Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Naked Lunch 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman April 11, 2023

Some of the often fascinating supplements Arrow has aggregated for this release either overtly mention or allude to the fact that William S. Burroughs' writing might be properly classified as "unadaptable", at least insofar as novels are typically transformed into screenplays and then finished films. That may be one reason why David Cronenberg, certainly more capable of handling the immensity of Burroughs' work than many directors, opted not to do any kind of traditional "page to screen" translation, instead himself alluding to the source tome while also working in any number of supposedly extracurricular items which nonetheless had tethers to Burroughs' own real life. The result is one of the most hallucinatory films probably of all time, but one with an almost impossibly literary and "meta" approach that certain elevates it above any number of other films featuring mutant bugs (and, yes, that's a joke). In fact, the hallucinatory aspect of the film is itself overt, with any number of characters ingesting or injecting a potent drug being used by exterminator Bill Lee (Peter Weller), a character based on Burroughs, who had employment as just such an "agent of death" when writing wasn't paying the bills.

In terms of "adaptations", one thing that may have struck some avid filmgoers, perhaps on a subliminal level, is overtly addressed in one of the supplements included on this release, namely that David Cronenberg was once "attached" to Total Recall, and in some rather almost shockingly brazen ways, Cronenberg "adapts" ideas from that film, or arguably its Philip K. Dick, source. Those tethers won't be spoiled here (and as those who click on the link to my review for Total Recall will see, that review begins with a clear spoiler warning itself), but for anyone who has seen both films and may not have thought about it before, suddenly "whole new worlds" may begin to open, rather like an unseemly talking orifice in this film.

There's also a rather curious if provocative quasi-homage to Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo at play in terms of two characters played by the inimitable Judy Davis. The first of these is Joan Lee, Bill's wife who meets an inglorious end obviously based on an infamous event from Burroughs' own personal life. The second is Joan Frost, a lookalike writer who may hold the key to any number of questions Bill has as to what exactly is real and what is not. There are a number of at times patently gonzo sidebar characters who waft through the story, including a kind of mad doctor played by Roy Scheider. There's a certain "reveal" (in both figurative and literal senses) involving this character which is just one memorable moment that has a more or less direct analog in Total Recall.

Naked Lunch received a now long ago Blu-ray release in Region A from Criterion, and those wanting more detailed information on an often labyrinthine plot will find useful information in Svet's Naked Lunch Blu-ray review of that release.

Naked Lunch 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from Arrow's standalone 1080 release of the film. Per Arrow's standard operation procedure, this 4K UHD release does not include a 1080 disc of the film.

Naked Lunch is presented in 4K UHD of Arrow Video with a 2160p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the restoration:

Naked Lunch has been exclusively restored by Turbine in partnership with Arrow Films and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with a restored mix of the original stereo audio, as well as a legacy 5.1 mix.

The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K at Difuze, Toronto, Canada. The film was conformed, graded and restored in 4K in standard dynamic range, HDR10 and Dolby Vision at LSP Medien, Uelzen, Germany.

The original stereo soundtrack was remastered from the magnetic printmasters.

The 5.1 mix was provided by StudioCanal.

The transfer was supervised by Director of Photography Peter Suschitzky at Silver Salt Restoration, London, UK, and the restoration was approved by Director David Cronenberg.

Fans of this film are going to be well pleased in my estimation, with a transfer that offers really sumptuous suffusion and some nicely improved detail levels from already excellent levels on Arrow's 1080 version. Dolby Vision and/or HDR have added some rather interesting highlights toward both the warm and cool ends of the spectrum, though I'd say in general this 4K UHD presentation may have just a bit more of the flushed red-orange appearance that the Criterion version has, and which Arrow's 1080 presentation tends not to emphasize quite as much. This is a rather incremental difference in any regard, though, and really the palette differences that most immediately struck my eyes were more in the green and blue territory (the almost cobalt blue gown Davis wears in one scene late in the film is almost impossibly vivid in this version). Even the somewhat drab browns, ochres, yellows and beiges can pop a bit more exuberantly in this version. Detail levels are at least marginally improved throughout in this version, and shadow detail in some of the dimly lit interior scenes can also show improvement. Grain is very nicely resolved throughout, and regular readers of my reviews will know that I'm not always a fan of how grain looks in the increased resolution of 4K UHD discs.

Naked Lunch 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Naked Lunch offers LPCM 2.0 and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 options. The stereo track offers more than capable support for the film's sound design, though the 5.1 mix does open up effects and ambient environmental sounds in particular, as well as offering a more spacious account of Howard Shore's often intriguing score. There are no issues whatsoever with regard to damage, dropouts or distortion. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Naked Lunch 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Note: Arrow's standalone 1080 release includes two 1080 discs. This 4K UHD release offers all of the same supplementary content on one BD 100:

• Audio Commentary by David Cronenberg


• Audio Commentary by Jack Sargeant & Graham Duff


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:39)


• Filmmaker Interviews

  Jeremy Thomas (HD; 15:32) was filmed in 2022 for Turbine.

  
  

  Peter Weller (HD; 1:01:53) was filmed in 2022 by Arrow.

  
  

  Peter Suschitzky (HD; 11:01) was filmed in 2022 by Arrow.

  
  

  Chris Walas (HD; 18:36) was filmed in 2022 by Arrow.

  
  

  Howard Shore (HD; 17:09) was filmed in 2022 for Turbine.

• A Ticket to Interzone (HD; 28:31) is an interesting visual essay by David Cairns, with a little help from some talking head friends rather cheekily inserted old school into supposed tv monitors, looking at Burroughs, Cronenberg and the film.


• Tony Rayns on William S. Burroughs (HD; 1:00;29) is another insightful discussion featuring Rayns.


• David Huckvale on Naked Lunch (HD; 31:27) offers another deconstruction (decomposition?) of a film score by Huckvale, here discussing Howard Shore's memorable work on the film.


• Naked Making Lunch (HD; 54:40) is an archival documentary by Chris Rodley which is advertised as having been scanned from Rodley's personal 16mm print. This has an optional quasi-commentary track featuring an interview with Rodley.


• Concept Art (HD; 2:51) is by Stephan Dupuis.


• Image Galleries

  Promotional Stills and Posters (HD)

  
  

  From the Collection of Chris Rodley (HD)

Additionally, Arrow is offering another really handsomely packaged release with quite a bit of non disc swag. The keepcase features a reversible sleeve, and houses a number of items, including six postcard sized reporduction lobby cards, a couple of whimsical business cards and a ticket to Interzone. A sturdy slipcase houses the keepcase along with an 80 page perfect bound booklet with a glut of great material, including an introduction by David Cronenberg, as well as a double sided poster.

Naked Lunch 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This may in fact not be William S. Burroughs' Naked Lunch, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I can't think of a director more preternaturally qualified to work with Burroughs' material and fashion it to his own ends, and Cronenberg's film is a rather healthy helping of ingredients on its own merits. Arrow offers a release with solid technical merits and some really outstanding supplements. Highly recommended.