7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 5.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
A part-time exterminator and full-time drug addict named Bill Lee plunges into the nightmarish Interzone, a netherworld of sinister cabals and giant talking bugs.
Starring: Peter Weller, Judy Davis, Ian Holm, Julian Sands, Roy ScheiderDrama | 100% |
Surreal | 44% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: LPCM 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region B (A, C untested)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
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.
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.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.
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.
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.
Disc One
- 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.
- Promotional Stills and Posters (HD)
- From the Collection of Chris Rodley (HD)
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.
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