Who are you?

My name is J.R. Bookwalter, and three decades ago this summer at the tender age of 19, I embarked on a journey to write, produce, and direct my first feature shot on Super-8mm film (?!), an odyssey that would ultimately consume the next four years of my life from start to finish.

From the beginning, this project snowballed into something much bigger than I ever dreamed, thanks to financing from a mysterious executive producer in Detroit, a large cast and crew with no prior film experience, more than 1,500 Northeast Ohio residents who spent the summer of 1986 caked in makeup playing zombies, and like-minded horror fans who discovered the film after seeing a (somewhat premature) four-page spread in FANGORIA magazine.

THE DEAD NEXT DOOR has enjoyed a cult following in the 25 years since its initial release on VHS in 1990, reaching its largest audience to date with the Anchor Bay special edition DVD in 2005. Now this “little horror film that could” is almost ready to graduate into the world of high-definition, courtesy of an ambitious limited edition Blu-ray release scheduled for this fall that promises to be the final word on this little slice of underground cinema history — and you can help make it happen!

Why Indiegogo?

In the same DIY (do-it-yourself) spirit in which the movie itself was made 30 years ago, THE DEAD NEXT DOOR “Ultimate Edition” Blu-ray is a 3-disc release produced by my distribution company, Tempe Video, that will assemble four versions of the film in one package, including an all-new, more cinematic 16:9 HD presentation for the first time ever, arriving just in time to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the film’s original release.

Rather than wait until later in the year when the discs are actually rolling off the assembly line, I’ve chosen to launch this campaign now, allowing collectors and fans the opportunity to preorder in advance. These funds will help accelerate the final stage of ongoing restoration work as well as cover authoring, manufacturing, and shipping costs.

I’m launching this campaign with only 1,000 preorder units, so Indiegogo buyers will be the first to receive the Ultimate Edition when it ships this fall. You can also bundle your purchase with a variety of cool perks, many available exclusively through this campaign.

What you’re buying

Here’s a breakdown of what will be included on each disc:

  Disc 1 (Blu-ray)

• 2K Restored Feature Presented in 4:3 Original Aspect Ratio
  
• 2K Restored Feature Presented in 1.85:1 Widescreen (first time ever!)
  
• Remastered 5.1 Surround and Stereo 2.0 mixes
  
• All-new 2015 commentary (participants TBA)
  
• 2005 commentary with writer/director J.R. Bookwalter, actor Michael Todd and cinematographer Michael Tolochko
  
• 2005 Behind the Scenes footage
  
• 2005 Deleted Scenes & Outtakes
  
• 3 still galleries (including new foreign artwork gallery!)
  
• All-new 2015 trailer

Packaging

• Reversible sleeve with your choice of original 1990 Electro Video artwork reproduction autographed by writer/director J.R. Bookwalter, or all-new 2015 artwork (preview coming soon!)
  

• Alternate 5.1 Surround Mix with Original Cast (first time ever!)
  
• All-new 2015 look at the 2K restoration
• Color booklet with liner notes by FANGORIA Managing Editor Michael Gingold and behind-the-scenes photos
• Early Super-8mm Zombie Short Films presented in 1080p HD from 2K film scan, moved to Disc 1 (Blu-ray)

Read on for additional details on this limited-edition package!

Did someone mention perks?

Part of the fun of crowdfunding is the ability to bundle this Blu-ray release with perks and incentives that wouldn't normally wind up being offered on their own, and I’ve got some great stuff lined up for collectors looking to go beyond the Ultimate Edition.

Show your Indiegogo pride with the “I’m a Zombie Squad supporter!” bumper sticker (above, included with every Ultimate Edition purchase), a color replica of the “I was a zombie in The Dead Next Door” bumper stickers (below) originally given to extras during the shoot. There’s also a full-color, dual-sided theatrical poster add-on available, or as part of the Ultimate Collector's Combo.

If you simply can’t wait to see the restored master in all of its 1080p HD glory, add the option to receive a Digital HD copy from VHX, which will become available at least two weeks before the Blu-ray actually ships (and possibly even sooner!). VHX allows viewers to watch the new HD transfer online, from an iPhone, or on your TV using Roku, Apple TV, or Chromecast.

