North of Spain, end of the 19th century. During the final throes of the last Carlist war, a little girl is rescued from an orphanage by a mysterious woman who lives deep inside the forest. Badly wounded and close to death, the girl believes the woman to be an angel who has come to take her to Heaven. Soon, however, she will discover that what this strange being has actually given her is the gift of eternal life… by turning her into a vampire. Left with no choice but to accept her new condition, she will have to learn to live in the profound and painful loneliness of time, trapped inside her little girl’s body. An infinity of moons go by before, one day, she meets Cándido, a humble man who takes her in and treats her as if she were his own daughter. Now the little girl will be set on a new path, one that will see her rebel against her animalistic nature and revive in her the hope of getting back the life that was stolen from her.
For in-depth thoughts on All the Moons, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:
Video Quality
The film debuts on Blu-Ray with a 1080p presentation in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio that brings this visually sumptuous film to life quite well. With this transfer, you can delight in the detail on display, especially in the rustic landscapes, the period costumes, the makeup effects, and more overflowing with unique textures. Objects stand out favorably in the shadows and retain their depth with minimal banding at hand. There is a slight loss of detail in some of the panning shots, but this is a pretty gentle ride and not a major issue throughout.
The movie moves in the darkness quite often, and the transfer delivers deep black levels that rarely experience crush or other shortcomings. There is no prominent damage or digital noise on display in this transfer. The movie has a reserved color palette within the largely exterior spaces that fall on the desaturated side of the spectrum. Occasional introductions of color are welcome, but we are more struck by the detail and clarity. This upgrade from Shudder allows it to look its best.
Audio Quality
All the Moons arrives on Blu-Ray with a terrific DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original Basque. Dialogue and subtle sound effects stay balanced throughout the duration. All elements play well with the moving score so that no element overtakes another. The movie is never notably kinetic, yet environmental sounds provide an enveloping atmosphere for the story. Surround channels provide some activity with the noises in the village and other sounds of nature. The track’s low end provides some sporadic texture. The track does not experience any shortcomings from the beginning to the end. Optional English subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Film scholar Rebecca Wynne-Walsh and Shelagh Rowan-Legg, author of The Spanish Fantastic: Contemporary Filmmaking in Horror, Fantasy and Sci Fi, provides a commentary track that delivers great insights into the historical aspects of the film, the history of Basque cinema, the fairytale qualities of the story, and much more that is worth a listen.
- Original Trailer (2:06)
- Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring new writing by film critic Scout Tafoya is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis of the themes of the film and important cultural context.
Final Thoughts
All the Moons is far from your typical vampire film, and it is all the better for it. The patient, haunting heartbreak of unwittingly being forced into a life of loneliness is guided with an assured hand. The stunning cinematography that captures the glorious landscapes lulls you into a state that will have you nearly forgetting you are watching a supernatural tale. This young girl does adapt and make some connections, yet she cannot outrun the fact that she will never age while those around her will inevitably die. The film will leave horror fans disappointed, but the beauty and pain of the narrative should appeal to any lover of cinema. Shudder has released a Blu-Ray featuring a rich A/V presentation and a welcome commentary track. Recommended
All the Moons is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Shudder and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
