Based on the critically acclaimed, best-selling book of the same name, CONCLAVE follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events – selecting the new pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope’s wake, secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church.

For in-depth thoughts on Conclave, please see my colleague Kelly Kantrowitz’s review from its original festival debut here.

Video Quality

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment brings Conclave to Blu-Ray in its original 2.39:1 with a stellar 1080p video presentation that effortlessly replicates the aesthetic intention. The transfer captures the robust colors within the environment, costumes, and production design, which saturates the frame ideally. The black levels are deep, but digital noise peeks through in a few moments. Highlights are firm with no blooming of note. The presentation provides a fabulous amount of depth on display, especially thanks to the photography of Stéphane Fontaine. The image is brilliantly textured and detailed with the nuanced color palette emanating off the screen. The discrete details of each location are on full display throughout the journey. Skin tones are natural with subtle nuances showcased well in close-ups and medium shots. The film has a consistent aesthetic which is translated favorably on disc. While the upcoming 4K UHD Blu-Ray is sure to be great, Universal has made a nice effort with this one.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Master Audio track that brings this story to life perfectly. Dialogue comes through clearly without ever succumbing to a sonic swirl of concurrent voices or other environmental sounds. Everything is mixed with precision as directionality is deftly executed across the channels. The soundscape provides a significant amount of activity in the rear channels, and music and other exciting moments add additional texture in the low end. The score from Volker Bertelmann establishes the mood of the narrative with careful fidelity. These elements saturate the room effectively. Universal has provided a track that accomplishes everything that is asked of it. There are optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director Edward Berger provides a solid commentary track in which he discusses the production of the film, the Volker Bertelmann score, the intention behind certain moments, and so much more.

Sequestered – Inside Conclave: A 17-minute featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the characters and their roles in the film, the effort taken to bring the production to the screen, the direction of Edward Berger, and much more.

Final Thoughts

Conclave is a riveting thriller the likes of which we pray for the studios to invest in once again. The best movies can keep you captivated by propulsive exchanges of dialogue alone, and this feature succeeds on that front in grand fashion. Although, it would be disingenuous to discount all of the individual craft elements director Edward Berger orchestrates with a confident wave of his hand. The performances are spectacular and the developments keep you glued to the screen even as it gets increasingly soapy. The synopsis alone may not convince you that this will be the most exciting time, but it delivers nearly everything you want from a mainstream adult drama. Universal Picture Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray that delivers a wonderful A/V presentation and a reserved selection of special features. The film is worth checking out without hesitation. Recommended

Conclave is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital. The film will be released on 4K UHD Blu-Ray on February 11, 2025.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.