of the Rings star McKellen were Scott Glenn, Gabriel Byrne, Alberta Watson, Michael Carter, and Robert Prosky, among others. Adding to the ambiance was a soundtrack by the German electronic band Tangerine Dream, who also lent their talents to Mann's Thief, Risky Business, and Grand Theft Auto V.
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Vinegar Syndrome's 4K restoration of The Keep comes in either a standard release or a special edition limited to only 12,000 units that comes with a creepy new spot gloss hard slipcase and slipcover combo designed by Edward Kinsella highlighting 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 supervisor Wally Veevers.
I would love to see the original director cut, because this was a childhood favorite of mine on VHS!
-also never knew it was Michael Mann, that's great!