Mimi Rogers (Austin Powers, Bosch) and Bryan Brown (Cocktail, F/X) sizzle in this highly provocative drama from acclaimed director Nicolas Roeg (Walkabout, The Man Who Fell to Earth). Nina (Rogers), a successful but world-weary art dealer, is surprised to find that her regular masseur has sent a substitute, Fitch (Brown), to continue her weekly massage sessions. Fitch’s therapeutic caresses, while charged with sexual tension, gain emotional significance as the opinionated pair first clash, and then bond while relaying thoughtful meditations on intimacy and human relationships. Free to discuss her life, hopes, and failures, Nina is liberated from her confused world, indulging in a strange, erotic mysticism with her handy muse. Brilliantly helmed by British director Roeg, Full Body Massage is an exhilarating and sophisticated portrait of sensual love.

For thoughts on Full Body Massage, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/UbusyprQuNI?si=8zjWOG35XU-RAgx8&t=2091]

Video Quality

Unearthed Films presents Full Body Massage with a fantastic upgrade in the form of a new 1080p master transfer in 1.66:1 that is derived from a 2K scan of the Original Camera Negative. While the source often has a bit of a softer look to the photography, especially in the dreamy reflections of Nina, the presentation showcases it well with some sumptuous detail in and around the luxurious abode. Distinct details in the clothing (when applicable) and production design stand out with forefront clarity. The various pieces of art around the house deliver some texture alongside some of the natural elements such as foliage.

The transfer retains a fine sheen of natural film grain absent of any compression artifacts or other such damage. We did not spot any nicks or scratches along the way, as this source seems to have been preserved and cleaned up with care. The film features some impressive colors within the lighting that radiate off the screen with great vibrancy. The transfer retains a good amount of detail even in more dimly lit areas with crush rarely making itself known. Highlights do not bloom or ruin the aesthetic of the film in any way. The narrative is reserved, but it is showcased visually to its fullest potential. Unearthed Films has done some great work for fans of the film.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a rock-solid LPCM 2.0 track that brings this talky film to life without issue. The consistent exchanges come through clearly alongside any light environmental touches. Music sets the tone of the narrative as it is delivered with depth and clarity. This track shows no obvious signs of age-related wear and tear such as hissing, popping, or dropouts. The low end rarely makes itself known, which is perfectly fine given the story. This disc maintains a perfect sense of fidelity which brings this movie to life exactly how it needs to. There are also optional English and English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film.

Special Features

TV Version: Since this film aired on Showtime, there is no content difference with this version of the film. This is simply shown in a pillar-boxed format in 720p standard definition as opposed to the widescreen 1080p main version.

Image Gallery: A selection of stills is provided from the marketing and production.

Trailers: The minute-and-a-half trailer is provided for Full Body Massage. There are also trailers provided for Tokyo Decadence and Nightwish.

Final Thoughts

Full Body Massage is a narratively reserved film from the great Nicolas Roeg, and it stands out in his filmography for several reasons. It is understandable if audiences do not know what to do with this effort, but it is a shame if that is the case as it is truly fascinating. Yes, some of the dialogue sounds extremely pretentious, but the combination of Mimi Rogers and Bryan Brown proves to be transfixing. Watching his hands running over her body takes you to a nearly meditative state as you listen to the two verbally spar about numerous topics. The exact nature of the conversations is not always important; what is important is the quick formation of intimacy that comes from touch and letting your guard down physically with another person. It is easy to joke that this is a nearly a softcore adult film, but those who spend time with it will agree it is so much more than that. Unearthed Films has provided a new Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and a cool selection of special features. If you are a fan of emotionally and physically intimate narratives, definitely add this to your list. Recommended

Full Body Massage will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 14, 2023.

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

Disclaimer: Unearthed 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.