6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The second directorial effort from Irish director Neil Jordan, The Company of Wolves is a psychologically themed retelling of Little Red Riding Hood from a Freudian and slightly feminist angle. Angela Lansbury is Grandma, who tells her granddaughter strange stories of handsome yet heavily eyebrowed strange men, spouses who disappear during the full moon, and storks and eggs. Also starring David Warner and Stephen Rea.
Starring: Sarah Patterson, Angela Lansbury, David Warner, Stephen Rea, Kathryn PogsonHorror | 100% |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
1984’s “The Company of Wolves” is co-writer/director Neil Jordan’s ode to the sinister business of fairy tales. Inspiration is presented by author Angela Carter (who co-scripts), who supplies entry into a strange world of dreams and nightmares, also paying close attention to the power of storytelling with this immersion into dark woods, unreal threats, and burgeoning sexuality. Jordan teases a level of lustfulness with the endeavor, but he’s mostly consumed with achieving a specialized look for the film, using a modest budget to build a fantasy land for the characters to explore. “The Company of Wolves” has a remarkable visual presence at times, with Jordan in pursuit of a cinematic journey. Pacing doesn’t quite matter to the helmer, who’s deeply committed to mood, keeping the picture from acquiring the dramatic authority and elegant creepiness it hopes to deliver.
Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.
"The Company of Wolves" comes to UHD, listed as a "New 2022 4K scan of the original camera negative." The Dolby Vision viewing experience deals
with a very intricately crafted feature, and colors emerge with authority, obviously leading with bold reds, including Rosaleen's costuming and the
bloodiness of wolf transformations. Lighting atmosphere secures delicate blues and purples, and storytelling time captures distinct pinks. Blacks are
deep throughout the viewing experience, losing little to shadow play and evening adventures. Skin tones are natural, also following exaggerated
makeup application to reinforce the "innocence" angle of the story. Detail is appreciable, exploring period costuming and a range of skin particulars,
including monstrous additions. Fine hair and facial surfaces also register well. Forest tours are reasonably dimensional, showcasing production effort.
Grain is heavy but film-like.
The 2.0 DTS-HD mix offers satisfactory dialogue exchanges, but some elements of age remain, never truly interfering with intelligibility. Scoring cues are defined, with clear instrumentation and emphasis, supporting the feature's journey into unreality. Sound effects are appreciable and balanced, along with atmospherics, which offer a sense of village life and forest menace.
Listed on the packaging is a "New interview with producer Chris Brown and special makeup effects artist Christopher Tucker," but this isn't
included on the disc.
"The Company of Wolves" is a strange movie. It's incredibly well-crafted and considered, and performances are solid for this type of entertainment, with Lansbury easily stealing the feature with her commanding screen presence and dedication to Granny's bristliness, making her moments the best in the endeavor. There's a high level of thought put into certain screen elements and concepts, including plenty of symbolism when it comes to Rosaleen's loss of innocence arc, which Jordan is eager to sell. And yet, "The Company of Wolves" doesn't come alive in many ways, held back by the production's focus on technical challenges and the overall storytelling labyrinth, making for an uneven picture. It's certainly a feast for the eyes, but lacks authority when it comes time to invest in the characters and their battles with eerie and sometimes undefined malevolence.
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