Betriek lives at the edge of a peat bog in the North of the Netherlands. When she and her family are attacked by a random stranger one night, Betriek sets out to find an explanation. The more she digs, the more she becomes convinced that she is being hunted by something ancient.

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Video Quality

The film debuts on Blu-Ray with a 1080p presentation in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio that captures the look of the film with ease. The movie revels in the darkness to accentuate the tension, and the transfer provides solid black levels that do not suffer from serious crush or other shortcomings. Objects are defined fairly well in the shadows and retain their depth with only fleeting indications of banding at hand. There is a slight loss of detail when it comes to some of the panning shots in the shadows, but it is not an egregious issue throughout. There is no observable damage or digital noise in this transfer.

The movie has a reserved color palette that is accurately rendered in what is mostly rustic interiors with flashes of moody lighting. Some key hues make an impression, but we are more impressed by the rich detail and clarity at hand. You can appreciate the subtle facets on display, especially in the production design and makeup effects replete with unique textures. Shudder has delivered something pleasing for fans on Blu-Ray.

Audio Quality

Moloch arrives on Blu-Ray with an effective DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original mixture of English and Dutch. Dialogue and the creepy sound effects stay admirably balanced throughout the duration. All elements easily intermingle with the music where nothing gets overwhelmed in the track. Surround channels provide some unsettling activity with the interior tones and other bumps in the darkness during any build-up to any horrifying development. The track’s low end provides some necessary texture when the tension is exploding. The movie packs a punch when it needs to, and environmental sounds provide a complementary atmosphere for the story. The experience suits the requirements of the narrative and will be appreciated by horror fans who pick up this disc. Optional English and English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Writer/director Nico van den Brink, editor Xander Nijsten and director of photography Emo Weemhoff provide a track that provides some great insights into the production process, the background with the talent, the shooting locations, and more.

“Trail Cam Footage” Deleted Scene: A two-minute unused scene is provided that is decently creepy.

Behind the Scenes Visual VFX Footage (8:59)

Behind the Scenes Visual VFX Gallery

Original Trailer (2:21)

Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring essays from film critics Simon Abrams and Becky Darke is provided here. These pieces give a well-rounded analysis of the themes of the film.

Final Thoughts

Moloch is a terrifying folk horror tale that balances generational trauma and legitimate scares with a commendable ease. There are a fair number of jump scares here, but none of them feel cheap. The film takes the time to seed the terror at hand and allows it time to grow into something that will linger in your mind for a while after the credits have stopped rolling. The performances are all very good, and the direction from Nico van den Brink translates every aspect with an assured hand. This is one of the better horror films we have seen as of late. Shudder has released a Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and a fine assortment of special features. Recommended

Moloch 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.