Skip to main content

THE PASSION OF THE DARKLY NOON Blu-ray Review

Image
By


The Passion of Darkly Noon
Stars: Brendan Fraser, Ashley Judd, and Viggo Mortensen
Director: Philip Ridley
Street Date 3/24/2020

The Film

Darkly Noon (Brendan Fraser) is the sole survivor of a military-style attack on an isolated religious community. Stumbling through a forest in a daze, he is rescued by the free-spirited and enigmatic Callie (Ashley Judd). Darkly finds himself feeling strange new desires for Callie as she nurses him back to health... only to watch her jump into the arms of her returning mute lover Clay (Viggo Mortensen). Lost in the woods with only his fundamentalist upbringing to make sense of his unrequited passions, Darkly soon descends into an explosive and lethal rage.

Part examination of religious fundamentalism, part commentary on male sexual entitlement, part violent soap opera, Ridley's 25 year old feature was out of step with our culture in its initial release. That being said, we (may) have started to catch up with the film. 

Technical Bits

Now available for the first time in HD, Ridley's talent for spellbinding, hallucinogenic dream imagery is on full display in a glittering new transfer of his most formally inventive and electrifying film.

The mesmerising soundtrack includes two songs co-written by Ridley for the film, "Look What You've Done (To My Skin)" performed by Gavin Friday and "Who Will Love Me Now?" performed by PJ Harvey.


 Bonus Materials

  • New 2K restoration by Arrow Films from the original camera negative, approved by Philip Ridley
  • High Definition Blu-ray™ (1080p) presentation
  • Original 5.1 and 2.0 DTS-HD MA audio
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • New audio commentary by writer/director Philip Ridley
  • Isolated score track in lossless stereo, including never-before-heard extended and unused cues, and the two songs from the film
  • Sharp Cuts, a newly filmed interview with editor Leslie Healey
  • Forest Songs, a newly filmed interview with composer Nick Bicât
  • Dreaming Darkly, an archive featurette from 2015 featuring interviews with Ridley, Bicât and star Viggo Mortensen
  • Previously unreleased demos of the music score, written and performed by Bicât before filming started
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Image gallery
  • Reversible sleeve featuring new and original artwork
  • FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector's booklet featuring a new Philip Ridley career retrospective written by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
Should I Buy It?

Maybe. This film isn't for everyone. In the same way some people will dismiss the films of David Lynch as pretentious dribble and others will elevate them to art that is beyond comprehension, viewers are truly split with Darkly. It's campy and fun but executed with a visual flare that's undeniable. The film feels like it is at odds with itself and that can be uncomfortable for some viewers.  But for others that ill at ease feeling is the reason it works. Its imbalance is the thing that makes it so damn compelling. If you like the film its a must own. Arrow has done a remarkable job with the transfer and bonus features. 

Darkly has developed a strong cult following over the last 25 years and Arrow's release will satisfy both its casual and die hard fans. Every detail of this presentation is top notch.  You can pre-order from MVD here.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Explaining the Ending of MULHOLLAND DRIVE

By
David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive remains one of the most haunting and enigmatic films ever made. It operates like a riddle that refuses to be solved, luring the viewer into a world where time, memory, and identity dissolve into one another. What begins as a mysterious, almost whimsical Hollywood fairy tale gradually transforms into a psychological nightmare. By the end, it’s clear that what we’ve been watching is not a mystery to be unraveled but an emotional landscape, the mind of a woman caught between fantasy and despair. The film tells the story of two women, Betty Elms and Rita, whose lives intertwine after Rita survives a car crash and loses her memory. Betty, a bright and optimistic aspiring actress freshly arrived in Los Angeles, takes her in. Together, they embark on an investigation into Rita’s identity, which unfolds like a noir detective story bathed in dreamlike light. Everything about this world feels heightened: Betty’s charm, the coincidence of events, and the ease with w...
1 comment
Read More

Explaining the Ending of No Country for Old Men

By
No Country for Old Men is a tense, spare, and philosophical thriller that upends traditional narrative expectations. While it contains the elements of a crime drama—drug deals, hitmen, shootouts—it refuses to follow a conventional path. By the time the film ends, the central conflict seems unresolved, the villain walks away, and the protagonist we’ve been following disappears offscreen. To understand the film’s ending, one must look beyond plot and consider its themes: fate, violence, moral decay, and the erosion of order in the modern world. The Narrative Setup The story begins with Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), a Vietnam veteran who discovers a drug deal gone wrong in the Texas desert and makes off with $2 million in cash. Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), a remorseless hitman, is sent to retrieve the money. Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones), a weary and introspective lawman, tries to make sense of the violence unfolding around him. At first glance, the film appears to set up a c...
Post a Comment
Read More

Dracula (2026) Trailer, Release Date, Cast, and Plot Details

By
Dracula (2026) Trailer, Release Date, Cast, and Plot Details Vertical has officially announced that DRACULA (2026), the latest reimagining of the iconic vampire myth, will be released exclusively in theaters nationwide on February 6, 2026. Written, directed, and produced by visionary filmmaker Luc Besson, the film promises a dark, operatic take on one of cinema’s most enduring legends. Dracula (2026) Cast and Creative Team Besson’s Dracula (2026) stars Caleb Landry Jones in the title role, joined by an impressive ensemble that includes Christoph Waltz, Zoë Bleu, Guillaume de Tonquedec, Matilda De Angelis, Ewens Abid, and Raphael Luce. The film is executive produced by Mark Canton, Dorothy Canton, Ryan Winterstern, and Philippe Corrot, further cementing the project as a major cinematic event. Dracula (2026) Plot Synopsis Set against the brutal backdrop of the 15th century, Dracula (2026) begins with profound personal tragedy. After witnessing the savage murder of his beloved wife (Zoë B...
Post a Comment
Read More