Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Naked Lunch 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 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Naked Lunch is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the restoration (and per Arrow's recent tradition, they include the same booklet in their standalone 1080 and 4K UHD releases, hence the verbiage about HDR10 and Dolby Vision):

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.

This is an impressive looking presentation from just about every angle, with a gorgeously suffused palette that emphasizes Cronenberg's repeated use of teals, greens, browns and beiges, while also providing some suitably stomach churning fine detail in the bug material in particular. Kind of interestingly, this presentation struck me as being a bit darker or lighter than the Criterion release at various moments, (for an example of the former contrast screenshot 1 in this review with screenshot 8 in Svet's review, and for the opposite see screenshot 4 in this review versus screenshot 5 in Svet's review). This release preserves the original aspect ratio, and it is noticeably less flushed and skewed toward red/orange than the Criterion version, something that I personally found preferable. There are still some very minor and frankly inconsequential nicks and blemishes (you can see just the hint of a scratch by Judy Davis' nose in screenshot 19). Grain is very tightly and organically resolved throughout the presentation.

Naked Lunch 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 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc One

• Audio Commentary by David Cronenberg


• Audio Commentary by Jack Sargeant & Graham Duff


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:39)

Disc Two

• 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 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.