‘Damage’ (1992) [Imprint] Blu-Ray Review – Hot & Heavy Erotic Thriller Explores The Recklessness Of Passion

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Academy Award-winners Jeremy Irons (Reversal of Fortune) and Juliette Binoche (The English Patient) are lovers locked in the grip of sexual obsession. An obsession so strong it drinks passion, breathes fire, and consumes everything and everyone it touches. Academy Award-nominated Director Louis Malle (Atlantic City) peels back the layers of one family’s tragedy to reveal a middle-aged man (Irons) and his son’s fiancee (Binoche) entangled in an intensely erotic affair that is as irresistible as it is destructive.

Electrifying performances by Irons, Binoche, and Academy Award-nominee Miranda Richardson as Irons’ tortured wife, highlight this riveting portrait of an ordinary man, transformed by desire and willing to pay any price for his passion.

For thoughts on Damage (1992), please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:  

[youtube https://youtu.be/EXMMI2aDpio?t=3091]

Video Quality

Damage comes to Blu-Ray courtesy of Imprint Films with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 that is derived from a 2K scan. This label is based out of Australia, but the disc will play in all Blu-Ray players including those in the United States. This somewhat controversial erotic drama has long been more under-the-radar in the States, so it is great to have an option to import such a great looking release in high definition. The presentation retains the natural filmic quality of the feature throughout with image stability and delineation being very strong. The grain of the presentation is refined even under the most tricky foggy environments rather than becoming a clumpy or frozen blob.  

Instances of print damage such as nicks and scratches are a rare occurrence with clarity and detail never failing to impress. There are a handful of fleeting minor blemishes that have made it through the restoration gauntlet, but it does not impact the appreciation of the transfer in the slightest. The picture can skew slightly soft in a handful of shots, but this is likely due to the nature of how it was originally captured. Colors are pleasantly saturated with rich, natural hues coming through in substantial ways. Skin tones are natural and consistent with distinct features such as perspiration and hair follicles easily noticeable in closeup. Black levels hold up well with no major instances of crush or banding that we observed. Fans will enjoy owning such a carefully handled release. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with an LPCM 2.0 stereo track that represents this sonic experience favorably. Dialogue harmonizes nicely with the background noises so that exchanges alway come through crisp and clear. There were no signs of egregious age-related wear and tear such as hissing or popping, as everything radiates with fine fidelity. All of the sound effects and the terrific score appear to be faithful to the original intent. The music establishes a favorable atmosphere which holds its own as it permeates the room. This is a great experience from a sound perspective. There are also optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film. 

Special Features

• Vintage Production Featurettes with the Cast and Crew

• • The Making of Damage: A four-minute broad overview in which the cast and creative team discuss adapting the book for the screen, the dynamics between the characters, the performances and more. 

• • Production: A nine-minute piece in which these same figures discuss their relationship with the book, thoughts on the characters, the themes of the narrative and more. 

• • Jeremy Irons and Character: A nearly five-minute look at the central character in the film, his motivations and emotions, and much more. 

• • Director Louis Malle: A five-minute dive into the filmmaker in which the subjects discuss the qualities he brings to his projects, his work with the performers and more. 

• One on One with Louis Malle: A 15-minute archival conversation with the director in which he discusses what drew him to this source material, the nature of obsession and passion, filming the love scenes, his collaborations with the performers and more. 

• Professor Hugo Frey on Damage: A new 16-minute conversation with Professor Hugo Frey in which he discusses how this fits into the career of Louis Malle, themes that have run throughout his work, the shooting locations, the performances, how the sex scenes distracted some audiences from the larger meaning of the film and more. 

• An Early Obsession – Interview with Editor John Bloom: A new 31-minute conversation with the editor in which he discusses how he believes this film saved his career, the team he worked with on the picture, the performances in the film, how he feels and what he has gained from the film after all of these years, how Louis Malle felt about the production process and more. 

• Theatrical Trailer: The two-and-a-half minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Damage is a fairly straightforward narrative, but the manner in which it is executed is what elevates it. The way in which Louis Malle captures the reckless, all-encompassing nature of the passion between these two central characters in this affair is palpable. While not particularly extreme when it comes to nudity, the erotic nature of their scenes together is quite a change in pace from what we have been getting the past decade or so. The entire ensemble holds their own, but it is the women who seize this movie and do not let it go. Juliette Binoche and Miranda Richardson are stellar at every turn, and you yearn to see more of them every time they are not on screen. The film runs into issues of being repetitive, but by and large it is a riveting journey. Imprint Films has delivered a Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and an impressive selection of special features. Recommended 

Damage is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray. 

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

Note #2: This release is an Australian import which can be played in Blu-Ray players worldwide.

Disclaimer: Imprint Films 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.