Irreversible Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Irreversible Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 27, 2021

Gaspar Noe's "Irreversible" (2002) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentary by the director; music videos; new program with critic Alexandra Heller-Nichols; archival Q&A session; deleted scene; and more. In French, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Time destroys all things. Or does it?

Most everything that you might have heard and read about Gaspar Noe’s film Irreversible since 2002 is true. It is incredibly disturbing. It is awfully difficult to endure. It is an ugly button-pusher that was meant to split audiences right down the middle. In other words, it is a very extreme film that is clearly not for everyone.

I have seen Irreversible three times now, but only once because I wanted to do it. After my latest viewing of the film, which occurred earlier today, I can declare with absolute certainty that I will never revisit it again. I do not question its right to exist, and I will explain why below, but its message was crystal-clear to me back in 2002. The rest has zero entertainment value for me. Zlitch.

So, what makes Irreversible such an ugly button-pusher, plus all the other things mainstream critics, bloggers, and casual filmgoers have called it over the years?

As you undoubtedly know by now it reconstructs the brutal rape of a young woman (Monica Bellucci), and rape is always an awfully difficult subject to tackle with a film camera. Also, the reconstruction is done without any conventional cinematic filters, which is the primary reason Noe has been accused of pushing the film into exploitation territory. It shows a lot, and I mean a lot, more than it seems appropriate for a mainstream film, and this is basically it. If you sit down to view Irreversible, your tolerance for graphic violence and humiliation will be severely tested, quite possibly in a way you have not experienced with another contemporary film.

This is where all the drama surrounding Irreversible comes from as well. It places such enormous emphasis on the ugly that eventually the intentions of its creator begin to look quite suspicious, and once this connection is established defending the integrity of the film becomes a very tricky business. The opposite take on the ugly in Irreversible is that it is entirely justified because rape cannot be accurately recreated without it. Once this particular connection emerges dismissing Irreversible as a smarter than usual exploitation film becomes a very tricky business as well.

What does all of this mean, though? Is Irreversible an uncharacteristically bold and brilliant film? Is it a good old-fashioned exploitation shocker disguised as a provocative contemporary drama? Or could it be that it is a little bit of both?

I tend to agree with those who have argued in the past that Irreversible is a button-pusher whose primary goal is to shock in such a dramatic way that the mind would never forget it. This instantly invalidates the opinions of folks that praise and dismiss the film because they don’t actually address the formula that makes it ‘successful’. The film needs them to react in a way that reserves a permanent spot for it in their minds, and if they do, its mission is accomplished. Yes, this is a very cynical formula to place Irreversible next to the grand classics of cinema that the same folks can immediately name and describe, but it works. It is remembered, it is still talked about, and it will absolutely be discussed and deconstructed in the future as well.

*This upcoming release features two versions of the film: the original Theatrical Version, which is approximately 98 minutes long, and a newly reassembled Straight Cut, which is approximately 90 minutes long. The Straight Cut alters the chronology of all key events. I prefer the Theatrical Version.

Irreversible 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, Irreversible arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

Please note that the screencaptures that are included with our review appear in the following order:

Screencaptures #1-12: Theatrical Version.
Screencaptures #15-28: Straight Cut.

Currently, I have only one other release of this film in my library, which is this R2 DVD release that Tartan Video produced in 2003. I used to own a non English-friendly French Collector's Edition DVD, and from what I remember it was sourced from the same master that was used by the folks at Tartan Video.

The Blu-ray release has two versions of Irreversible that are apparently sourced from recent 2K masters: the original Theatrical Version and the new Straight Cut, which alters the chronology of the events that are depicted in the film. (For what it's worth, I am not a fan of the new 'version'). I viewed the Theatrical Version in its entirety, but not the Straight Cut. I only tested large chunks of the latter and then did some direct comparisons with both versions while referencing the DVD release. Here are my impressions:

The Blu-ray release is very clearly superior, but this did not surprise me at all because the PAL encode did not look very convincing on my system even when I upscaled the DVD. There are different reasons why the Blu-ray looks so much better. For example, there is a lot of darker footage throughout the film and in standard definition the density of the visuals can be seriously problematic. Obviously, all of the speed issues that PAL introduces are eliminated on the Blu-ray as well. Delineation and depth are better. Fluidity is superior as well -- and this is actually a key improvement because the camera's erratic movement can produce plenty of interesting effects that have to be reproduced correctly -- so on a large screen the upgrade in quality is quite simply undeniable. Color balance looked good on my system and practically identical to the one from the DVD release. On the other hand, there are different areas where saturation levels appear somewhat unconvincing. However, in these areas there are other anomalies that point to different issues. For example, grain can appear very uneven and flat, producing odd smearing that isn't present elsewhere in the film. You can see examples in screencaptures #17 and 18. When the smearing becomes strong, some color nuances are affected. In other areas minor crushing emerges in backgrounds and gives the visuals a rather distracting processed and often smeary appearance. You can see obvious examples in screencatures #10, 20 and 21. When the loosening of the grain becomes too obvious, the density levels can make the visuals appear oddly dated. Admittedly, the erratic camera movement and darker environment can hide some of these inconsistencies quite well, but not if you are viewing the film on a larger screen. The lighting conditions can produce some natural anomalies as well, especially in very dark shots, but when balance is proper trained eyes will easily notice the inconsistencies. Image stability is very good. My score is 3.75/5.00. (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).

