‘Videoman’ Blu-Ray Review – Unsettling Swedish Drama Finds The Humanity Within Obsession

Ennio (Stefan Sauk), a giallo-obsessed VHS collector with a drinking problem finds a highly collectable video tape that could solve his money problems and save him from eviction. He makes a deal with a shady, anonymous collector before realising the video has been stolen.

So begins Ennio’s desperate hunt for the black-gloved perpetrator while, along the way, he meets Simone (Lena Nilsson), an alcoholic woman obsessed with the 80s. His and Simone’s mutual love of nostalgia draws them together. As the search for the tape goes on, Ennio’s life turns into one of the giallo movies he likes to watch…

Alan Jones of FrightFest called it ”Dario Argento meets Mike Leigh”. Kristian A. Söderström’s feature film debut is a darkly comic, creepy and incredibly moving celebration of both gialli and social realism. Fans of genre cinema, art cinema, and collectors will find Videoman an absolute blast.

For thoughts on Videoman, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: 

Video Quality

Videoman arrives on Blu-Ray with a solid 1080p video presentation that captures the aesthetic with care. The tactile production design reproduces clear textural details that make the world appear more lived-in. The flesh tones are natural with a consistent amount of detail present in close-ups. The image is undeniably clear with the bold color palette permeating the screen. The film offers some deep, complex hues within the clothing, production design, and lighting. The highlights are preserved to avoid blooming, but black levels reveal discrete signs of banding in a few scenes, although largely they maintain their depth. The presentation perfectly captures the claustrophobic nature of this story. This Blu-Ray is a strong representation of this movie. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original Swedish that executes this material with ease. The dialogue never struggles to maintain its proper prominence so all pertinent information comes through clearly. Environmental sounds dance around the surround speakers to a richly immersive effect. Numerous distinct ambient details materialize the setting in a way that enriches the viewing experience. The low-end response is not particularly bombastic, but it wakes up when it needs to. The music flows through the room with strength and peerless fidelity. The soundscape appears to be precisely realized throughout the narrative. The audio track does everything it needs to. 

Special Features

• Videoman Origin Story: A nearly 13-minute piece in which writer/director Kristian A. Söderström discusses his motivations for writing this script, the real-life figure who inspired the character, and more.

• Deleted Scenes: A 26-minute collection of ungraded and unmixed footage that did not make the final cut is provided. 

• Interviews: A trio of interviews are provided in which the main talent discusses how they became involved with the project, the facets of the characters, the process of collaborating, and more. 

• • Writer/director Kristian A. Söderström (7:33)

• • Actor Stefan Sauk (16:08)

• • Actress Lena Nilsson (7:26)

• FrightFest 2018 Interview: A six-minute interview with Kristian A. Söderström from the original festival debut who discusses the background of the feature. 

• Trailer (1:45)

• Music Video – Samantha Fox “Hot Boy” (3:53)

• Short Films: Two early short films from the director are provided here that are well worth a watch if you enjoyed the feature. 

• • Susan’s Longing (23:53)

• • Smink (aka Make-Up) (16:52) 

Final Thoughts

Videoman emerges as an ode to the classic Giallos that the character in the film loves so much, yet it reveals a surprising amount of heart and poignancy that leads you to some very rewarding pastures. There is something to be said about the nature of collecting and obsession, but the film soars the most when characters are working through their issues with connection. The film is very creepy and unsettling at points, as director Kristian A. Söderström understands how to craft this story to maximize the tension. His work with the talented performers allows this one to be a great discovery for the collectors amongst us. ETR Media has released a Blu-Ray featuring a worthwhile A/V presentation and a welcome assortment of special features. Recommended 

Videoman 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: ETR Media 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.