Club Zero Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Club Zero Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman May 23, 2024

Some of you may have fasted for either religious purposes or perhaps to prepare for some kind of medical procedure. Some may have even indulged in so-called "intermittent fasting" in order to shed unwanted pounds. Club Zero takes the idea of fasting to extremes, offering a cultish school teacher named Miss (or Ms. or Mrs., according to various supplements) Novak (Mia Wasikowska), who has a small class ostensibly devoted toward "conscious eating" and nutrition, but which may in fact be significantly more dangerous. Co-writer and director Jessica Hausner is on hand in some of those aforementioned supplements talking about how her real focus here is actually parents who don't pay enough attention to what's going on with their kids, but the fact that this film begins with a "trigger warning" for those experiencing eating disorders may suggest that Hausner's chosen context for this perceived subtext is going to be pretty provocative for some.

If Hausner's self announced focus is parental inattention, there's certainly potent content here regarding adult control or at least influence over younger folks, and in a way, the teacher - student relationships in this film rather oddly reminded of an arguably somewhat similar dynamic at play in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, at least insofar as there's a pretty quirky female "mentor" swaying the minds and beliefs of the youth in her charge. In this case, however, the consequences affect numerous students in an even more drastic way than in the well remembered Oscar winner for Maggie Smith. Novak seems to have good intentions (and in fact Hausner overtly mentions this fact in a supplement), but that doesn't mean that the road to hell isn't paved with them, leading to some ultimately predictable outcomes.

Club Zero is a "slow burn" that resides rather uneasily in a world of psychological manipulation and cascading events that ultimately spin out of control. Hausner does a great job of dissecting some of the inner workings of a quasi-cult, and the entire tone of the film is appropriately off kilter, kind of like the feeling some who have fasted for any length of time have no doubt experienced.

Brian Orndorf reviewed Club Zero during its theatrical exhibition, and those interested can read his thoughts here.

Club Zero Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Club Zero is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Film Movement with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. The IMDb lists the Arri Mini LF, and as of the writing of this review doesn't have DI information, though I suspect 2K. This is an appealing looking transfer which offers generally great detail levels throughout, despite Hausner's tendency to want to offer askew framings and some occasionally odd looking lens work (this is the first contemporary film in quite a while that I've seen that almost comically utilizes a zoom). The palette is kind of midcentury bland, with an emphasis on yellows, beiges and other near neutrals, a design choice that is obviously intentionally "disrupted" by some of the more colorful outfits Novak in particular wears. Fine detail on all of these costuming choices and other sets and props is typically excellent.

Club Zero Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Club Zero features Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 audio options. The surround track nicely opens up a lot of the school material, but probably most noticeably engages the side and rear channels with the truly bizarre score from Markus Binder, which includes some putative "school songs". A few source cues, including renditions of "Silent Night", make it into the mix as well. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly for the most part, though the international cast does offer some accents, and this is the first major release I've reviewed in quite a while that doesn't have any optional subtitles.

Club Zero Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Jessica Hausner Interview (HD; 4:55)


• Mia Wasikowska Interview (HD; 4:37)


• Jessica Hausner Masterclass (HD; 1:19:23) is evidently a post screening Q & A which features moderator Bernhard Karl. Subtitled in English.


• Club Zero Trailer (HD; 1:28)


• Lourdes Trailer (HD; 1:41)


• Hotel Trailer (HD; 1:37)


• Lovely Rita Trailer (HD; 1:32)

As with many Film Movement releases, there's also an About Film Movement option on the Main Menu which leads to some pop up text about the label.

Club Zero Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's fascinating for me personally that Hausner chose eating, and/or abstinence from eating, as her "McGuffin" allowing her to explore what she says is her real subject, namely inattentive parents. The fact that the film begins with a "trigger" warning may hint at how provocative this approach will be for some. I'm not sure Club Zero totally works, but it's often quite arresting. Technical merits are generally solid and the supplements interesting. Recommended.