Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Cremator Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 20, 2020

Juraj Herz's "The Cremator" (1969) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Second Run. The supplemental features on the disc include filmed introduction by the Quay Brothers; exclusive audio commentary by critic Kat Ellinger; the short film "The Junk Shop"; and more. In Czech, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Also included with the release is a 16-page illustrated booklet featuring an essay by critic Daniel Bird and technical credits. Region-Free.

You are trying to put the man’s (Rudolf Hrusínský) words in a proper context but it isn’t working, and the more time passes by, the more you begin to wonder if they actually deserve your attention. What if they are exactly what they appear to be -- random, completely meaningless words? Could that be it? If this is the case then there must be something seriously wrong with the man. Does he have some sort of a medical condition that has unplugged his mind from reality, but he does not realize it? It could be, but slowly you begin to recognize that the man’s words and actions are coordinated, which means that he has complete control of his mind. Could it be that he is just a very, very eccentric joker and his ramblings are part of a silly game that will eventually be exposed? If this turns out to be the case you will quickly revisit the film to see what are some of the obvious and not so obvious clues about his game that you should have picked up.

Now you have been in the company of this strange man for almost an hour and are ready to declare that he is crazy. The eloquent descriptions of the cold bodies he burns in the crematorium are the proof that you are right. In fact, you have seen enough to declare that he is a pervert and closeted junkie as well. The only thing you are still unsure about is if his craziness is entirely legit, or if it involves a substantial amount of acting. Some of the most dangerous chameleons you have seen in other films have been exactly like him -- individuals with split personalities that are neither legitimately crazy nor completely sane. Is the man like them?

The moment where everything finally begins to make perfect sense to you is the one where the man agrees to begin spying on a group of people he has started seeing as inferior. He judges them and then calmly explains why they have to be eliminated. The man openly behaves like a God who has the authority to reset order on Earth and clean the human waste that has made a mess of it, and he is damn proud of himself. Other men that share his concerns then emerge and begin touting a grand plan that their German neighbors have prepared and will soon begin implementing. It is only a matter of time, one of them declares, and everyone has to choose a side. Everyone.

Seeing the man destroying his family does not surprise you. It is only natural because he has had to face the reality that his wife’s blood and that of their children isn’t as pure as his blood, so he is ‘sacrificing’ them. It is the only way the grand plan can work. It is why others like him have started doing the same.

When the final credits disappear from your screen, you take a moment to ponder the man’s evolution. First you thought that his words were too chaotic to be taken seriously, so you nearly dismissed them. Then you speculated that the man had a medical condition and nothing his mind produced was worthy of your attention. You even entertained the idea that he could be an extravagant joker playing a witty game you were too slow to get. You were wrong and you missed what should have been so obvious from the get-go. The man wasn’t crazy, you just could not recognize how dangerous he was.

The style and tone of Juraj Herz’s film threw you off. They were part of an environment that you did not think could produce the evil that emerges at the end of the film, which of course is the very point that makes your entire experience with the man so illuminating. Your mind did not even entertain the possibility that you were in the company of a true monster. You did not understand what was happening in his head until his transformation was complete and his ideas were flourishing in the heads of other monsters like him. It is precisely how the world’s most destructive political ideologies were missed -- their genesis did not make sense until it was too late.

The Cremator Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Cremator arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Second Run.

I spent some time comparing this release to the North American release and I have to say that there are some rather substantial differences between the two. For example, on this release various nuances are actually lost. In darker areas the difference is very easy to identify, but even during daylight footage it is clear that there should be more to see. The grading job is a little more aggressive here and as a result some of the thicker blacks tend to flatten detail (take a look at screencapture #11). The Criterion release offers a healthier and more stable presentation of the film as well. On this release you will notice plenty of tiny flecks, spots, and even some larger marks, all of which could have been eliminated with modern digital tools. There are some very minor image shakes as well. Detail is still very nice, thought, especially if you compare the 1080p visuals to the ones from the old DVD release. Also, fluidity is vastly superior. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections, so even though there is plenty of room for cosmetic improvements the film still has a a very pleasing organic appearance. My score is 3.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

The Cremator Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Czech LPCM 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The audio sounded great. It is clear, sharp, and nicely balanced. Also, there are absolutely no traces of age-related imperfections in the upper register, where older films typically reveal weaknesses.

The Cremator Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

NOTE: If you reside in North America and do not have a Region-Free player, you will not be able to view the filmed introduction by the Quay Brothers.

• Introduction - presented here is a filmed introduction by the Quay Brothers.

• The Junk Shop - this short film marked the beginning of Juraj Herz's directorial career. It was completed in 1965. Remastered. In Czech, with optional English subtitles. (32 min, 1080p).

• Commentary - critic Kat Ellinger discusses in great detail the visual style of The Cremator, the political allegory that is at the heart of the film, Rudolf Hrusínský's performance and the dual nature of his character, etc. The commentary was recorded exclusively for Second Run.

• The Projection Booth Podcast - recorded by Mike White and Samm Deighan.

• Booklet - 16-page illustrated booklet featuring an essay by critic Daniel Bird and technical credits.

The Cremator Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I have wondered in the past if The Cremator might have been an inspiration for Bernardo Bertolucci's The Conformist. These films use their dual personalities to expose the exact same type of pure and very disturbing evil, but it is only after their final credits disappear that you begin to realize just how incredibly effective they have been. This, I assure you, is entirely by design as well. If you are unfamiliar with The Cremator now is a perfect time to discover the film. This release from Second Run has some exclusive bonus features, but I like Criterion's technical presentation of the film quite a bit more. RECOMMENDED, but only to folks that cannot play Region-A discs.