Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

Berlin Syndrome Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 9, 2017

Cate Shortland's "Berlin Syndrome" (2017) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Curzon Artificial Eye. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film and behind the scenes featurette with cast and crew interviews. In English and German, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

In a special place

At first it looks like what is happening is part of a very special plan. It is too beautiful, too perfect. There is an instant connection between them and they can feel it. They smile at each other, they hold hands, they almost kiss. Then he (Max Riemelt) invites her (Teresa Palmer) to spend the night at his quiet place and they make love for hours. They learn more about each other. She is a single Australian photographer who has come to Berlin to do work and explore. He is a local bachelor who teaches English at a public school. They have never had an experience quite like this one and both seem rather surprised that fate brought them together.

Or did it?

On the following morning he goes to work and accidentally locks the door from the outside, preventing her from going back out on the streets and finishing the set of photographs she has been preparing. Later on he apologizes, but on the next morning he does it again.

Then he casually confesses to her that he intends to keep her in the apartment -- because he wants her to belong to him. Like a toy. She panics and attempts to escape, but quickly discovers that the big windows are very carefully reinforced so that they can never be broken from the outside. She also realizes that there is no one else living in the building and that no one would ever hear her scream for help. In a few hours it finally dawns on her that she has become his prisoner and has absolutely no idea how to regain her freedom.

If Alfred Hitchcock was alive and still directing today there is a good chance that his work would have looked a lot like Cate Shortland’s latest film, Berlin Syndrome. This truly is a quality production that balances great atmosphere and some very smart writing in ways that remind of Hitchcock’s classic thrillers.

The beautiful abduction unleashes all sorts of interesting twists and turns that quickly transform the film into quite a roller-coaster. Then there is the flexible profiling of the two leads that keeps the viewer in a guessing mode literally until the final credits roll because each new sequence basically alters the balance of powers between the captor and captive in ways that take away from what feels like a thriller and add more and more to what begins to emerge as a complex psychological drama. So there really are two different conflicts that ought to be followed closely: the one in which the cheated girl must figure out how to break free of the cage that she has been placed in, and the one that gradually reveals that the dangerous maniac is actually a very smart and dangerous chameleon.

One aspect of the set-up that may appear questionable is the existence of an empty building somewhere in the heart of Berlin that has been abandoned by the authorities. However, until a few years ago especially in East Berlin these types of old post-war buildings were quite common. The one where the girl is kept looks very similar, though it seems like it is in a district that is quite busy.

The two leads are very good, but it is probably fair to say that Palmer is primarily responsible for the haunting atmosphere. There are quite a few sequences where she has this absolutely terrifying empty look on her face that can be seen only on people that are losing their minds or a fully consumed by pure fear.

Berlin Syndrome Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.39:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Cate Shortland's Berlin Syndrome arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Curzon Artificial Eye.

The film was shot with the ARRI Alexa camera and has the typical clean, polished, and very sharp appearance that these type of projects are known for. When there is an abundance of natural light depth is often exceptional, while the larger panoramic shots boast tremendous delineation (see screencaptures #2 and 4). The darker dusk/dawn footage also promotes some very beautiful natural nuances. I have noticed that in recent years the ARRI cameras have also started to handle darker footage very well, now frequently retaining the type of shadow nuances that used to be easier to capture on 35mm stock. You will see quite a few such examples in this film. Colors are lush, stable, and very natural. Image stability is outstanding. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Berlin Syndrome Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English LPCM 2.0 (With some rather large exchanges in German). Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

My understanding is that the film has a fully digital soundtrack, so what you get on the Blu-ray release is pretty much an exact replica of what the filmmakers created. Quite predictably, clarity, depth, and balance are outstanding. There is also a surprisingly good range of audio effects but of the type that are typically part of modern ambient soundtracks. So tunr up the volume of your system and get ready for a very interesting experience. The dialog is always stable, clean, and quite easy to follow.

Berlin Syndrome Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Behind the Scenes - presented here is a standard featurette with cast and crew interviews addressing the production history of the Berlin Syndrome, as well as raw footage from the shooting of the film. In English, not subtitled. (15 min).

• Trailer - original trailer for Berlin Syndrome. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

Berlin Syndrome Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The most dangerous maniacs are always the ones that are incredibly difficult to spot. They are the quiet chameleons that know exactly when to strike and how to do it so that they remain at large. Cate Shortland's latest film, Berlin Syndrome, is a deceivingly simple thriller about one such chameleon that in certain ways reminded me of Alfred Hitchcock's work. If you enjoy atmospheric roller-coasters with a bit of an edge, consider adding Curzon Artificial Eye's excellent Blu-ray release to your collections. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.