Kinds of Kindness is a triptych fable following a man without choice who tries to take control of his own life, a policeman who is alarmed that his wife who was missing-at-sea has returned and seems a different person, and a woman determined to find a specific someone with a special ability who is destined to become a prodigious spiritual leader.

For in-depth thoughts on Kinds of Kindness, please see my colleague Liselotte Vanophem’s review from its original festival release here.

Video Quality

Kinds of Kindness arrives on Blu-Ray with an AVC-encoded 1080p presentation in 2.39:1 that does a wonderful job of bringing this feature to your home. The color spectrum is deep and nuanced within the world Lanthimos guides us through with moments of incredible hues within this trio of different experiences. Elements in the film taking place in shadows remain stable. Black levels are formidable in this presentation, staying replete with great detail. The highlights in the film are deftly delineated with whites pure and balanced with no occurrence of blooming to be found.

Shot on film and finished to a 4K digital intermediate, the beauty of Robbie Ryan’s cinematography is captured with care. Skin tones have a natural appearance with crisp detail apparent on faces such as pores and applications of makeup. The disc delivers ideal contrast within the black-and-white interstitials and unimpeachable colors in the primary footage. The lighting, production design, and costumes all look quite amazing. This Blu-Ray release provides a rich viewing experience, even if we would have preferred a 4K UHD Blu-Ray option.

Audio Quality

This disc arrives with a fantastic DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that captures the complexity of the world with ease. Dialogue is presented crisply and clearly without ever being overshadowed by any of the parallel sonic elements. The distinct score from Jerskin Fendrix flows throughout the room with a sound that complements the odd visuals. The soundscape provides an immersive experience suitable for these tales. Ambient details are omnipresent and effective in the surround channels that sprawl throughout the room. Sounds are rendered with flawless directionality from the more active spaces to interpersonal exchanges. The low end comes alive when the narrative calls for it. The disc offers a track that stands tall in its execution. The disc provides numerous optional subtitles.

Special Features

It Takes All Kinds – The Vision of Kinds of Kindness: A 15-minute piece in which the cast and creative team discuss the origins of and inspirations for the film, the weird and expansive nature of the narrative, the qualities of the various characters, the direction of Yorgos Lanthimos, the themes the film attempts to tackle, the creation of various craft elements, and more.
Deleted Scenes: There are two unused scenes totaling one minute which include small interesting moments that didn’t make the final cut.

Final Thoughts

Kinds of Kindness is a gift for the sickos who love the early days of Yorgos Lanthimos. While it would be fair to say his recent work is not exactly conventional, with two back-to-back Best Picture nominations, it is reasonable to posit that he has become more accessible to some. We love both modes, but it is fun to see his freak flag fly with this challenging, occasionally ridiculous trio of tales. Emma Stone does great work here, but it is Jesse Plemmons who we most enjoy entering this world. Not every side of this triangle is as strong, but we quite enjoy the movie as a whole. Searchlight Pictures has given this film a Blu-Ray release featuring a terrific A/V presentation and a couple of supplemental features. A 4K UHD Blu-Ray option would have been the cherry on top, but fans of the film should be pleased by the quality of this presentation. Recommended

Kinds of Kindness is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital.

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

Disclaimer: Disney 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.