Tower. A Bright Day – Mula lives with her family in the country. Just before her daughter’s First Holy Communion, Mula’s sister – Kaja – pays them a visit. Kaja is the biological mother of the girl, but she suddenly left without a trace 6 years before. The family believes in reconciliation, but Mula believes that Kaja has come to take the child away. Meanwhile, a series of peculiar metaphysical events take place and Kaja’s presence triggers changes in people. Mula’s fear grows and she wants to get rid of her sister. Yet Kaja has come for a reason.

Monument – A group of hotel interns wake up in an ice-cold van. They don’t know each other yet, and have just arrived to do their internships. The strict manager of the hotel numbers the students: real names are not relevant, there is no place for individuality here. As they work through green-lit corridors and empty rooms, things become increasingly eerie. What exactly is going on here?

For thoughts on Tower. A Bright Day & Monument, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/17tejdPYFEY?si=RTIhoq0FZZojrlvV&t=1602]

Video Quality

Tower. A Bright Day & Monument make their Blu-Ray debut with ethereally gorgeous 1080p video presentations that showcase the stunning cinematography well. The production design of the hotel in Monument and shooting locations of Tower. A Bright Day provide crystal clear textural details. Black levels reveal hints of banding in a few scenes, but largely they maintain their depth. The flesh tones are natural with a tremendous amount of detail present in close-ups. The image is clean with the nuanced, slightly cool color palette popping off the screen. Tower. A Bright Day employs some rich colors when the expanses of nature are featured, while Monument maintains a more stylized color and lighting scheme. The presentations show off an striking amount of depth across both films. Overall these Blu-Rays give these films a really great life on physical media.

Audio Quality

Yellow Veil Pictures gives these Blu-Ray discs a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track which is one of the most impressive aspects of the entire presentation. Director Jagoda Szelc may be sparse when it comes to narrative, but the way she works with her sound designer to bring an almost assaultive soundscape to her films is very unnerving and effective. Environmental sounds of the world engage the surround speakers in an extremely immersive manner. When the characters are moving through the landscapes and interiors, there are some unusual ambient details that flesh out the setting.

Dialogue always comes through clearly without being drowned out by any competing sounds. The use of music is notable and well-balanced while maintaining its fidelity. Traditional hard-hitting moments are not a consistent part of this track, but the sound design delivers some palpable texture to the proceedings. The audio track provides a really rich experience full of nuances that bring these narratives to life exactly how it was intended. This film is presented in the original Polish with forced English subtitles.

Special Features

Tower. A Bright Day

Introduction: An optional 53-second introduction from director Jagoda Szelc where she hints at her intention and larger ideas behind this film.

Behind The Scenes Slideshow: A nearly eight-minute collection of moments from the production of the film is provided here.

Behind The Scenes Rehearsal Featurette: A nine-minute look at the performers working with Szelc to craft the scene before shooting.

Animatic To Scene Featurette: A two-minute scene is provided here which shows how the finished film compares to the animatic that was created to guide the creative vision.

Shorts: Three short films from Jagoda Szelc are provided here which are very different stylistically, but very engaging in their own ways. This is an excellent addition to this set.

- Punkt Wyjścia Nowa Arvi (18:19)

- Aposiopesis (6:29)

- Such A Landscape (22:51)

Monument

Introduction: An optional 40-second introduction from director Jagoda Szelc where she hints at her intention behind this film.

Story Board To Scene Featurette: Three scenes totaling nearly 15 minutes are provided here which show how the finished film compares to the storyboards that were created to guide the creative vision.

Behind The Scenes Slideshow: A nearly three-minute collection of moments from the production of the film is provided here.

Moodboard Slideshow: A two-minute look at images that evoke the atmosphere for the film.

Interview with Director Jagoda Szelc: A 20-minute conversation with director Jagoda Szelc in which she discusses a bit about her philosophy when it comes to filmmaking and genre, the production and casting of Tower. A Bright Day, the quick turnaround and budget constraints of Monument, the thematic touches of her material and more. She is a fascinating filmmaker, and this is well worth a watch.

Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring the essay “One Two Three: The Witch Is Watching Thee” from film historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis of the themes and plot developments of the film along with background details on director Jagoda Szelc which strengthens your comprehension overall.

Final Thoughts

Tower. A Bright Day & Monument are two films that should not be approached like your typical horror film, as director Jagoda Szelc finds elements of humanity and social interactions to be more terrifying than any knife-wielding maniac. Both of these narratives present as straightforward dramas, yet there is always something lingering in the background that keeps you on edge. The culmination of these stories may not resonate with general audiences, but those who appreciate a level of pontification and artistry within their unsettling narratives will find something to latch onto with these. Yellow Veil Pictures and Vinegar Syndrome have released a Blu-Ray set featuring a top tier A/V presentation and a great assortment of special features. Jagoda Szelc has proven herself to be a director who should have you first in line for her next project. Recommended

Tower. A Bright Day & Monument are 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 Vinegar Syndrome 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.