Torment Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Torment Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman February 20, 2022

Note: This version of this film is available on Blu-ray as part of Lies and Deceit: Five Films by Claude Chabrol.

Claude Chabrol has been decently served by the high definition era, with several of the French master's outings having been released on Blu-ray, including several by Cohen Media Group and/or their Cohen Film Collection imprint. I've personally reviewed a bunch of Cohen releases of Chabrol films, including Merci pour le Chocolat and The Color of Lies. More saliently in terms of this new release from Arrow, however, are two previous Cohen releases, The Inspector Lavardin Collection, which Cohen put out in 2014, and 3 Classic Films by Claude Chabrol, which followed in 2017. Those two releases together feature four of the five films that Arrow has aggregated in this set, and I'll be referring to my earlier reviews for things like plot recaps, as well as more technical aspects in terms of how video and audio quality stack up between the two. As tends to be the case, the Arrow release is stuffed to the gills with supplements, which is one element in the Blu-ray world where Cohen tends not to offer much.

Torment was included in 3 Classic Films by Claude Chabrol from Cohen Film Collection, and for those interested in a plot recap and my thoughts on the film, my L'enfer will hopefully suffice (as is hopefully obvious, several of the Chabrol films in this set have alternate titles). That review also offers a chance to compare the looks of the two transfers.

Torment Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Torment is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.66:1. Arrow's insert booklet really doesn't provide any substantial information on any of the transfers in this set, offering only a generic statement that the high definition masters were restored and provided by MK2. Much like Betty, this presentation is noticeably more yellow looking than the Cohen release, though I'd argue that may actually work toward this transfer's benefit in terms of some of the sun drenched outdoor material that it features. There is a tendency toward slightly jaundiced flesh tones on occasion, but other scenes feature redder, arguably more natural looking, skin tones (see screenshots 5 and 10 for two examples). Detail levels are generally excellent throughout, and there's arguably better suffusion in this transfer than in the Cohen (the Cohen can look a tad anemic when compared to this one, aside and apart from any color timing differences). Grain resolves naturally, and I noticed no compression anomalies.

Torment Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Torment's LPCM 2.0 track struck my ears as for all intents and purposes the same as the LPCM 2.0 track on the Cohen release. There's a somewhat hallucinogenic sound design on tap in this film and Matthieu Chabrol once again contributes a kind of peculiar score. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Torment Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson


• Introduction by film scholar Joël Magny (HD; 3:15) is in French with English subtitles.


• Scene Commentaries by Claude Chabrol (HD; 39:25) are in French with English subtitles.


• Chabrol on Henri-Georges Clouzot (HD; 11:44) is an archival interview in French with English subtitles.


• Interview with Marin Karmitz (HD; 25:49) features the producer responsible for the majority of Chabrol's films from 1985 onwards. In French with English subtitles.


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:21)


• Posters and Stills (HD)

Torment Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

My review of the original Cohen release of this film gets into some of the "meta" aspects that have long appealed to me, but Torment is fascinating exercise even without any added layers. Once again the color timing of this release offers some substantial differences from the Cohen, but technical merits are generally solid and the supplementary package very enjoyable. Highly recommended.