Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Moon Child Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 30, 2018

Agustí Villaronga's "Moon Child" a.k.a. "El niño de la luna" (1989) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of independent distributors Cult Epics. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; exclusive new video interview with Agustí Villaronga, collection of rare tracks by Dead Can Dance, and more. In Spanish, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Strange boy

The boy is very different, but initially he does not quite understand why. All he knows is that he can do certain things that the people around him can’t -- like moving objects with his mind.

A strange woman (Maribel Martin) examines him and recommends that he is transferred to a secluded facility resembling a giant medieval fortress where his supernatural skills will be identified and further developed by a team of specialists. Shortly after his arrival there, however, it becomes clear that the fortress is actually run by occultists who are collecting ‘talents’ from around the world for an important experiment. Under the directions of their leader (Lucia Bose), scientists then begin to evaluate the boy and debate how to use him.

After the boy’s evaluation is completed the scientists select a young couple (Lisa Gerard and David Sust) and, while treating the two as lab rats, launch the first phase of their experiment -- in a special hall the young man is ordered to impregnate his female partner while the moon is carefully positioned to observe them through a giant hole. The goal is to conceive the Moon Child, a strange supercreature that will eventually reshape the world as the occultists have predicted.

The impregnation goes as planned, but later on the new boy befriends the young couple and then with a bit of luck the three escape from the fortress. The leader of the occultists promptly dispatches a team of trusted agents to capture and bring them back, but the fugitives vow to reach their final destination -- the African continent. It is not surprising that the legendary darkwave band Dead Can Dance and Gerard collaborated with Spanish helmer Agusti Villaronga for this deeply atmospheric film because it is exactly the type of project that their music can grace. The whole thing is a like a giant liquid dream of strange surrealist visuals that do some pretty remarkable things to seduce the mind.

The plot is well-defined -- do not expect a mosaic of images that simultaneously pull it in different direction -- but the strength of the film comes from Villaronga’s ability to effortlessly build a very special atmosphere that quickly becomes its center piece. The journey that the fugitives embark on is simply the necessary platform where Villaronga unleashes his imagination and goes to work to impress. (Peter Greenway does something very similar in The Pillow Book, but instead of an exotic journey uses an exotic fetish).

If Villaronga had a modest budget at his disposal it is very difficult to tell because the quality of the set decors and costumes and the great locations that were selected leave the impression that the film had the solid backing of a big-time producer.

*Folks that enjoy Alejandro Jodorowsky’s El Topo and The Holy Mountain should not miss Moon Child because all three films bend reality and genre norms with the same euphoric enthusiasm.

Moon Child Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.65:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Agustí Villaronga's Moon Child arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Cult Epics.

The release is sourced from a strong and healthy remaster. I don't know precisely when it was prepared, but this is largely irrelevant because the film does look rather impressive in high-definition. Indeed, virtually all of the close-ups boast pleasing depth and fluidity remains very consistent. There are a few instances where light crush sneaks in, but it is difficult for me to tell what the cause for it is (see csreencapture #11). Either way, it never becomes distracting, and I actually doubt that most viewers will be able to spot its presence. Colors are stable and nicely saturated, but I should note that there are stylistic choices that intentionally alter some of the primaries. Image stability is excellent. There are no distracting large debris, cuts, damage marks, or torn frames to report. My score is 4.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Moon Child Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release. Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the film with the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track and was not disappointed. The lossless track handles Dead Can Dance's dark ambient score really well and clarity and stability are as good as you can expect them to be for a film of this nature. Separation is also excellent, easily identifying the 'random' wind, sand noises, and all sorts of other movements. The English translation is very good.

Moon Child Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - original theatrical trailer for Moon Child. In Spanish, with optional English subtitles. (3 min, 1080p).

• Interview with Agustí Villaronga - in this brand new video interview, director Agustí Villaronga explains what inspired him to shoot Moon Child, and discusses the tone of the film, his collaboration with cinematographer Jaume Peracaula, Dead Can Dance's score and Lisa Gerard's contribution to the film, Guillermo del Toro's appreciation for his work, his latest project (Born a King), the dangers of political correctness in the film busines, etc. The interview was conducted exclusively for Cult Epics in Barcelona in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (15 min, 1080p).

• Photo Gallery - a collection of lobby cards. (1080p).

• Dead Can Dance Soundtrack - the original soundtrack recordings for Moon Child are lost, but Cult Epics have isolated 32 tracks from the existing 35mm audio files and have presented them here as lossless tracks (with some audio effects).

• In a Glass Cage - an original trailer for Cult Epics' Blu-ray release of Agustí Villaronga's controversial thriller In a Glass Cage. (3 min, 1080p).

Moon Child Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This very strange and very atmospheric film from Spanish helmer Agustí Villaronga functions a lot like Alejandro Jodorowsky's cult films do -- it temporarily locks the viewer in a particular state of mind where a wide range of sensations and emotions actually become its story. The popular darkwave band Dead Can Dance created the soundtrack for the film and former member Lisa Gerard was even cast to play one of the main protagonists. Having seen some of the early promotional materials that Cult Epics provided for their upcoming release I expected to see exactly this type of an atmospheric mind-bender, and I wasn't disappointed. The release is sourced from a strong recent remaster and contains 32 tracks from Dead Can Dance's (apparently lost) soundtrack. Well done, Cult Epics. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.