‘Dead of Night’ Returns from the Grave in Stunning 4K Restoration

One of the most influential horror films ever made is being resurrected in style this autumn. STUDIOCANAL has released a brand-new 4K restoration of Dead of Night, the pioneering 1945 Ealing Studios classic that forever changed the landscape of British horror. Marking its 80th anniversary, the film will arrive in a collector’s edition 4K UHD and digital release on 20 October, complete with new artwork, essays and exclusive bonus features.

A milestone in cinema history, Dead of Night broke new ground by weaving together multiple chilling tales into one cohesive film, effectively establishing the horror anthology format that would inspire generations of filmmakers. Directed by four of Ealing’s most distinguished names – Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden and Robert Hamer – the film remains a benchmark in British genre cinema for its psychological tension, eerie atmosphere and enduring originality.

The anthology unfolds within the nightmare of Walter Craig, played by Mervyn Johns, who visits a country house and realises he has been there before. As the guests recount their encounters with the supernatural, from a haunted mirror to a ventriloquist tormented by his dummy, Craig feels himself drawn toward an inescapable fate. Featuring a stellar cast including Michael Redgrave, Googie Withers, Sally Ann Howes and Basil Radford, the film blends sophistication with dread, culminating in one of the most haunting final sequences ever committed to film.

The new 4K Ultra HD Collector’s Edition, part of the Vintage Classics range, is a carefully assembled tribute to Ealing’s craftsmanship. It features new documentaries Dead of Night: Dreams and Duality with Alice Lowe and Marketing Galore! The Art of Ealing with BFI curator Nathalie Morris, alongside commentary from film historian Pamela Hutchinson and interviews exploring Georges Auric’s eerie score. A 64-page booklet of newly commissioned essays by David Parkinson, Kat Ellinger, Peter Raleigh and Anna Bogutskaya accompanies two posters – one original and one featuring new artwork by Krishna Bala Shenoi.

More than a restoration, this release is a celebration of Dead of Night’s cultural legacy. Its psychological focus marked a turning point for horror cinema, influencing filmmakers from Alfred Hitchcock to Jordan Peele. Revered for its elegant storytelling and unsettling imagery, the film stands as a reminder that true horror lies not in monsters, but in the human mind.

The restored Dead of Night will also be available to book for cinema screenings, offering audiences a rare chance to experience its hypnotic terror on the big screen for the first time in decades.

Eighty years on, Ealing’s masterpiece continues to haunt audiences, proving that nightmares never truly fade, they just get sharper in 4K. Don’t miss the chance to get your copy, it’s out NOW.

Dead of Night trailer