An undocumented immigrant begins working as a care-taker for a terminal old man, uncovering a terrible secret haunting the lavish home.

For in-depth thoughts on Raging Grace, please see my colleague Mike Vaughn’s review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

Raging Grace makes its Blu-Ray debut with a faithful 1080p video presentation that captures the look of the film with ease. The image has a natural yet subdued quality about it, although there are pops of color in some of the light sources and clothing which draw your eye. The film deploys some nuanced hues in the house that break up some of the more claustrophobic renderings. The flesh tones are natural with a worthwhile amount of detail present in close-ups. Black levels exhibit minute signs of banding in some of the darkest corners, but they primarily retain their form. The screen plays with depth in interesting ways when exploring the house. The background delivers crystal clear and occasionally upsetting textural details. This Blu-Ray is a stellar representation of this movie that delivers what is needed.

Audio Quality

Brainstorm Media gives this Blu-Ray a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that tactfully executes all of the sonic demands of the story. Dialogue always comes through crisp and clear without being overpowered by any competing sounds. Most of the conversations are in English, but some exchanges are in Tagalog. Tension is built throughout the narrative, but kinetic thrills are kept to a minimum in favor of existential dread. When the track is more active, it delivers the appropriate texture to the proceedings. The nimble and effective sound design comes alive with careful utilization of the surround speakers. Environmental sounds of the world emanate through the room in a very immersive manner. Distinct ambient details arise in the speakers to valiant effect. The score is balanced while maintaining its fidelity. The audio track provides a stellar experience that brings this narrative to life without issue. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director Paris Zarcilla provides an informative commentary track in which he discusses the movie and production in depth, including incorporating history into the narrative, the larger themes, the collaborative nature of the set, the performances, the shooting locations, and more.

Video Conference with Director Paris Zarcilla and Lulu Wang, Director of The Farewell: A lovely 25-minute conversation is provided in which the two filmmakers get to discuss the creation of the film, how Paris tackled some real-life trauma within the narrative, influences on the screenplay, why this was tackled in the horror genre, how this process impacted him emotionally, and more.

Behind The Scenes Featurette: A seven-minute piece in which the cast and creative team discuss the creation of the film, the direction of Paris Zarcilla, working in the thriller genre, and more.

Storyboard Gallery

Original Trailer (1:37)

Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring an essay by film critic Walter Chaw is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis of the creatives, themes, and plot developments, which strengthens your appreciation overall.

Final Thoughts

Raging Grace uses horror to explore the immigrant experience to unsettling and occasionally agonizing effect. Director Paris Zarcilla taps into a reservoir of memories and microaggressions to deliver an authentic yet dramatically fulfilling potboiler. There are moments when you might want to strangle the titular character, but you do come to love the relationship she has with her mother. Those seeking this purely for the thrills may be a bit underwhelmed, but it largely balances the drama and the horror quite well. Brainstorm Media has released a Blu-Ray featuring a favorable A/V presentation and a nice assortment of special features. Recommended

Raging Grace 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: Brainstorm Media 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.