Rating summary
| Movie |  | 3.0 |
| Video |  | 4.5 |
| Audio |  | 5.0 |
| Extras | | 4.5 |
| Overall | | 3.0 |
Simon Killer Blu-ray Movie Review
An American sociopath in Paris.
Reviewed by Randy Miller III February 28, 2024
Over a decade after Eureka Entertainment's "Masters of Cinema" Region B Blu-ray (now long out of print), IFC Films brings Antonio Campos' 2012 film Simon Killer to Region A
audiences. Featuring similar if not identical A/V elements and two brand-new extras, it's an easy way to get the film on disc for anyone who missed
out originally.
As for the film itself, I've got fairly mixed feelings regarding this
very slow-burn thriller about American sociopath Simon (Brady Corbet,
Funny Games [the US remake]) and his
misadventures in France after a sudden breakup with long-time girlfriend Michelle. Svet Atanasov provided a concise synopsis and critique of
Simon Killer in his above-linked review, and for the most part I share his sentiments exactly: though not without a few highlights, including its
palpable atmosphere and a great soundtrack -- as well as the film's commitment to portraying things from Simon's perspective, especially in the
interactions with his former girlfriend -- the narrative itself is often fairly frustrating in its structure and execution. (The aforementioned soundtrack,
much like the cinematography, is also sometimes a bit too indulgent and showy in a distracting way.) Overall,
Simon Killer doesn't add any
new ingredients to this curious subgenre's pungent stew and, though it's at least worth a once-over, this is not the kind of film you'll return to on a
regular basis.
Simon Killer Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
It's pretty clear that IFC Films' 1080p transfer is built from source material similar to Eureka's Region B Blu-ray, as this all-digital production (shot on location in Paris with an Arri Alexa) boasts
near-identical visual qualities in almost all key areas. To my eyes there are perhaps slight differences in density, with this Region A release sporting
marginally deeper gamma levels. Interestingly enough it also appears to be less narrow in comparison; either that, or it may be stretched horizontally
by a few pixels and the earlier Blu-ray is closer to being accurate. (As always, a picture is worth a thousand words: screenshot #8 in my review is similar to this screenshot from the earlier Blu-ray and
should reveal these subtle differences.) Although a few minor encoding issues could be seen intermittently, such as occasionally clumpy noise and very
light macro blocking, they are either not distracting at all or potentially part of the source material.
Simon Killer Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
To my ears, the DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix included here is basically identical to Eureka's Region B Blu-ray and similarly impressive from start to finish. Simon Killer's sound design is
nothing if not ambitious with lots of use of atmospheric surround channels to bring Paris to life, with special attention paid to the memorable soundtrack
which is likewise extremely dynamic at key moments. Aside from sporadic "headphone music", the club scene featuring LCD Soundsystem's "Dance
Yrself Clean" is perhaps the biggest standout -- it's even repurposed for the Blu-ray's menu interface and has the good sense to stick around for that
massive synth drop. A fine presentation indeed.
Optional English subtitles are included during the main feature only, not the bonus features listed below.
Simon Killer Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
Seven extras are included in all: five from Eureka's 2013 Blu-ray (listed below in name only), and two brand-new supplements featuring director Antonio Campos and lead actor
Brady Corbet, who wrote the film together.
NOTE: Although it's marketing as having a slipcover for its initial print run, my advance copy of Simon Killer obtained from the
studio did not include one. It did, however, include a nice little booklet tucked inside the clear keepcase with acknowledgements, a few stills, and a
six-page essay by film critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.
- NEW! Audio Commentary - Antonio Campos and Brady Corbet, obviously recorded separately,
share this enjoyable feature-length 2023 track that manages to cover a decent amount of ground on the whole. Topics of interest include their
earlier work and how that tied into Simon Killer's development, the work of Belgian author Georges Simenon, crafting the story together,
shooting on a limited budget, happy accidents, supporting actors and casting stories, the film's soundtrack and cinematography, shooting locations,
the acting process, and much more. However, Corbet seems quite shy and is unsurprisingly silent during most of the track; he occasionally chimes in
and elaborates a bit, but it's much more often in direct response to Campos' comments.
- NEW! Video Conversation (10:09) - Recorded sometime after the 2023 commentary, this very
recent video interview -- conducted via webcam -- feels like more of a one-off catch-up session for the duo, who speak about their current projects
while reminiscing more on Simon Killer's production. Interestingly, Corbet admits to having not seen the film in over a decade before the
commentary, which might explain his reserved demeanor.
- The Case of the Curious Camera (28:58)
- Sundance Alumni Spotlight (15:39)
- Behind the Scenes (20:49)
Please note that one legacy interview, "Conversations with Moms", is not included.
Simon Killer Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Antonio Campos' 2012 film Simon Killer, unique as it may feel on the surface, borrows quite a bit from earlier films including the work of
French director Sebastien Lifshitz, as well as more well-known "ticking time bomb" affairs like Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver. Though not without several highlights, including
its palpable atmosphere and a great soundtrack (both of which can admittedly be a bit self-indulgent at times), Simon Killer doesn't bring
anything really original to the table and its narrative, forcefully provocative as it can be, feels undercut by stop-and-start momentum especially
during its rather plodding middle section. It's still worth at least a once-over, and the good news is that IFC Films' upcoming Region A Blu-ray will prove
to be a lot more accessible than Eureka's now out-of-print 2013 Blu-ray. The A/V presentation is very similar (in a good way) and two new extras have been added, including a recent audio
commentary with director Antonio Campos and lead actor Brady Corbet, who wrote the film together.
