Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		5.0

Peeping Tom Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 21, 2023

Michael Powell's "Peeping Tom" (1960) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal. The supplemental features on the release include new program with film historian Christopher Frayling; new program with the specialists at Cineric that recently restored the film; archival introduction by director Martin Scorsese; archival program with filmmaker and producer Thelma Schoonmaker; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH, German, and French subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Note: The text below was first used in our review of StudioCanal's original Blu-ray release of Peeping Tom, which was produced in 2010.

The name of the main protagonist in Michael Powell’s Peeping Tom is Mark Lewis (Karlheinz Bohm, Rififi in Tokyo). He is a young and quiet man who works as a focus puller at a large film studio. He is also employed by the owner of a small Soho porno shop, who pays him to photograph young girls. Demand for Mark’s photographs is strong.

Mark’s true passion, however, is not photography. He is fascinated with fear. His research work involves filming the faces of various women as he kills them. Mark carefully studies the footage in a dark room of his apartment. But this isn’t always easy because his neighbors like to party a lot. Noise distracts Mark.

Helen (Anna Massey, De Sade), a friendly girl who lives with her blind mother in the same building, approaches Mark and the two become friends. Eventually, Mark takes her out for dinner and then shows her a few films taken by his father. Helen finds them strange - one of the films shows young Mark being awakened by a man with a flashlight; another shows someone dropping lizards on Mark’s bed while he is asleep; there is even a film showing young Mark looking at the cold face of his dead mother.

Based on an original story by Leo Marks, Peeping Tom is a legendary classic British film that influenced generations of different directors around the world, including such masters as Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Roman Polanski, and Bertrand Tavernier. Recently, the film underwent an extensive digital restoration, and Optimum Home Entertainment are now bringing it back to the big screen to celebrate its 50th Anniversary. (The theatrical rerelease will coincide with the film’s debut on Blu-ray later this month).

Though today there is a guaranteed spot for Peeping Tom in the history annals of world cinema, the film wasn’t always treated with the respect it rightfully deserves. When it premiered in 1960, critics all across the United Kingdom greeted it with unprecedented hostility. For example, David Hill of the Tribune proclaimed that "the only really satisfactory way to dispose of Peeping Tom would be to shovel it up and flush it down the nearest sewer. Even then the stench would remain."

Peeping Tom is an incredibly complex, truly original film. Its main protagonist is a man who leads a double life that in a lot of ways invites parallels with the British society -- a prosperous, healthy, and demanding respect society that also has a darker side, one that is apparently fascinated with pornography and murder. There is something enormously disturbing in the way the main protagonist justifies his killings with his ‘research’, as well as seeing the owner of the porno shop where he goes after work selling candy bars to children.

The visuals have a garish, often surprisingly nasty appearance. (The use of Eastman color is most appropriate). The bright reds, blues, greens, and yellows suggest comfort and elegance that are simply missing.

Shortly after it was released, Peeping Tom effectively ended Powell’s career in the United Kingdom. Following its condemnation by the critics, Powell found it impossible to continue working there. In the late 1970s, however, Scorsese financed a rerelease of Peeping Tom, which gave it new life and rekindled interest in Powell’s legacy.

Peeping Tom Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Peeping Tom arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal.

Peeping Tom made its high-definition debut way back in 2010 with this Blu-ray release, which I thought offered a very nice presentation of it. I still think that this is the case. This release introduces an exclusive new 4K restoration, which is also made available on 4K Blu-ray. You can see our listing and review of this release here.

