I’ve just heard thats theres a new 4K print of Jeff Lieberman’s cult classic Blue Sunshine that is being shown in cinemas in the US.  This thrills me for a number of reasons- firstly, its a kick ass film and fully deserves the 4K treatment. Also, its being shown in cinemas and so an audience will be given the opportunity of seeing this masterpiece on the big screen. Finally, the fact that this relatively obscure film is being given a 4K restoration is fantastic. I honestly thought that it would be the already recognised classics of cinema that would get this kind of attention and not brilliant low budget cult films.

I first heard about the film through my love of the pop group Siouxsie and the Banshees. In 1983 whilst Siouxsie and Budgie were getting all back to nature with The Creatures, Steven Severin and Robert Smith were watching video nasties and going on adventures of the chemical variety. The name for their group was The Glove and they named their album Blue Sunshine. I read in an interview that they had taken that name from a film.

In 1994 I left home to go to University in London. The week after I arrived I saw that the National Film Theatre were showing the film. I eagerly went along and was amazed at how disturbing yet funny this film was. A group of hippies decide to drop a new strain of acid called Blue Sunshine in the late 60s. Ten years to the day that they did this they lose all their hair and become homicidal maniacs. In the film this happens to one person whilst hes in a disco. Genius.

I hope this 4K restoration is transferred to Blu ray. I hope more underground cinema gets this treatment.