In 1981, maverick Pittsburgh filmmaker George Romero, still hot off the smashing worldwide success of his full-color zombie horror epic Dawn of the Dead, made the most personal movie of his career: Knightriders. An intimate and action-packed story of a traveling troupe of artists, actors, and stunt riders who engage in jousting matches on souped-up motorcycles, Knightriders was the first major screen role for future star Ed Harris and overcame lackluster box office and initial audience reception to become a cult classic that continues to endure as one of Romero’s finest movies more than three decades later.

British home entertainment outfit Arrow Video has granted Knightriders its first release on Blu-ray in the entire civilized this month and is celebrating the occasion in high style by giving the movie a full restoration and some new in-depth supplements. (A new Knightriders Blu-ray will be out this July for the U.S.)

You can watch a promotional video for the new Arrow release as well as an original theatrical trailer here below.

Knightriders has been released on DVD in the States before, care of Anchor Bay Entertainment back in 2000, and one of the bonus features from that earlier DVD edition will be included on Arrow’s new Blu-ray – a feature-length audio commentary with director Romero, actors Tom Savini and John Amplas, and Romero’s wife Christine Romero, who also appeared in the movie in a crucial supporting role. In addition to the commentary, the Arrow release also features brand new interviews with Harris, Savini, and co-star Patricia Tallman as well as theatrical trailers and TV spots. A DVD copy, new cover artwork, and an insert booklet containing essays, interviews, and archival posters and stills round out the package.

This release will be available in the UK only, but you can order an import a copy. You will need a region-free Blu-ray player to watch the UK Blu-ray though.

The Knightriders Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will be available beginning Monday April 22, 2013. You can pre-order it from Amazon UK here.

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