The Name of the Rose (1986) Limited Edition Dual 4K UHD and Blu-ray & Standard Editions 4K UHD and Blu-ray Review
The Name of the Rose (1986) Limited Edition Dual 4K UHD and Blu-ray & Standard Editions 4K UHD and Blu-ray Review
Sean Connery and Hollywood favourites Christian Slater and Ron Perlman lead the cast in celebrated auteur Jean-Jacques Annaud’s big screen adaptation of Umberto Eco’s acclaimed novel The Name of The Rose.
Now the sumptuous and thrilling religious whodunnit, makes a welcome return, as Second Sight Films announces its brand-new release in a stunning Limited Edition Dual 4K UHD/Blu-ray Box Set alongside Standard Editions and also on digital via download and streaming on 10 August 2026.
The year is 1327 and respected Franciscan friar William of Baskerville (Connery) and his young novice Adso of Melk (Slater) arrive at a remote Italian abbey to attend a theological debate. But their visit takes a dark turn when a monk is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Using his sharp intellect and powers of deduction, William suspects foul play and embarks on his own investigation.
When more of the religious men meet their maker, in increasingly disturbing ways; fear and superstition grip the abbey. With tensions rising, the Church enlists the revered inquisitor Bernardo Gui (F. Murray Abraham), an old adversary of William, to uncover the truth. In a race against time, William must unravel the deadly conspiracy hidden within the abbey’s walls before more lives are lost.
The brand-new collector’s set is presented in a stunning rigid slipcase with new artwork by Liza Shumskaya, a 120-page book with new essays and comes complete with an array of special features including a new commentary, cast and crew interviews and much more. Please see full details below after my critique.
Sean Connery possessed that elusive je ne sais quoi that so many modern movie stars seem to lack. It was more than simply being a capable actor—although he undoubtedly was—it was an effortless charisma and commanding screen presence that made him impossible to ignore. The camera adored him, and audiences did too. Yet despite his enduring popularity, Connery was not always a guaranteed box-office draw. Films such as Outland (1981) and Highlander (1986) have since become beloved cult favourites, but neither made a significant impact with cinemagoers upon their original release. That changed with The Name of the Rose, which earned strong critical acclaim and became a modest international box-office success.
Jean-Jacques Annaud’s adaptation of Umberto Eco’s acclaimed 1980 novel immerses viewers in a medieval world that feels both authentic and tangible. The production design is so richly realised that you can almost smell the damp stone walls and feel the chill of the monastery as the mystery unfolds. Annaud creates an environment that is utterly convincing, drawing the audience into a world that is at once familiar and completely alien.
The performances are equally impressive. Ron Perlman is almost unrecognisable as the deformed Salvatore, delivering such a convincing transformation that you quickly forget you are watching an actor beneath the make-up. Connery, meanwhile, brings warmth, intelligence and authority to William of Baskerville, effortlessly anchoring the film’s complex murder mystery.
That said, The Name of the Rose is not without its flaws. There are occasions where the pacing falters, and the narrative loses some of its momentum just when it should be tightening its grip on the audience. I vividly remember seeing the film at the cinema upon its original release and coming away disappointed. I knew I was watching a murder mystery, but I wasn’t prepared for the direction the story ultimately took or the motivations behind its killer. At the time, those revelations felt underwhelming and at odds with my expectations.
Revisiting the film some forty years later, however, has completely altered my perspective. Back then, I approached it with the boundless enthusiasm—and perhaps unrealistic expectations—of youth, imagining the film would be something different rather than appreciating it for what it actually was. Seen through older, more appreciative eyes, The Name of the Rose reveals itself to be a far richer and more rewarding experience. Its imperfections remain, but they are easier to forgive, and what once disappointed now feels like a thoughtful, atmospheric and intelligent mystery. It is, quite simply, a much better film than I remembered.
Special Features
- Dual format edition including both UHD and Blu-ray with main feature and bonus features on both discs
- UHD presented in HDR with Dolby Vision
- New audio commentary by James Marsh
- Audio commentary with director Jean-Jacques Annaud
- Charm of Humanity: a new interview with Jean-Jacques Annaud
- A Boy and His Dog: a new interview with actor Christian Slater
- Bringing the Mustard: a new interview with actor Ron Perlman
- Liquidating the Disk: a new interview with writer Andrew Birkin
- The Abbey of Crime: Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose
Limited Edition Content - Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Liza Shumskaya
- 120-page book with new essays by Eugenio Ercolani and Gian Giacomo Petrone, Francesco Massaccesi,
Sam Moore, Gregory Mucci, Dan Schindel and Nadine Whitney - Six collectors’ art cards
