Marc, a traveling entertainer, is on his way home for Christmas when his van breaks down in the middle of a village, where he quickly falls victim to a dangerously unhinged innkeeper determined to keep him captive. For the first time in the US, CALVAIRE will be available in high definition. The HD Remaster was created from the original print with new color grading supervised by original cinematographer Benoit Debbie and director Fabrice du Welz. This high water mark from the New French Extremity movement premiered at the Cannes Film Festival followed by TiFFF Midnight Madness.

For thoughts on Calvaire, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

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Video Quality

Calvaire makes its Blu-Ray debut in the U.S. with a really great 1080p video presentation derived from a fresh remaster created from the original print with new color grading supervised by cinematographer Benoit Debbie and director Fabrice du Welz. If you watch the introduction, the director mentions how they did not try to radically change the look of the film, but instead they tried to bring out more nuances in the picture. The resulting image showcases more impressive, bold colors that contrast well with the grimy nature of the environments. There are some lighting choices in here that really make an impression as it feeds into the hellscape Marc is experiencing.

The presentation shows off a stellar amount of depth within the confined space of the house, as well as the expansive nature that threatens to swallow up our protagonist. There are several different types of environments that this transfer handles well. The production design, fabrics of clothing and grotesque makeup effects provide crystal clear textural details. The black levels occasionally waiver ever so slightly with depth and show minute signs of crush and banding in certain shots. Compression artifacts are hardly ever an issue with the image remaining very clean in spite of the down-and-dirty aesthetic. The flesh tones are natural with a magnificent amount of detail present in close-ups. This Blu-Ray gives a rich second to life to the forgotten oddity.

Audio Quality

Yellow Veil Pictures delivers a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original French with optional English subtitles which does a terrific job of bringing this odyssey to life. Unsettling environmental sounds of the world engage the surround speakers in an effective way that puts you on edge as you await whatever fresh hell might be around the corner. Early on in the film when Marc gets stranded, the surround sound speakers flesh out the sounds of the falling rain in a really pleasing way. Even inside the house or the local tavern, there are some engaging ambient details that make the setting feel fully three dimensional

Dialogue always comes through clearly without being clipped by any competing sounds, even when things are at their most raucous. Hard-hitting moments are woven in naturally with a few moments that really come to life in the low end. The music in the film is well-balanced and thematically important while maintaining its fidelity. Every element of the soundscape seems properly situated and presented in the mix. Yellow Veil Pictures has done a really great job here.

Special Features

Introduction: A minute-and-a-half optional introduction is provided here in which director Fabrice du Welz gives some context to the film and discusses the new restoration.

Audio Commentary: Director Fabrice du Welz and Production Designer Manu de Meulemeester provide an informative commentary track in which they reflect on the production of the film, the new color grading to keep the film more tonally pure, the sincerity of the main character, how the movie evolved from the storyboard stage, the moments that made audience walk out of screenings, creating interiors specifically for this production and much more that is very illuminating.

Interview with Director: A 32-minute interview with Fabrice du Welz in which he discusses the original short film he wanted to turn into this film, the writing process of Calvaire, the experience of making his first feature film, the inspirations he drew from in the making of this film, the extreme French horror scene at the time, the aesthetic of the film, the reactions to the film and much more.

Storyboard To Film Featurettes: Four storyboard sequences totaling nearly 20 minutes are provided here which allow you to see how certain moments evolved into what we see on screen.

Casting Tapes: A 69-minute collection of casting tapes are provided in which performers are working on their own and with others at different points in the process.

Production Bible: A seven-minute look at various pieces of artwork, production design photographs, archival material and more.

A Wonderful Love (Short Film): The original 23-minute short film is provided here newly transferred from the 35mm source with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track. This is more of a spiritual inspiration for the film rather than a direct narrative link, but it does encompass much of the dark, disturbing imagery present in the feature.

Photo Galleries: This disc provides a Behind The Scenes and Storyboard photo gallery.

Teaser: A new nearly minute-and-a-half teaser trailer is provided here.

Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring the essay “Calvary & Crucifixion” from writer Jack Sargeant is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis of the thematic nuances of the film.

Final Thoughts

Calvaire has all the makings of a squeamish, torture-porn nightmare, but thankfully the film rises above such boring limitations. There is definitely an element of discomfort and humiliation, but things veer much closer to dark comedy as you get to peel back more layers of the narrative and meet new colorful psychopaths. This is the type of old-fashioned oddity that horror fans dream about showing their friends just because it feels so singular in its identity. It’s a dark, messed-up fairytale. Yellow Veil Pictures and Vinegar Syndrome have released a Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and a nice assortment of special features. Recommended

Calvaire 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: Yellow Veil Pictures and Vinegar Syndrome 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.