Irreversible Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

I viewed the the Theatrical Version with the 5.1 track and did my tests with the same track. I think that the lossless audio sounds great. Obviously, the soundtrack incorporates many random organic sounds and noises, which means that the variety comes from different subtle nuances rather than strong contrasts. The English translation is very good.

Irreversible Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

BLU-RAY DISC ONE: THEATRICAL VERSION

• Trailers -
  
  1. Uncut '18' Certificate Trailer
  2. Censored '15' Certificate Trailer
  3. Six Teaser Trailers

• Image Gallery - a gallery of original promotional materials for Irreversible.

• Music Videos - two music videos directed by Gaspar Noe.
  
  1. Stress (5 min).
  2. Outrage (5 min).

• Deleted Scene - without dialogue. (1 min).

• The Irreversible Odyssey - this program examines the genesis of Irreversible and the controversy after its premiere. There are some particularly interesting comments about the pre-production process, the shooting of key sequences, and the promotion of the film. (Fritz Lang's M and Harold Pinter's play Betrayal are deservedly mentioned during the discussions as well). Included in the program are clips from interviews with Gaspar Noe, Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassell, Albert Dupontel, producer Vincent Maraval, and producer Richard Grandpierre, amongst others. In French, with optional English subtitles. (44 min).

• NFT50 Q&A - presented here is a Q&A session with Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel and Gaspar Noe that was conducted by Hannah McGill at the National Film Theatre in London on October 11, 2002. Noe and Cassel discuss their initial contact and interactions before the conception of Irreversible, the film's unusual narrative structure, the shooting of the rape footage, violence and eroticism in cinema, etc. Audio only. In English, not subtitled. (50 min).

• The BFI Masterclass with Noe - conducted by David Cox at BFI's Southbank in London on October 16, 2009, as part of the London Film Festival. Gaspar Noe discusses the controversial nature of his work, his vision of cinema (and its purpose), the funding of his projects, the reception of Irreversible and the controversy surrounding it, etc. In English, not subtitled. (90 min).

• Chabrier: SFX - in this short program, visual effects supervisor Rodolphe Chabrier discusses the special effects and some particular stylistic choices that were incorporated in Irreversible. In French, with optional English subtitles. (8 min).

• Heller-Nicholas: Time Destroys All Things - in this new program, critic Alexandra Heller-Nichols discusses Irreversible. In English, not subtitled. (15 min).

• Intoxication (2002) - a short film directed by Gaspar Noe. In it, filmmaker Stéphane Drouot discusses his personal struggle with AIDS. In French, with optional English subtitles. (6 min).

• Audio Commentary - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Gaspar Noe in 2003. It has appeared on previous home video releases of the theatrical version of Irreversible.

BLU-RAY DISC TWO: STRAIGHT CUT

• Straight Cut - 2K restoration and presentation of the new Straight Cut of Irreversible. Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. In French, with optional English subtitles. (90 min).

• Trailer - original trailer for the Straight Cut of Irreversible from the Venice Film Festival (2019). Music only, with English text. (2 min).

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

• Book - Limited edition exclusive 80-page book with a new essay by Anna Bogutskaya, an archival American Cinematographer article on the technical aspects of the film, a BBFC case study, an overview of contemporary critical responses, an archival 'for and against' article by Nick James and Mark Kermode, a look at the creation of the Straight Cut, new writing on Intoxication, and film credits.

• Poster - limited edition exclusive double-sided poster.

Irreversible Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Evaluating a film like Irreversible and using words such as good and bad as well as like and dislike can be a very, very tricky business. Its subject matter is such that if you insist on using them you can seriously compromise yourself, perhaps even beyond repair. As odd as it may sound, however, this is one of the film's greatest accomplishments. When you see it, it will force you to choose a side and then carefully select the words with which you proceed to praise or dismiss it. You won't remain undecided, trust me. My take on Irreversible is that it is an exploitative button-pusher, but I also think that it needs to be as extreme as it is if it is to be taken seriously. Obviously, this is a bit of a contradictory statement, but if the content isn't extreme there will always be someone complaining that the film does not get it right and is essentially glorifying the ugly while targeting a very particular group of 'curious' viewers. (By the way, this is precisely what the classic exploitation films do). My third viewing of Irreversible occurred while working on this article, and I am absolutely certain that it will be my last. I have always had a copy of it in my library, but only for reference purposes. I get its message and the rest does not have any entertainment value for me.

This two-disc set from Indicator/Powerhouse Films has two versions of Irreversible that were apparently sourced from recent 2K masters. It is an all-around solid upgrade over the very old DVD release that I have, but I found the masters somewhat unconvincing. On the other hand, the set offers plenty of informative special features that examine the history of Irreversible and the publicity drama that has been an inseparable part of it, which means that it is very easy to RECOMMEND to folks that know the film and want to have a copy of it in their library. If you are not one of them, I must warn: if you don't know what you are getting into with this film, find a way to rent it first.