Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Queen of Earth Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 7, 2024

Writer/director Alex Ross Perry doesn’t make easy movies. For 2014’s “Listen Up Philip,” he submitted one of the most unpleasant lead characters of the film year. For “Queen of Earth,” he explores the abyss of mental illness. He’s not the cheery type, but Perry has a way of making these dramatic explorations worthwhile, with periodic blips of profundity. Carried by a wonderfully ragged lead performance from Elisabeth Moss, “Queen of Earth” steps away from a clinical understanding of depression to go semi-Polanski, treating the fractured experience of a complete unraveling with a full immersion into paranoia and hopelessness, emerging with a secure study of friendship and phobia that feels organically communicated yet sharply cinematic.

Escaping to the wilderness for a week of vacation, Catherine (Elisabeth Moss) is struggling with a recent break up, feeling lost without a partner in her life to provide perceived emotional balance. Arriving at a lake house, Catherine is greeted by her best friend, Virginia (Katherine Waterston), hoping to embrace the comfort of companionship as the pair enjoys time together, sharing stories of relationship woe. However, all is not well in the house, with Catherine’s manic energy increasing as the duo expose contempt and concern for each other, while Rich (Patrick Fugit), a neighbor, returns to romance Virginia, showing unrepentant hostility toward Catherine. With seven days to enjoy the clean air and remote location, Catherine gradually loses control of herself, blurring the line between illness and reality, frightening and confusing those around her.

“Queen of Earth” opens on Catherine’s reaction to being dumped by her longtime boyfriend, studying his excuses and responding to his accusations in a frazzled emotional state, with her face a smear of mascara and tears. She’s lost it, but understandably so, finding her world decimated once again, forced to pick up the pieces and move on. The holiday week provides a necessary distraction, returning to Virginia’s lake house with hopes to enjoy intimacy with her dear friend, fulfilling a yearly routine that finds the women absorbing the complexity of their lives away from outside influence. However, this is no ordinary return to normalcy, finding Virginia and Catherine drifting apart as age and awareness builds, almost forcing their bond due to the routine of the getaway, lighting the fuse on future animosities without being fully aware of the depth of their estrangement. And there’s mental illness in play, as Catherine’s battle with depression is finally exposed in full, with her father’s suicide beginning to make sense as she succumbs to visions and immobility -- an untouched bedside salad, a token of compassion from Virginia, acting as a symbol of her decaying mental state.

“Queen of Earth” is subtle with its depiction of depression, using flashbacks to a previous holiday weekend to chart Catherine’s state of mind, observing stability supported by relationship purpose. Virginia isn’t exactly the picture of health either, with OCD urges and superiority issues to match her friend’s nervous energy, watching the pair work through conversations that transform into macabre therapy sessions, sharing feelings and dark thoughts that rarely connect as intended. This purging (scored with atonal Kubrickian menace by Keegan DeWitt) is blunted by Rich’s presence, providing a substantial threat to Catherine as the neighbor pokes a stick at her illness, challenging her employment as the caretaker for her famous father’s artistic empire, adding class unease to a list of grievances that already includes codependency and psychosis. It’s clear that the trio isn’t going to get along, but surprises come from reaction to provocative behavior, adding to Catherine’s isolation.

Queen of Earth Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation deals with 16mm cinematography, which provides a softer look for the feature. Detail is appreciable, offering a view of character distress, with acceptable skin particulars. Interiors retain some feel for cabin spaces, and nature visits hold a decent sense of depth. Color preserves warmth, with a golden glow for happier times and exterior scenes. Cooler hues are secure during mental health episodes. Greenery is distinct. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is heavy and film-like. Posterization is present during the viewing experience, detected during the many fade-outs in the movie.

Queen of Earth Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix provides sharp dialogue exchanges, dealing with the quieter conversations of the film, which occasionally flare up into louder confrontations. Scoring supports with delicate instrumentation, offering strange sounds with appealing balance and clarity. Musical moods push out into the surrounds at times, along with atmospherics, which offer the gentle sounds of nature. Low-end isn't challenged.

Queen of Earth Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (10 pages) provides an essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.

• Commentary #1 features writer/director Alex Ross Perry, cinematographer Sean Price Williams, and actress Hari Nef.

• Commentary #2 features writer/director Alex Ross Perry and actress Elisabeth Moss.

• Interview (35:48, HD) is a video conference discussion of "Queen of Earth" with writer/director Alex Ross Perry and actress Katherine Waterston. The speed of production is recalled, with Waterston added to the picture in a matter of days after the previous choice (Michelle Dockery) abandoned the shoot. Waterston shares her feelings about the sudden commitment, with Perry already comfortable with his cast and crew, capable of moving quickly with the 12-day-long shoot. The creative process is analyzed, as Perry was looking to capture a lot of dialogue in long takes, exploring the life of performances in this time. Perry also details his growth as a moviemaker, moving away from doing so much by himself, learning to use his crew with a larger budget and bigger actors.

• "On the Margins" (13:46, HD) is an interview with composer Keegan DeWitt, who explores his relationship with writer/director Alex Ross Perry, collaborating on ideas in the script that inspire music instead of working with an early cut. DeWitt details his creative process, taking inspiration from the actors and cinematography, forming ideas with raw filmmaking. Concentrating on a xylophone sound, the interviewee highlights the soundscape of "Queen of Earth," also examining his early drive to become a director, falling into composing along the way. Memories from the Sundance Film Festival are also shared.

• "Shooting One Scene" (7:11, SD) takes viewers into the household setting in 2014, watching writer/director Alex Ross Perry oversee the creation of a dialogue scene, working through ideas with cast and crew. Professionalism is explored, but also goofy camaraderie.

• "Women on the Verge: Hysterical Excess on Screen" (18:28, HD) is a visual essay by Samm Deighan.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:19, HD) is included.

Queen of Earth Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Moss takes the more flavorful role in "Queen of Earth," living up to the challenge of expressing a nervous breakdown with a finely tuned display of insecurity and anxiety, delivering a range of responses to confrontation both real and imagined. It's a powerhouse performance, aiding Perry's interests in depicting personal ruin from multiple perspectives, while still remaining respectful of the downward spiral, avoiding camp. "Queen of Earth" isn't an easy sit, burrowing into habits and bitterness, offering extended monologues and seemingly blank stares into the nothingness of life. Awareness of Perry's work aids digestion, but those new to the helmer's grainy, consuming, self-absorbed worldview are welcomed with a chilling portrait of disintegration, cementing his reputation for unflinching, raw nerve work.