Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Suspect Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 28, 2023

Note: This film is available on Blu-ray as part of Severin Films' Cushing Curiosities set.

Severin has celebrated arguably lesser known efforts featuring one of the more legendary horror actors often associated with Hammer Studios with both The Eurocrypt of Christopher Lee Collection and The Eurocrypt of Christopher Lee Collection 2. Now they're doing similar service for that other legendary horror actor often associated with Hammer Studios, and one who of course famously co-starred with Lee in any number of films. As the title of this collection may suggest, the offerings in Cushing Curiosities are a bit peculiar at times, but that perhaps only gives them added allure for a certain demographic. Severin has assembled an impressive array of supplements, including some excellent commentaries by Jonathan Rigby, who also contributes an incredibly thorough overview of Cushing's career in a perfect bound booklet included with this set. Adding to the allure here are some generally solid technical merits (with perhaps one notable exception).

Both Suspect and (kind of humorously) Blood Suckers in this set address what might be called a rancid underbelly of high- falutin' British types, though in completely different contexts and certainly with different sensibilities. Blood Suckers rather interestingly might suggest a certain, um, devilish component to the hallowed halls of Oxford, while Suspect attempts to deconstruct a less "metaphysical" but still danger fraught situation involving British scientists. Kind of interestingly, at least given the vagaries of "real life" over the past couple of years, the film revolves around a potential cure for the plague, though (shades of the controversies surrounding more recent vaccines), side effects may not be desirable, to say the least.

One way or the other, the research is interesting enough that foreign powers might be willing to pay very well to get their hands on it, and even in more interestingly (in another plot element that seems strangely prescient of today's world), "mass media" types may have their own agendas. Whether or not one or more of the scientists either intentionally or through stupidity is willing to "share" knowledge provides some of the suspense.

This is a rather interesting Boulting Brothers offering, one which captures a certain nascent Cold War paranoia while also dealing at least tangentially with what might be termed addled psyches suffering post traumatic stress disorder, and it is typically well appointed production assets, including a cast that includes Donald Pleasence, Ian Bannen and Spike Milligan among many others.

Suspect Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Suspect is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.66:1. Severin packages this film on one disc with The Man Who Finally Died, stating on the shared back cover that both films were "scanned in 2K from the original negatives by Studio Canal". This is a great looking presentation that preserves some sharp if inherently unshowy black and white cinematography. Detail levels are typically excellent throughout, and for just one example of some precise renderings of complex patterns and fabric textures, take a look at the herringbone overcoat in screenshot four. Contrast is solid throughout the presentation, and while there's a kind of cool, wintry ambience in some of the outdoor material, grayscale is still nicely modulated. Grain is tightly resolved throughout.

Suspect Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Suspect features DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono. The sound design here isn't overly baroque, so to speak, and in fact might jokingly be referred to as more Romantic or even Atonal, since piano works by both Chopin and Scriabin are emphasized. Otherwise, this is a pretty talky affair, though certain scenes, like one in a pub, can have a bit more activity than merely relaying two or three people speaking to each other. One way or the other, all dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly. Optional English subtitles are available.

Suspect Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary with Jonathan Rigby, Author of English Gothic, and Horror Historian Kevin Lyons

Suspect Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Suspect seems to want to be some kind of "prestige" product, judging by its cast full of British stalwarts (along with interloper John Payne), and a soundtrack that utilizes some classical warhorses, but the story may simply never provide enough actual suspense to make those intentions pay off. Cushing is fine in a supporting role. Technical merits are solid and the commentary track very appealing, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.