Chinese scholarship student Wei travels to New Zealand to study medical research at a prestigious university. Shy, introverted, and hiding a genetic facial birthmark, Wei is shunned by her social butterfly cousin Angela and her glamorous friends. Determined to change her fate, Wei immerses herself in her late father’s research, working on a revolutionary skin grafting procedure that could cure her deformity. As her experiments take a dark turn, she becomes more dangerous and unhinged, willing to eliminate anyone who threatens her secret.

For in-depth thoughts on Grafted, please see my colleague Phil Walsh’s review from its original streaming debut here.

Video Quality

The film debuts on Blu-Ray with a 1080p presentation in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio that secures the look of the footage quite well at home. The movie has a distinct color palette that is consistently saturated both in interiors and out in the natural world. Some colors have a bold presence that especially makes you take notice. We are equally grateful for the rich detail and clarity on display. You will admire the subtle facets on display, especially in the production design and the horrific makeup effects teeming with vital textures. The transfer offers deep black levels that do not falter with significant crush or other shortcomings. There is a slight decrease in detail when it comes to some of the tracking shots in the darkness, but it is not a major issue throughout. There is no overt damage or digital noise in this transfer. Objects hold up confidently in the shadows and retain their depth with only a hint of banding at play. Shudder has done fine work with this Blu-Ray.

Audio Quality

Grafted arrives on Blu-Ray with an effective DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that brings every unique element to life impeccably. Dialogue and sound effects stay capably balanced throughout the duration. While not particularly aggressive, the movie digs deep when the narrative calls for it, and environmental sounds provide an unsettling atmosphere for the story. The track’s low end provides some intermittent texture when the moment brings life to the speakers. All elements play well with the music, where nothing gets buried in the track. Surround channels provide some suitably immersive activity with the interior noises and other developments away from the action. The track is a winner in all respects. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Making Of Featurette: A four-minute overview of the themes of the film and the behind-the-scenes talent with the cast and creative team.

Behind the Scenes Footage: A nearly 28-minute piece that collects fly-on-the-wall video footage from the production of the film.

Behind the Scenes Photos

Concept Art & Storyboards

Moodboard Gallery

Final Thoughts

Grafted is a stomach-churning body horror tale that looks into the isolation and desperation that come from society’s alienation of anyone who is different or not seen as desirable. The movie commits to its bonkers logic to deliver something very gross, creative, and fun. The script can be a bit heavy-handed in its execution, but that does not keep it from being very effective in what it is doing. Director Sasha Rainbow has crafted a sick little tale here, and we look forward to whatever she does next. Shudder has released a Blu-Ray featuring a strong A/V presentation and a decent assortment of special features. Recommended

Grafted 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.