The new 4K makeover produces a superior presentation of the film in 1080p as well. I think that the most significant improvements are in the dynamic range of the visuals, which cannot be separated from noticeable improvements in the color scheme as well. On my system, the previous presentation still looks very, very good, but the new makeover gives the film a more attractive, vibrant appearance that I think is superior. Density levels are excellent, so even on a very large screen, the visuals look terrific. This said, on the native 4K presentation, the HDR grade is very effective, so all improvements that are highlighted above become even easier to appreciate. For this reason, if you can play 4K Blu-ray discs, I suggest that you consider picking up the 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Peeping Tom Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are four standard audio tracks on this release: English LPCM 2.0, German (2006 mix) LPCM 2.0, German (1960 mix) LPCM 2.0, and French LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH, German, and French subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I only tested several parts of the 1080p presentation while comparing it to the native 4K presentation of the new 4K restoration and the previous release of Peeping Tom from 2010. The comments below appeared in our review of the 4K Blu-ray release.

I viewed the new 4K restoration of Peeping Tom during the day and turned up the volume of my system quite a bit. The dialog was very clear, sharp, and stable. I did not notice any signs of age-related anomalies in the upper register, or elsewhere. Dynamic intensity was very good, too.

Peeping Tom Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Visions of Voyeurism: Peeping Tom by Christopher Frayling - in this new program, film historian Christopher Frayling recalls his initial encounter with Peeping Tom and the impact the film had on him, and discusses its unique style, narrative construction, and controversial reception. In English, with optional German and French subtitles. (28 min).

• Take Me To Your Cinema: The Legacy of Peeping Tom - in this new program, film critics Rhianna Dhillon and Anna Bogustskaya discuss Peeping Tom. In English, with optional German and French subtitles. (28 min).

• Restoring Peeping Tom - this new program takes a closer look at the new 4K restoration of Peeping Tom. Included in it are clips from interviews with Simon Lund (Director of Technical Operations at Cineric). Seth Berkowitz (Digital Film Restoration Supervisor at Cineric),and Daniel Devincent (Senior Colorist and Director of Digital Operations at Cineric). In English, with optional German and French subtitles. (15 min).

• The Eye of Beholder - in this archival featurette, produced by Canal+ and Image UK Ltd., director Martin Scorsese, film critic Ian Christie, Thelma Schoonmaker, Prof. Laura Mulvey, and Karlheinz Bohm (who plays Mark Lewis) discuss the fascinating history of Peeping Tom and the devastating impact it had on Michael Powell's career in the UK. In English, with optional German and French subtitles. (19 min).

• Introduction by Martin Scorsese (2007) - a short archival introduction to Peeping Tom by director Martin Scorsese. In English, with optional German and French subtitles. (3 min).

• Interview with Thelma Schoonmaker (2007) - in this archival interview Thelma Schoonmaker, film editor and widow of Michael Powell, acknowledges director Martin Scorsese's efforts to rerelease Peeping Tom after it was dismissed by the critics in the United Kingdom, and discusses the film's history, its characters, tone and atmosphere, etc. In English, with optional German and French subtitles. (11 min).

• Commentary - in this archival audio commentary, critic Ian Christie carefully deconstructs Peeping Tom and explains why it irreversibly damaged Michael Powell's career.

• Trailer One - presented here is an original theatrical trailer for Peeping Tom. In English, with optional German and French subtitles. (3 min).

• Trailer Two - presented here is a new trailer for the 4K restoration of Peeping Tom. In English, with optional German and French subtitles. (2 min).

• Stills Gallery - a collection of behind the scenes stills.

• Booklet - a 32-page illustrated booklet with introduction from Martin Scorsese, brand new essays and original press book.

Peeping Tom Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The definitive home video release of Michael Powell's shocker Peeping Tom has arrived. Yesterday, I viewed the new 4K makeover of the film that was prepared on behalf of StudioCanal, and as far as I am concerned, it is a visual stunner. It is true that Peeping Tom has a certain, well, flashy quality that helps it appear impressive, but the 4K makeover is outstanding. In addition to this Blu-ray release, StudioCanal are bringing to the market this 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. If you can play 4K Blu-ray discs, I suggest that you pick up the combo pack. If you cannot play 4K Blu-ray discs, you should still consider grabbing this release of the new 4K makeover. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.