After a mother (Ando Sakura) discovers that a teacher’s bullying is behind her young son’s sudden strange behavior, she storms into his school demanding an explanation. Continually left without satisfactory answers—and with an increasingly distressed child—she furiously escalates her concerns to the school board and the media. But as the story unfolds through the multilayered perspectives of mother, teacher, and child, the real truth gradually emerges—and proves much more complex than anyone could have expected.
For in-depth thoughts on Monster (2023), please see my colleague Andre Couture’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
Monster arrives on Blu-Ray with a fantastic AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. This film features some gorgeous hues within its natural palette that stand out as something visually dynamic. Everything appears natural and quite vibrant when it comes to the swaths of nature and certain elements of the clothing and production design. The transfer shows off a stark level of detail in even the smallest aspects like the interior of the apartments. Elements such as facial features and the texture of the costumes are quite impressive. The picture is mostly clear with only fleeting instances of murkiness during a few darker scenes. Black levels are solid enough in their depth, even in shadow. The film sports some unparalleled cinematography which is showcased well here. Overall, this is quite a magnificent transfer.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a nuanced DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio presentation in the original Japanese that handles the story without fail. There is also an English dub available, but we would stay far away from that for artistic purity. Directionality of sound is never an issue with this track, and dialogue is reproduced with first-rate clarity. Sounds are balanced effectively during the brief moments of heightened movement. This is first and foremost a subdued film from a sonic standpoint, and the gentle moments are executed well. The track provides a favorable level of immersion into the environment so that even the most subtle elements are represented. The audio presentation is just as ideal as the visual one. Optional English subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Trailers: This disc provides the two-minute trailer for Monster. There are also trailers for Eye For An Eye: The Blind Swordsman, The Childe, and One-Percent Warrior.
Final Thoughts
Monster is yet another knockout feature that shows that director Hirokazu Kore-eda is still evolving and putting out some of the best work of his career. His collaboration with Sakamoto Yuji births an unrelentingly compelling film that excels both in visual execution and narrative gravitas. The way this is carefully woven together pays off at every turn, and the performances are some of the best you will see all year from both younger and more experienced performers. We feel lucky to be living in the same time as a master filmmaker. Well Go USA has released a Blu-Ray with a very strong A/V presentation and virtually nothing in the way of special features. Highly Recommended
Monster (2023) will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD on April 9, 2024. The film is currently available on Digital platforms.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Well Go USA 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
