And Soon the Darkness Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

And Soon the Darkness Blu-ray Movie Review

An entertaining thriller featuring a first-rate 4K restoration

There is something completely compelling about And Soon the Darkness and its organic filmmaking. The film is a visually imaginative and exciting production which brings something distinctive to the suspense genre with its unique method of setting the stage for what becomes an ominous and exciting thrill ride. The film was produced by Brian Clemens (The Professionals) and Albert Fennell (The New Avengers). Both visually stunning and graced by excellent performances by the leading cast, And Soon the Darkness is a must-see slice of early 70's genre filmmaking.

Traveling by bicycle across the beautiful French countryside are two young and beautiful twenty-something girls with plenty of character and invigorating spunk: Jane (Pamela Franklin) and Cathy (Michele Dotrice). Both of these women are extremely close to one another and it's readily apparent that their friendship means a great deal to the both of them. Seeking adventure and excitement on their journey together, the friends seek thrills and find them in unexpected ways. Sometimes the darkness is more frighting than the simple dimming of the glow of the moon.

Instead of having a purely fun adrenaline rush to their senses, both girls become separated by accident while exploring the lush greenery that surround them. As the storyline unfolds, Jane loses contact with Cathy altogether and she begins to travel across the almost barren roads before her while wondering what may have caused the disappearance of her friend. A lone man (who Jane sees from the distance), Paul (Sandor Elès), causes her concern. Danger starts to lurk around every corner as Jane attempts to reunite with Cathy while wondering if she'll even be able to make it out of the French outdoors alive.

Both of the lead actresses in the film deliver exceptional performances. There's natural charisma and talent exuded from both of these fine actors and the filmmaking feels all the more compelling as a result. Pamela Franklin is especially compelling and has a way of simply carrying herself with a impressive depth which brings added depth to her character. While both of these ladies are quite gorgeous there's much more depth to their performances and roles than simply being beautiful.

A Darkness Looms

There are also a number of excellent aspects of the production which made a strong impression. The editing by Ann Chegwidden (The Masque of the Red Death, Wuthering Heights) provides viewers ample tension and proper pacing that befits the genre perfectly. This is an extremely well-paced experience and one that clearly showcases the labor of Chegwidden behind the scenes of the production. There's also the exciting and Herrmann-esque score composed by Laurie Johnson (First Men in the Moon, The Firechasers).

The screenplay for And Soon the Darkness was (quickly) written by Brian Clemens (The Watcher in the Woods, See No Evil) and Terry Nation (who wrote for both the classic Doctor Who and The Avengers television programs). Clemens, who also served as a producer on the project, helps bring the dark sensibility to the film and its exceptional tone. The dialogue feels realistic and the characterizations simply work.

One of the aspects of the film which impressed me the most was the striking cinematography by Ian Wilson (The Crying Game, Emma). The film is extremely well-lit and beautifully composed with an absorbing attention to detail that brings the best out of the production. The style is pitch-perfect with regards to the tone of the filmmaking by director Robert Fuest (The Final Programme, Dr. Phibes Rises Again). There are sequences which simply “pop” with wow-factor as one sees the landscape expand across the barren roads. The camera paints a beautiful work of art that is always in motion. Fuest capably directed this underrated gem of a thriller which leads to an unexpected end and a truly fantastic final shot that will leave one with chills. A thriller worth seeking out.

And Soon the Darkness Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, And Soon the Darkness has received a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original 1.85:1 widescreen theatrical aspect ratio. The release has received a new 4K restoration. This is a stunning master of the film which looks truly stunning throughout the entire presentation. The image is remarkably clear, clean, and detailed. It appears naturally filmic with a nice layer of natural film grain. This is a stunning 4K scan that has excellent color reproduction and beautiful textures. The high bit-rate encode helps to preserve the filmmaking at its finest and makes the entire experience one which is far more rewarding. From the beautiful landscape shots of the outdoors to the moody cinematography during some of the film's more climatic moments, And Soon the Darkness looks superb with the restoration given to it.

And Soon the Darkness Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release has received a lossless quality DTS-HD Master Audio mono track. The audio on the release is downright spectacular sounding with exceptional detail and clarity throughout the entire track. The dialogue reproduction is excellent (crisp throughout the entire presentation) and the music score also comes through with lovely fidelity. There are no issues to report with regards to hiss, static, crackle, and other possible detriments. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

And Soon the Darkness Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary with Director Robert Fuest and Co-Writer/Co-Producer Brian Clemens, Moderated by Journalist Jonathan Sothcott

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Troy Howarth

Radio Spots promoting And Soon the Darkness (Audio Only, 1:33) features advertisements promoting the release of the film against a still background image from the film. These are interesting spots that recall a yesteryear of film promotion that one just doesn't find as much today. A worthwhile extra.

And Soon the Darkness Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:45)

The release also includes trailers for the following Kino Lorber releases: Sudden Terror (SD, 3:11), The Mind Benders (SD, 2:03), The Black Windmill (SD, 2:17), and The Man Who Haunted Himself (SD, 3:09).

And Soon the Darkness Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

What an entertaining and surprising thriller And Soon the Darkness proves itself to be. This is a film which is full of suspense and intrigue. There's a darkness to the thriller that is truly unshakable. The filmmaking simply manages to pull one in to the unique world that it creates with relative ease. Director Fuest creates evocative imagery that spellbinds and reminds one of the work of the great Alfred Hitchcock. The Blu-ray release features a superb 4K restoration, an excellent lossless audio track, and worthwhile supplements to make the release worth owning. Highly recommended.