With the release of DES on ITV, focus on the horrific story of Dennis Neilson has reached a new height. His old home, his victims and of course, him. COLD LIGHT OF DAY crossed many a film fans mind. It is not directly about the murders but it directly about the murder. We all knew that. We also knew, this British film had disappeared under a series of other, more popular films about charismatic and callous murderers. Killing for pleasure, sex and money.  All for the eyes and bums of the wider audience.

Cold and desaturated London, 1983. Detectives walk into a residential address in a Northern suburb. Reports that the drains have been clogged by human remains have brought them but now they have something worse. Dennis Nilsen (Bob Flag) is quite and withdrawn civil servant has bodies in his flat. He is brought in for questioning. The shocking story he tells, of dead bodies, young men, sex and necrophilia, shocks everyone in the country.

Director Fhiona-Louise great skill with COLD LIGHT OF DAY, was to strip the salaciousness from the Dennis Nielson murders. That is the core quality of the film. Fhiona-Louise allows the intimate nature of the investigation to mix with the awfulness of the murders reality. The sets are austere. The performances restrained, It never plays to the crowd, always focuses on the events and is better for it. There are issues. The film occasionally loses motion. It also lacks a force that holds the whole. The ITV version of the Nielson murders learnt from this film and did it better.

DISC

Brand new 2K restoration just does enough to step up but it has retained the 16mm feel. Retained that grain. Retained that cold light. Retained the washed out tones. I cant say it stands as a masterpiece of upscaled 2K work but it does.

EXTRAS

Brand new audio commentary with writer/director Fhiona-Louise, is a treat. Detailed about the film, how she directs, exploring her friends, their issues and that of London of the time. Insightful and equally interesting.  Brand new audio commentary with film historians/writers Dean Brandum and Andrew Nette, Not as much fun or detailed. Excellent however for the variations of the story and the media coverage of it.

LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• Limited Edition of 2000 units
• Brand new 2K restoration from the original 16mm camera negative approved by director Fhiona-Louise
• Original uncompressed mono audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Brand new audio commentary with writer/director Fhiona-Louise
• Brand new audio commentary with film historians/writers Dean Brandum and Andrew Nette
• Newly-filmed interview with actor Martin Byrne-Quinn
• Newly-filmed interview with actor Steve Munroe
• Original Cold Light of Day promo film made to raise financing for the feature
• Re-Release Trailer
• Two short films starring Cold Light of Day director Fhiona-Louise and photographed by Star Wars DP David Tattershall, newly restored in HD: Metropolis Apocalypse (1988, 11 mins) and Sleepwalker (1993, 2 mins)
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx
• Limited Edition Die-cut O-card
• Limited Edition collector s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Jo Botting and a look at how the press reported Dennis Nilsen s real-life crimes by Jeff Billington