I for one have never been an avid reader. I know, shocking. But sometimes a book will take me by surprise and really engross me in its story and I will finish the book. That was Isaac Marion’s fourth work, Warm Bodies. There was something about a zombie love story that engrossed me and the chemistry he built between his characters was captivating and engaging. When the movie got announced with Nicholas Hoult (The Favourite), Teresa Palmer (Lights Out), and John Malkovich (R.E.D.), my excitement was through the roof. There was no denying that I thought these two could kick it off with some great chemistry and that Malkovich would deliver his signature shenanigans, and while he was definitely restrained there were glimpses into his madness he’s delivered more than a few times. Adding Jonathan Levine (All the Boys Love Mandy Lane and 50/50) to the director’s chair saw the anticipation continue to grow, and thankfully the final results blew me away.

Nicholas Hoult as R in WARM BODIES. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

Warm Bodies originally came out in 2013 and, at the time, I was very much a fan of the film and possibly didn’t look at it with a critical lens. So when I decided to throw in the 4K from the new steelbook release, I wanted to see if this deadly romantic comedy still held the heart that I remember it possessing. The film focuses on R, played by Nicholas Hoult, and Julie, played by Teresa Palmer, who now live in a zombie apocalypse. While R is trying to make the most out of his zombie life, Julie is exploring areas she shouldn’t be as her dad, Grigio, played by John Malkovich, is trying to prevent any further zombificiation of the remaining living. As Julie is in trouble from a myriad of zombies, R saves her and the two develop a relationship no one saw coming. As this relationship blooms, the tension rises between the undead and the living.

L-R: Teresa Palmer as Julie and Nicholas Hoult as R in WARM BODIES. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

While Warm Bodies is most likely a movie you’ve seen before (and that is meant literally, not indicating that the concept’s been done to death, pun intended), the new steelbook from Lionsgate doesn’t boast anything new for features but does have some gorgeous new artwork by acclaimed artist Matt Ryan Tobin. (As a little tidbit of information, for the people who are unfamiliar with Matt Ryan Tobin’s work, he was also behind the polyethylene terephthalate plastic (PET) cover and steelbook art of the Mondo released A Quiet Place steelbook.) The artwork continues the long line of Lionsgate titles that have this PET effect where, after the slip is removed shows more artwork on the steelbook itself and creates an image on the PET, too. This new gorgeous art is a must have for anyone who is a fan of the movie as the price is undeniable and the art is the best it has ever been. I have been known to genuinely learn towards something new and alternative and have quite a few alternative movie posters myself, but the original release was simply the original theatrical one sheet which, don’t get me wrong, is beautiful, as well, but there is something about Matt Ryan Tobin’s work that just exceeds expectations.

John Malkovich as Grigio in WARM BODIES. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

The only downside to this new addition is that the features found on the previously released 4K are the exact same as this steelbook edition. So, while there may be no new sound aspects or actual special features in and of themselves, it is definitely an edition that fans of the movie itself can sink their teeth into. Warm Bodies is a stunning 4K UHD disk that is now housed in a newly released 4K UHD steelbook as well.

Warm Bodies Special Features:

• Boy meets, er, doesn’t eat Girl
• R&J
• A little less dead
• Extreme zombie makeover!
• A wreck in progress
• Bustin’ caps
• Beware the boneys
• Whimsical sweetness: Teresa Palmer’s Warm Bodies home movies
• Zombie acting tips with Rob Corddry
• Audio commentary with screenwriter-director Jonathan Levine and actors Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer
• Deleted scenes with optional audio commentary with screenwriter-director Jonathan Levine
• Shrug & Groan gag reel
• Theatrical Trailer

Available on 4K UHD Blu Ray combo Steelbook February 7^th 2023.

For more information, head to the official Lionsgate Home Entertainment Warm Bodies webpage.

Categories: Home Release, Recommendation

Tags: adaptation, based on a book, comedy, Cory Hardrict, Dave Franco, home release, home video, horror, Isaac Marion, John Malkovich, Jonathan Levine, Lio Tipton, Lionsgate, Nicholas Hoult, Rob Corddry, romance, steelbook, Teresa Palmer, Warm Bodies