Tensions rise when a stripper and religious protester are trapped together in a peep show booth and must come together to survive the apocalypse in 1980’s Chicago.

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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 holds up very well. The movie is fairly contained for a large portion of the narrative until we start exploring some surprising spaces. The movie is claustrophobic, but the production design team has taken great care to make each space feel impeccably detailed and fully realized to keep you visually stimulated. You can delight in the subtle facets on display, especially in the textures and nuances of the makeup effects.

The movie has a bold palette amidst the shadowy corners that is deftly saturated, especially in some of the light sources. The transfer provides deep black levels that do not falter with crush or other shortcomings. There is no standout damage or digital noise in this transfer. Objects hold up considerably well in the shadows and retain their depth with only the slightest banding at hand. There is a minimal loss in detail when it comes to some of the panning shots in the shadows, but it is not a major issue throughout. Shudder has put forth a very good effort.

Audio Quality

Revealer arrives on Blu-Ray with a skillfully executed DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that brings all of the elements together without a hitch. Dialogue and sound effects stay favorably balanced throughout the duration. The movie digs deep in the low end when the narrative requires it, and environmental sounds provide a breathless atmosphere for the journey. The speakers are imbued with some memorable texture when things are hitting the fan. All elements play well with the score where nothing gets buried in the track. Surround channels provide some unsettling activity with the corridors and other developments in the darkness. The track enhances the atmosphere from beginning to end. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentaries: Three commentary tracks are provided that tackle the film from nearly every angle you can imagine, including great insights into the production process, the background with the talent, the shooting locations, the special effects, and more.

- Audio Commentary #1: Director Luke Boyce and actors Caito Aase and Shaina Schrooten

- Audio Commentary #2: Director Luke Boyce, cinematographer Robert Patrick Stern, and production designer Sarah Sharp

- Audio Commentary #3: Director Luke Boyce and co-writers Tim Seeley and Michael Moreci

Peep Show Prayers – The Making of Revealer: A 37-minute interview with the filmmakers in which they discuss writing around the COVID-19 pandemic, the casting process, figuring out the dynamics of the characters, making the set safe, and more.

Saints & Sinners – A Video Essay by Jessica Scott: A seven-minute video essay that delves into the themes and subtext within the film including the judgments cast by the outside world, visual metaphors, and more.

Dark All Day – Full Dance Sequence: A nearly seven-minute sensual dance sequence from our protagonist.

Gag Reel: A seven-minute collection of flubbed lines, laughing fits, ruined takes, and more.

Visual Effects Breakdown: A two-minute look at some of the visual effects in the film.

Original Trailer (2:08)

Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring the essay “Radical Empathy at the End of the World” from film critic Tori Potenza and an original movie tie-in comic is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Revealer is a true rollercoaster of a film that weaves in Lovecraftian elements into a story of survival and bonding. Anytime practical effects are utilized, it kicks the experience up a notch with tactile disgust. The enemies-to-friends dichotomy is a tried and true formula, and these two performers do a great job of selling the evolution. There are some elements that are a bit languid or rough around the edges, but this is overwhelmingly a welcome discovery. Shudder has released a Blu-Ray featuring a fetching A/V presentation and a valuable assortment of special features. Recommended

Revealer 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.