A far more rare perk is the limited-edition book (mockup above), which includes a reproduction of all six typewritten drafts of my original DEAD NEXT DOOR screenplay with a beautiful color cover featuring rarely-seen pre-production artwork by Michael “D.O.C.” Porter, a graphic designer (and former college roommate) who also designed The Zombie Squad logo featured in the film. Some of these screenplay drafts deviate from the completed film as I toyed with different ideas, and have been in the vault since initial production wrapped in 1986!

I’ve also resurrected an old manuscript entitled The Dead Next Door and You, written during early pre-production as a kind of handbook for the cast and crew on how the filmmaking process works. This never-before-seen, black-and-white perk has only recently been exhumed from the archives, available in limited supply only through this campaign.

Last but not least, there’s also a Limited Edition VHS, which will include the original 1990 release version for collectors who missed their chance to buy one 25 years ago.

What makes this release so "Ultimate"?

The Ultimate Edition will be the only release to include all four versions of the film:

1. 1990 uncut version with extended end titles, as first released by Electro Video. (If you first saw the movie on VHS, this will bring back memories!) Presented in standard definition, 4:3 OAR with original stereo 2.0 audio mix plus a hilarious all-new tribute commentary by Douglas Tilley and Moe Porne, co-hosts of the No-Budget Nightmares podcast.
   
2. 2005 remastered DVD version first released by Anchor Bay, presented in standard definition, 4:3 OAR with 5.1 surround and stereo 2.0 mixes plus commentary with writer/director J.R. Bookwalter, cinematographer Michael Tolochko Jr., and associate producer/co-star Michael Todd.
   
3. All-new 1080p HD restoration, 2K film scan from original Super-8mm elements, presented 4:3 pillarboxed OAR with 5.1 surround and stereo 2.0 audio mixes plus all-new 2015 commentary with writer/director J.R. Bookwalter and surprise guests to be announced soon!
   
4. Never-before-seen 1080p HD restoration, 2K film scan from original Super-8mm elements, cropped for 16:9 aspect ratio with 5.1 surround and stereo 2.0 audio mixes.
   

Once the funding goal is met, your support of this Indiegogo preorder campaign will also make possible something I’ve wanted to do for more than 25 years…

An alternate audio mix featuring the voices of the original cast members, painstakingly restored from the Super-8mm fullcoat reels recorded on location! Viewers will be able to choose between the entirely dubbed mix recorded in early 1989 (and featuring the voice of EVIL DEAD star Bruce Campbell in not one, but two different roles!), or hear the voices of the original cast for the first time ever, once again reunited with their on-screen performances. It’s an exciting addition to the newly-minted HD picture you’re sure to enjoy.

More extras!

In addition to what’s outlined above, the Ultimate Edition Blu-ray will also include ALL the extras found on previous VHS and DVD releases — the first and probably only time these elements will be compiled into a single release.

I should also point out the soundtrack CD included with the Ultimate Edition is not simply a rehash of the disc released several years ago. In addition to my own music score, this limited release will include ALL of the songs featured in the film, with not one but two versions of “The Dead Next Door,” a song featured only in the end credits of the original release version.

The Ultimate Edition packaging will feature all-new artwork by Tempe veteran David Lange, but because I know many collectors fear change, the sleeve will be reversible with the original “muzzled zombie” image we all know and love in a reproduction of the original Electro Video VHS release.

Once the funding goal is met, the Ultimate Edition will also feature a documentary produced by Phantom Pain Films detailing the extensive restoration process, as well as a full-color booklet with plenty of behind-the-scenes photos and liner notes reflecting on the film's 30-year history, written by FANGORIA Managing Editor Michael Gingold.

About the restoration

I’m in the final stages of restoring THE DEAD NEXT DOOR, an adventure that began last summer with a 2K scan of the original Super-8mm film elements. This process preserves every bit of detail captured on location decades ago with enough extra resolution to allow the creation of 1080p HD masters in both 4:3 OAR and an all-new version cropped for 16:9.

After painstakingly conforming complete scanned takes against the master used for the Anchor Bay release a decade ago, titles and opticals (dissolves, wipes, and fades) have been recreated in 2K and the film has undergone a new color grading that shows a level of detail never possible from the original VHS or DVD releases.

The restoration work is now in the next-to-final stage: Painstakingly removing as much of the dirt, chemical stains, scratches, and unwanted anomalies for the most pristine picture possible. For longtime fans, it will be like seeing it again for the first time!

Check out the new trailer at the top of the page for a better idea of what the new 1080p HD 16:9 master will look like! (Click the HD button and hop over to Vimeo for best results.)

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: Will the Ultimate Edition be region locked?

