At experimental sleep clinic, Somnium, dreams are made real. Side effects may include: hallucinations, confusion, paranoia, sleep paralysis, detachment from reality, lost sense of self, permanent nightmares.

For in-depth thoughts on Somnium, please see my colleague Jaylan Salah’s review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

Somnium makes its Blu-Ray debut with a lovely 1080p video presentation that delivers in every way it needs to. The inventive production design, costumes, makeup effects, and shooting locales provide invaluable textural details that make the experience more memorable. Skin tones are natural with a healthy amount of detail present throughout. The image is largely clear when it is supposed to be and more hazy when the characters are exploring a dreamy state. The multifaceted color palette saturates the screen with ideal depth and accuracy. Some lighting choices open up a world of notable hues. The film taps into deep colors in moments that will stick in your mind. Black levels reveal the slightest indications of banding in a few moments, but they largely maintain their depth even in the most challenging environments. The presentation clutches onto its spatial awareness even when you might expect it to struggle. This Blu-Ray is a winner.

Audio Quality

Yellow Veil Pictures gives this Blu-Ray a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that lives up to the promise of the sound design. As our protagonist tumbles deeper into this nightmare, some stark ambient details wake up the setting to make things more uncomfortable. Environmental sounds of the world flow through the surround speakers in a way that elevates the viewing experience. Dialogue is rendered crisp and clear without being hobbled by any competing sounds. The music and score linger with you and stay balanced while maintaining worthy fidelity. There is some texture in the lower registers when it comes to some of the more trippy moments and some of the bass in the music. The audio gives you what you want at every turn. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Introduction: A nearly two-and-a-half-minute-long optional introduction in which writer/director Racheal Cain discusses her excitement over having his film released on Blu-Ray and the journey of making this film.

Audio Commentary: Director Racheal Cain provides a commentary track in which she explores the production of the film including the difficulties of making a debut feature, the year-long gap in shooting schedules, happy discoveries on set, finding the various performers, and much more.

Deleted Scene – Flash Back: A minute-and-a–half-long unused scene between Gemma and Hunter is provided.

Creating the Monster – Interview with Olga Tarnovetska & Bries Vannon: A nearly 12-minute conversation with the creature SFX designer and the performer who brought it to life in which they discuss the inspiration for the design, the approach to building a character through movement, and more.

Creating the Void – Interview with Matt Lathrom: A nearly seven-minute piece with the VFX producer in which he discusses collaborating with Cain to bring her vision to life, how they accomplished certain effects, and more.

Building the Character of Gemma – Chloë Levine: A nine-minute discussion with the actress in which she discusses what drew her to the project, the importance of music to her process, her connection with other performers, preparing for the role, and more.

BTS Slideshow (5:19)

Trailer (1:06)

Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring an essay from film critic Katie Rife is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Somnium is a compelling psychological horror film in which fears and anxieties are manifested into unsettling forces that could be nightmare fuel for some. When it intends to be, the film can be quite creepy, yet more intense horror fans may become a bit restless with the movie’s focus on the struggles that accompany isolation and the pressure to succeed. Chloë Levine is an endearing presence who keeps you invested in this character’s journey, even when the thrills take a backseat. There are some understandable pitfalls in this feature directorial debut, but we are impressed enough to tune in to anything Racheal Cain comes up with in the future. Yellow Veil Pictures has released a Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and a worthwhile amount of special features. Recommended

Somnium 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: Yellow Veil Pictures 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.