Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Nightcap Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman April 23, 2022

Note: This version of this film is available on Blu-ray as part of Twisting the Knife: Four Films by Claude Chabrol.

Arrow Video has been revisiting a number of films by Claude Chabrol that have had previous releases on Blu-ray courtesy of Cohen Media Group. Arrow's recent compendium Lies and Deceit: Five Films by Claude Chabrol contained Cop au Vin and Inspector Lavardin, released by Cohen in a "double feature" called The Inspector Lavardin Collection; and Betty and Torment, which Cohen released as part of 3 Classic Films by Claude Chabrol. And in fact the third film in Cohen trifecta of "classic films", The Swindle (the link points to the Cohen release), is included here, along with The Color of Lies (the link points to the Cohen release) and Nightcap (the link once again points to the Cohen release). That means that much like Lies and Deceit's Madame Bovary, this compendium also features one film that Cohen didn't put out in years past, The Flower of Evil (La Fleur du Mal).

Nightcap is one of the three films in this collection which had a previous release on Blu-ray from Cohen Media Group. For those wanting a plot recap and the ability to compare screenshots, I suggest heading over to my Nightcap Blu-ray review of the Cohen release.

Nightcap Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Nightcap is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.67:1. Considering the fact that Arrow's website touts a new 4K restoration of this film, the insert booklet is surprisingly succinct and frankly lacking any real information, offering only a generic statement that "the films in this collection were restored and supplied by MK2". There are some clear differences between the Cohen and Arrow presentations which can probably be pretty easily made out by comparing screenshots, but I'd joke that my use of the word "clear" is salient since clarity struck me as noticeably improved in the Arrow release. Compare the first screenshots of each review and you may be able to see what I mean just in terms of things like Huppert's freckles. The palette is also better suffused in this presentation in my estimation, though once again there may be a just slightly yellowish quality discernable, and the same kind of gritty grain field that is evident in some of the other presentations in this set.

Nightcap Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Nightcap ups the audio ante from the Cohen release by offering both a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and an LPCM 2.0 track (the Cohen disc offered only 2.0 audio). The surround track isn't overly showy, but the musical elements definitely acquire more spaciousness and some ambient environmental effects are also channeled directionally. Dialogue and yet another somewhat peculiar score from Matthieu Chabrol are presented without any issues whatsoever. Unlike the Cohen release, which featured forced subtitles, the English subtitles on this release are optional.

Nightcap Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary by Justine Smith


• When I Pervert Good. . . (HD; 11:15) is a visual essay by film critic Scout Tafoya and uses Nightcap as the jumping off point for an analysis of Chabrol's later career.


• Introduction by film scholar Joël Magny (HD; 3:11) feature Magny narrating as scenes from the movie play, and is in French with English subtitles.


• Scene Commentaries by Claude Chabrol (HD; 43:48) include scenes of Chabrol actually recording the commentaries. In French with English subtitles.


• Isabelle Huppert, "Heroine Chabrolienne" (HD; 7:06) is an archival interview with Isabelle Huppert and looks at what characterizes a "Chabrol heroine". In French with English subtitles.


• Interview with Jacques Dutronc (HD; 32:02) features the singer and songwriter discussing acting for Chabrol. In French with English subtitles.


• Behind the Scenes (HD; 26:05)


• Screen test for Anna Mouglalis (HD; 10:33) is in French with English subtitles.


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:39)


• Image Gallery (HD)

Nightcap Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Not to pun too horribly on either the original French title of the film or the somewhat peculiar choice for its English language release, Huppert is absolutely delicious in this film and any fan of the actress will most likely delight in her devious shenanigans in this film. Technical merits are solid and the supplements very appealing. Recommended.