A: Absolutely not! This 3-disc set will be region-free and we’ll be happy to ship preorders anywhere in the world. Additional shipping charges will apply, however.

Q: Is this the same Blu-ray already available for preorder on Amazon.com?

A: No! That is a U.K. import licensed to our friends at 88 Films, which has completely different artwork and liner notes and will be Region B locked. However, the HD transfer and some of the extras will be identical, so Britons are encouraged to support that release by buying locally (or purchasing one of each, if you’d like!). We’re also working to bring the HD version to other countries in the near future.

Q: What’s the deal with this alternate audio track featuring voices of the original cast?

A: The original location sound recorded on Super-8mm fullcoat was deemed unusable at the time due to the costly process required to sync those reels to the picture, so the entire movie was dubbed from scratch in early 1989 at a Hollywood studio under the guidance of a man who needs no introduction, Bruce Campbell (Yes, Ash from THE EVIL DEAD films). Because it was too expensive to fly the entire cast from Ohio to Los Angeles, only three of the original actors reprised their on-screen roles: Scott Spiegel (who already lived in L.A.), director J.R. Bookwalter (who was present for the mix), and star Bogdan “Don” Pecic (who had the most dialogue in the film). If the preorder funding goal is met, we’ll use some of that money to transfer the original fullcoat reels, edit together a new dialogue track, and mix it into the existing 5.1 surround music and effects tracks for a whole new viewing experience!

Q: Can I purchase the Ultimate Edition outside of Indiegogo?

A: Sorry, not at this time — we’re offering the first 1,000 units exclusively through this campaign.

Q: Does that mean there will be more than 1,000 units made?

A: Anything’s possible, if there’s enough demand.

Q: I don’t care about the extras, can I just buy the Blu-ray disc by itself?

A: Not at this time, but we’re anticipating a single-disc “mass market” release somewhere down the road. In the meantime, you can always preorder the Digital HD version and stream or download it before the Ultimate Edition actually ships!

Q: What happens if the funding goal isn't reached?

A: The release of this Ultimate Edition isn't dependent upon the success or failure of this Indiegogo campaign, but some features are pending until the funding goal is met or exceeded.

Q: Can I request to have my item(s) autographed?

A: Every copy of the Ultimate Edition sold here will be autographed free of charge by writer/director J.R. Bookwalter on the reverse side of the wrap, which features a reproduction of the classic 1990 Electro Video VHS artwork. If you'd like a customized signature greeting, please send us a message after making your purchase.

Q: What’s a 2K film scan?

A: “2K” refers to the number of pixels being captured by the film scanner — in this case, 2048 x 1556, which is actually higher quality than the traditional 1920 x 1080 most modern television sets are capable of displaying.

Q: Why no 4K (or higher) film scan?

A: We consulted with several experts prior to scanning the original elements, and all of them told us the same thing: Super-8mm and 16mm film really doesn’t benefit from more than 2K resolution. This is especially true in the case of a teeny-tiny little Super-8mm frame! We agree scanning in 4K sounds cool for marketing purposes, but in this case, the additional cost would have amounted to a negligible increase in quality.

Q: What about grain? I'm a purist and hate digital noise reduction.

A: That Super-8mm frame is really, really tiny, and since the bulk of the movie was shot on higher-speed Kodak Ektrachrome stock, there will definitely be grain present. As you can see from the trailer above, we've applied a very light smattering of noise reduction to the 16:9 version so the grain won't be the size of softballs, but not so much that it no longer looks like it was shot on film. We love the look of Super-8mm, and are doing everything technologically possible to preserve that. Let us know what you think!

Q: Why are there two different aspect ratios?

A: The 2K film scan delivers enough extra resolution so that we can present the film in a wider 16:9 aspect ratio for the first time, cropping out some of the top and bottom of the picture — that means your entire HDTV will be filled with picture from top to bottom and side-to-side, like the majority of modern movies and TV shows. The downside is, many shots will be tighter than earlier releases. (The trailer above gives a good sense of what to expect.) Since this is radically different from the squared frame afforded by Super-8mm film, the Blu-ray will also include the 4:3 original aspect ratio (OAR) version, which fills the screen vertically but uses black to fill out the remaining horizontal space (what’s known as “pillarboxing”). It’s really the best of both worlds: Longtime fans can watch the movie the way it was originally shot (and in many cases, see a little more of the frame!), while a new generation of viewers can see a more traditionally “cinematic” presentation.

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