‘Pandemonium’ Arrow Video Blu-Ray Review – Dying Is Hell In This Psychological Nightmare

Director Quarxx (All the Gods in the Sky) explores the peculiar, welcoming all those hungry for wonder, in Pandemonium, a unique cinematic blend of fantasy, drama, genre, and humor.

Nathan (Hugo Dillon) and Daniel (Arben Bajraktaraj) are caught in a road accident that kills them both. As they come to grips with their deaths, Nathan confronts his past and the consequences of his actions. Now trapped in the hellish void of Pandemonium, he encounters tortured souls like Jeanne (Manon Maindivide), a disturbed child; Julia (Ophélia Kolb), a grief-stricken mother; and Norghul (Jean Rousseau), the guide of the great void. Will he find a way to escape the torment that awaits him for eternity?

Pandemonium takes the viewer on a chilling journey as three interconnected stories unravel in this macabre exploration of tales depicting fallen souls. From the intricacies of everyday drama to the realms of supernatural intrigue, each narrative weaves a haunting tapestry that blurs the lines between the mortal and the supernatural.

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Video Quality

Pandemonium debuts on Blu-Ray with a 1080p presentation in its original aspect ratio from an HD master that is as gorgeous as any modern movie should be. For a story dealing with the darkness of the human spirit and nightmarish imagery, it is paramount to have deep black levels, and this release rarely disappoints. Objects hold up very well in the shadows and retain their depth in overwhelmingly bleak circumstances. At worst, some of the hazy moments in the hellscape present the slightest bit of banding. 

The visual effects are deftly executed with every grotesque element blending seamlessly. The highlights from the snow and other daytime sequences never get close to blooming as they provide a nice stability throughout. It is impressive how sleek the film is with complex textures and fine detail throughout. The project has a depressed yet deep color palette that is rendered effectively. There are no obvious digital issues with this one. This is a stellar disc that showcases the work perfectly.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and an LPCM 2.0 stereo track in the original French with optional English subtitles that handle the experience with care. Dialogue primarily stays in front center channels outside of characters calling off-screen. Every line is reproduced crisply and clearly. The track does a fine job of ensuring neither sound effects nor the score ever overpowers any exchanges.

The film is largely dialogue-driven, but there are some unsettling atmospheric effects and an accompanying score that will give your speakers a delicate layer of texture. There is some great ambient activity in the rear channels, especially during scenes taking place outdoors. There are sporadic strikes that inject some heft to the low end that helps sell the brutality of the situation. This track has a wonderful dynamic range that works overtime to ground you in this odyssey. 

Special Features

The first pressing of the Arrow Video Blu-Ray of Pandemonium includes a booklet featuring the essay “Drag Me To Hell: Death, Denial & Descent in Quarxx’s Pandemonium” by author Anton Bitel. This essay provides a great analysis of the story and insight into the themes of the film. The booklet also includes a director’s statement and director Q&A. There is also a double-sided folded mini-poster reflecting the film’s cover art and reversible artwork included. The on-disc special features are as follows: 

• Different Textures: A new 20-minute interview with writer/director Quarxx in which he discusses what he wanted to accomplish with this film, his inspiration for certain stories, the mixture of different tones, the complexity of capturing certain shots, and more. 

• Tony The Monster: A new 17-minute interview with Quarxx and special makeup/FX supervisor Olivier Afonso in which they explore how they created Tony The Monster and all the different decisions that went into his development. 

• Filming a Real Birth: A new five-minute look at the decision to film a live birth for a pivotal scene. 

• Premiere: A four-minute look at the premiere of the film complete with some audience testimonials. 

• Making Of: A 23-minute featurette that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the film including set decoration, makeup effects, blocking, and more. 

• Trailer: The minute-and-a-half-long trailer is provided here. 

Final Thoughts

Pandemonium is a really terrific discovery that gets under your skin through psychological excavation more so than blunt brutality and gore. The anthology-driven approach works well within the context of the narrative. The opening gambit is riveting as you have two characters wrestling with their own perception of their morality. The other segments are likewise compelling even if they gradually decrease in quality. The ending is somewhat of a letdown, but we could see this growing on us with repeat viewings. This one could easily get lost in the avalanche of content coming out every week, but it is worth seeking out. Arrow Video has released a Blu-Ray featuring a terrific A/V presentation and a fine array of special features. Highly Recommended 

Pandemonium will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on May 28, 2024. 

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

Disclaimer: Arrow Video 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.