Shot down after fleeing a coup and extracting a drug lord from Guinea-Bissau, the legendary mercenaries known as the Bangui Hyenas must stash their stolen gold bounty, lay low long enough to repair and refuel their plane and escape back to Dakar, Senegal. When they take refuge at a holiday camp in the coastal region of Sine-Saloum, they do their best to blend in with their fellow guests; but one Hyena is hiding a dark secret. He has brought them there for a reason and once his past catches up to him, his decisions have devastating consequences, threatening to unleash hell on them all.

For in-depth thoughts on Saloum, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

The film debuts on Blu-Ray with a 1080p presentation in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio that represents this one faithfully. The movie has a reserved color palette that is consistently saturated within the largely exterior spaces that fall on the earthy side of the spectrum. Occasional introductions of color are welcome, but we are more struck by the detail and clarity. With this transfer, you can appreciate the detail on display, especially in the costumes, set design, and makeup effects brimming with unique textures.

The movie wades into darkness quite often, and the transfer delivers deep black levels that do not experience crush or other shortcomings. There is no obvious damage or digital noise on display in this transfer. Objects hold up well in the shadows and retain their depth with minimal banding at hand. There is some loss of detail in some of the kinetic panning shots when things are hitting the fan in the second half of the film, but it is not a major issue throughout. This upgrade from Shudder is a notable benefit to the film.

Audio Quality

Saloum arrives on Blu-Ray with a knockout DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original mixture of French and Wolof. Surround channels provide some unsettling activity with the noises in the village and other major developments as the story unfolds. The track’s low end provides some worthy texture when chaos unfolds. The movie digs deep when it needs to, and environmental sounds provide an immersive atmosphere for the story. Dialogue and various sound effects stay balanced throughout the duration. All elements play well with the music so that no element gets overshadowed. The track does not experience any shortcomings and will make an impression on horror fans. Optional English subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Writer/director Jean Luc Herbulot provides a commentary track that delivers great insights into the production process, the shooting locations, the qualities of the performers, the evolution of the edit, and more.

Original Trailer (1:45)

Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring new writing by Madelyn Sutton is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis of the themes of the film and important cultural context.

Final Thoughts

Saloum provides a backdrop for this narrative that is not often seen in the horror space, and for that reason alone it is worth a look. The history and culture that are woven into the story are compelling, but the film does not always deliver something especially creepy. The movie is entertaining yet more successful as a drama or thriller than an outright horror outing. The performances all seem to be dialed into the right frequency and the movie is constructed with great care. It is not a home run, yet it is nice to see genre fare through the lens of communities around the world. Shudder has released a Blu-Ray featuring a lovely A/V presentation and a good commentary track. Recommended

Saloum 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.