Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Supernatural Blu-ray Movie Review

A spooky good time with Carole Lombard

A dark tale of murder and revenge, Supernatural (1933) is an early pre-code Hollywood production which was produced by Edward Halperin (Revolt of the Zombies, I Conquer the Sea!) and director Victor Halperin (She Goes to War, When a Girl Loves). The spooky genre film was a big financial failure upon its initial release but has a following for the stirring lead performance by the beautiful Carole Lombard. Filled with impressive moments of suspense and evocative imagery, Supernatural might make for a stirring weekend excursion.

Ruth Rogen (Vivienne Osborne) is a murderer on death row. The psychotic woman was found guilty for having killed her three previous husbands. The woman “snapped” (so to speak) and exacted death towards each former lover one-by-one (as if she was plucking daisies in spring). Betrayed by her most recent husband, psychic Paul Bavian (Alan Dinehart), the ravaging murders of Ruth Rogen become a haunting spotlight in the news.

As time passes and Bavian meets the beautiful and young sex-pot Roma Courtney (Carole Lombard), psychic energy comes into play and a séance is performed (with Roma in tow). The murderous ghost of Rogen attempts to enter the body of the young woman and seek her own revenge against her husband Bavian. Will Ruth Rogen be able to kill once more or will she be thwarted once more? Will Roma survive the supernatural séance?

The film is an interesting example of early pre-code supernatural genre productions. Though the film isn't particularly scary in a traditional sense, the performances care impressive and the setting and tone established by the filmmakers make the experience a compelling one nonetheless. As one of the earliest films to explore a “body take-over” (which has become a common trope in many films over the years), it's interesting to see it and consider it in the context of the time period in which the film was produced.

Leading lady Carole Lombard is worth the admission alone. There is something undeniably compelling about her as an actress. Lombard is remarkably beautiful and expressive as an actress and she elevates her character with her own charm and grace. The performance in Supernatural is a curious one that is effective at providing audiences with ample suspense and excitement while similarly demonstrating Lombard's beauty. Even Lombard's gaze can make a scene take on more weight in Supernatural.

"Nice to séance you."

The costumes by Travis Banton (Shanghai Express, Trouble in Paradise) amply showcase the beauty of the leading actress and manage to capably dress the other performers in the film while giving these characters a distinction that works for each respective part. The attire for Carole Lombard is truly outstanding. These are terrific costumes which compliment the filmmaking throughout.

The cinematography by Arthur Martinelli (Ten Laps to Go, The Witness Vanishes) is another excellent aspect of the production. The evocative black-and-white cinematography feels right-at-home for the genre and the style of the film. The eerie aspects of Supernatural are certainly enhanced by the slick photography and give the production an added sense of surrealism that works well for the storyline.

The music score composed by Karl Hajos (The Phantom of 42^nd Street, The Bold Caballero), Howard Jackson (Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Dizzy Dames), and Milan Roder (Souls at Sea, 8 Girls in a Boat) provides some mysterious undercurrents to the film that will leave audiences wondering what will happen next from scene-to-scene. The composers worked well in crafting music that fits the style sensibly. While I wouldn't consider the music in Supernatural top-tier material, the music suitably succeeds for the genre and the style works its own voodoo magic.

Directed by Victor Halperin (The Unknown Lover, Party Girl), one of the most interesting elements of Supernatural is the way the filmmaking plays with the genre during the pre-code years. The film is a stylish piece and has some interesting over-lay cinematographic effects which surely came from the mind of director Halperin. The spooky nature of the visuals is one of the more haunting aspects of Supernatural and a key reason why the film may be so well remembered to this day.

The script by Brian Marlow (Among the Living, The Accusing Finger) and Harvey F. Thew (Beware of Blondes, Love in the Desert), from a story by Garnett Weston (Daughter of Shanghai, The Great Train Robbery), is a different beast altogether and is sometimes problematic: the characters lack the kind of depth one would hope for and the story-line is only a cut above average. The fundamentals of the filmmaking are solid but when armed to impress, Supernatural succeeds based on the production strengths of the crew and not the idiosyncrasies of the writers. A solid if imperfect effort in genre filmmaking, Supernatural is worth a look.

Supernatural Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from distributor Kino Lorber, Supernatural has received a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. The release is an impressive one that retains the often shadowy and mysterious cinematographic aesthetic. The print quality is truly superb and is generally crisp and clear throughout the entire presentation. A naturally filmic scan retaining a fine layer of film grain, there are only occasional minor specks on the print utilized. These slight imperfections are not too distracting and the print is largely a beautiful one which highlights the stunning black and white photography well.

Supernatural Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release has received a DTS-HD Master Audio mono audio presentation. The lossless track sounds satisfactory in delivering listeners a crisp and clear sound presentation throughout. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand. There are some sequences with minor hiss in the background. However, the background hiss is barely audible and is not too distracting from the film presentation. The track is perfectly sufficient given the age of the materials.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

Supernatural Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas

Supernatural Trailer (SD, 2:04)

The release also includes a selection of trailers for other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: Nothing Sacred (SD, 2:06), Made for Each Other (SD, 2:06), Pittsburgh (SD, 2:05), The Spoilers (SD, 1:48), The Spiral Staircase (SD, 2:01), Dr. Cyclops (SD, 2:02), Cobra Woman (SD, 2:08), and The Undying Monster (SD, 1:05).

Supernatural Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A compelling example of early pre-code genre filmmaking, Supernatural is a stylish and compelling example of a ghost-story fashionably produced behind-the-scenes. The performance by leading lady Carole Lombard leaves a solid impression and manages to make the film a much more compelling experience than it would be without her involvement. The direction by Halperin is effective with establishing a eerie mood. The Blu-ray release features a quality video-audio presentation and the release is worthwhile for fans. Recommended.