‘Strangers In The House’ Blu-Ray Review – A Well-Crafted & Surprising French Mystery

Adapted by the prodigiously gifted Henri-Georges Clouzot (Quai des Orfèvres, Wages of Fear, Diabolique) from the novel by eminent crime author Georges Simenon (Maigret, The Widow Couderc), Strangers in the House (Les Inconnus dans la Maison) is a stunning psychological murder-mystery with sardonic Gallic overtones. Legendary actor Raimu (Pagnol’s Marseille trilogy) is brilliant as the alcoholic ex-attorney Hector Loursat, disillusioned with life and living with his daughter, Nicole (Juliette Faber, Simenon’s Picpus), in a vast and shabby mansion. One night, they hear gunshots echoing from upstairs and discover a dead man lying on an old bed in the attic. This ghastly scene sets the stage for a sharp and scathing film noir written by Europe’s most acclaimed craftsmen of suspense and directed by the great Henri Decoin (One Step to Eternity, Razzia sur la Chnouf).

For thoughts on Strangers In The House, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic: 

[youtube https://youtu.be/Gq72yhAZ0tk?si=4uJWZl4UOgn7UxMj&t=1594]

Video Quality

Strangers In The House makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to Kino Classics with a brand new 1080p transfer from a 2K restoration conducted by the CNC courtesy of Gaumont. This film may be over 80 years old, but this presentation gives it a robust second life. Most nicks and scratches have been eradicated, but there are still a handful of specks and lines that linger without distracting. The black-and-white photography shimmers in high definition with natural grain intact and resolved favorably.

The new transfer shows off a substantial amount of depth and enhanced detail within the film’s composition. The contrast is firmly defined, and the track only experiences fleeting instances of flicker and density fluctuation in the print. Black levels are solid with no obvious occurrence of black crush or compression artifacts. The transfer allows for a fine amount of texture on the clothing and within the production design. Kino Classics has done a great job with this transfer. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a strong DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track in the original French with optional English subtitles which serves this movie well. This track presents a slight amount of age related wear and tear and some faint hissing, but nothing that isn’t reasonable considering its age. Dialogue and background noises stay in harmony with all competing elements. Some elements sound slightly thin on occasion, yet things sound well preserved for the most part. The music never steps on the dialogue or other important information. Kino Classics has delivered a pleasant audio experience.

Special Features

• Audio Commentary: Film Historians Howard S. Berger and Nathaniel Thompson deliver a really informative commentary track in which they talk about the style of the time, the careers of the performers and creatives, some of the social background of the period, the themes of the film and more.

• Trailer: There is a two-minute trailer provided for Strangers In The House. There are also trailers provided for Quai des Ofrèvres and Razzia Sur La Chnouf.

Final Thoughts

Strangers In The House is a well-crafted mystery which takes its time to build up its characters and introduce many different dynamics which end up weaving together in a really impressive manner. It is this attention to detail which allows you to become invested in the outcome, especially as you find yourself questioning if there are any morally good characters in this tale. The performances hold up well and the direction keeps things visually dynamic and narratively propulsive. Kino Classics has delivered a Blu-Ray release that sports a great A/V presentation and an excellent commentary track. If you love a good mystery, the pedigree of this one delivers on all expectations. Recommended 

Strangers In The House is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.