Cut off from civilization, a single mother puts her children on high alert when they bring home a young girl caked in clay. She tells of spirits and spirit hunters, but these are not mere superstitions. As more strangers show up on her doorstep, she quickly finds another reason to fear the forest. Malaysia’s official submission to the 2021 Academy Awards.

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Video Quality

Roh makes its Blu-Ray debut with a sumptuous 1080p video presentation that showcases the rustic cinematography well. The woodsy shooting locations, along with the stomach-churning special effects makeup, provide impressively clear textural details. The black levels reveal the most minute signs of banding in a few scenes, but largely they hold their depth. The flesh tones are natural with a stunning amount of detail present in close-ups. The image is crisp with the nuanced, natural color palette radiating off the screen. The film implements some complex colors when the expanses of nature are featured, which makes for a very striking image. The presentation shows off an impressive amount of depth as characters traverse the woods. This Blu-Ray is a strong representation of this movie that delivers on all fronts.

Audio Quality

Film Movement gives this Blu-Ray a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Master Audio track that tackles the unsettling sound design with the necessary care. Dialogue comes through clearly without being overshadowed by any competing sounds. The score establishes a palpable mood and is balanced well while maintaining its fidelity. The sonic details are nimble and effective which really opens up the world. Environmental sounds engage the surround speakers in a notable way. When the characters are moving through the vegetation, there are some haunting ambient details that flesh out the setting. Thrilling moments are not a hallmark of this track, but a few moments deliver some valuable texture to the proceedings. The audio track provides a really rich experience full of nuances that bring this narrative to life exactly how it was intended. This film is presented in the original Malay with optional English subtitles.

Special Features

Making Of: A 22-minute featurette that explores the challenges of making a debut feature, the bond between the performers, the location shooting, the look of the film, and more.

Theatrical Trailer (1:45)

Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring the essay “The New Wave of Southeast Asian Horror” from writer Mary Beth McAndrews is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis of the types of films that have been emerging more from this area of the world, how they approach folk horror, and more.

Final Thoughts

Roh offers up a culturally specific take on folklore elements that have been adapted in terrifying ways over the years. This Malaysian tale weaves in elements of witchcraft and mysticism in ways that will have you holding your breath in suspense. The film is very gory at specific points, but it complements this with lingering dread so that your mind is grasping for relief on multiple fronts. The brisk runtime allows the tension to maintain without succumbing to any dull stretches. This one will stick with you for a while after watching it. Film Movement has released a Blu-Ray featuring a lovely A/V presentation and a handful of valuable special features. Recommended

Roh 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: Film Movement 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.