The Night of the Hunted Blu-ray Review

Kino/Redemption's Blu-ray release of "The Night of the Hunted" employs a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer derived from a 35mm print that appears mostly untouched and unrestored. The transfer reveals frequent white and black specks, occasional scratches, and light color fluctuations. These blemishes are par for the course given the low-budget niche horror genre from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Despite these imperfections, the high-definition remastering significantly enhances the image over previous standard definition versions, maintaining visible natural film grain and greatly improved clarity, notwithstanding the fact that director Jean Rollin’s compositions often lack perfect focus.

The picture presents a variable 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode (1.66:1), oscillating between moments of decent visual fidelity and stretches of disappointing quality. This is attributable more to the original condition of the source material than the transfer itself. Dirt, debris, and common wear-and-tear are evident throughout. While fine details and textural elements are occasionally appreciable, soft resolution dominates much of the presentation. Contrast is generally average, contributing to a somewhat drab appearance, although primaries and black levels hold up better. The transfer boasts a decent sense of color balance and density. Minor anomalies such as light banding and pixelation occasionally manifest but remain barely noticeable from a normal viewing distance.

Overall, "The Night of the Hunted" on Blu-ray offers an inconsistent visual experience, but still represents a marked improvement over previous editions. The visual presentation manages to honor the film's historic context while laying bare its need for more extensive restoration efforts.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "The Night of the Hunted" reflects the limitations imposed by its age and budget, yet manages to deliver a serviceable listening experience. Featuring an uncompressed Linear PCM 2.0 track, the audio is subject to some inherent imperfections such as quiet hissing, light crackling, occasional louder crinkles, and splice pops. While these artifacts could potentially be reduced with digital filtering, they are not overly intrusive. The most crucial aspect is that the French dialogue remains clear and comprehensible, and the film's eerie, disorienting score is adequately reproduced. Notably, the disc defaults to English subtitles, although these can be turned off if desired.

In its original mono design, the uncompressed PCM soundtrack offers clear and intelligible vocals with a marginally broader soundstage that enhances background activities. Despite being remarkably free from random noise like hissing or popping, commonly found in films of this era, the mid-range remains somewhat flat and uniform. This results in a lack of distinction among sound effects and musical elements. Additionally, the low-bass presence is minimal, which becomes particularly evident during the few action sequences. Despite these shortcomings, the lossless mix performs adequately overall, providing a decent auditory experience without excelling in any specific area.

The Blu-ray of "The Night of the Hunted" comes packed with a robust selection of extras that offer invaluable insights into the film's creation and thematic essence. Jean Rollin’s discussions provide deep context about his creative process, from writing the screenplay in one night to shooting the film in just ten days. The inclusion of deleted explicit scenes gives a glimpse of potential alternate directions the movie could have taken. Trailers for various Rollin films also offer a broader perspective on his body of work. The booklet, featuring an essay by Video Watchdog editor Tim Lucas, adds scholastic value, situating "Night of the Hunted" within Rollin’s oeuvre and broader genre contexts. The extras here are indispensable for both fans and scholars of horror cinema.

Extras included in this disc:

• Introduction by Jean Rollin: Rollin discusses how he wrote the film in one night.
• Filmmaker Interview Excerpt: Rollin chats with Joshua T. Gravel about the film's rapid production.
• Deleted Sex Scenes: Two extended explicit scenes initially shot for potential softcore marketing.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional trailer for the film.
• Jean Rollin Trailers: Includes trailers for The Grapes of Death, Fascination, Zombie Lake, The Living Dead Girl, and Two Orphan Vampires.
• Booklet: Essay on Night of the Hunted and The Grapes of Death by Tim Lucas.

Jean Rollin's "The Night of the Hunted" is a peculiar blend of light sci-fi and psychological drama, stepping away from his usual vampire and gore-centric filmography. In this film, Rollin paints a bleak dystopian vision, centered around the character of Elizabeth (Brigitte Lahaie), an amnesiac trapped in an ominous skyscraper as part of a sinister medical study. The stark corporate interiors and angular architecture signify a departure from his trademark overgrown cemeteries and derelict chateaus, yet the film retains that distinctive dreamlike unease. Despite the high-concept premise, the screenplay—admittedly written in a single night—lacks meaningful drama and is heavy on atmosphere over plot substance.

The performances, particularly by adult film star Lahaie, who plays the bewildered and melancholic Elizabeth, carry more presence than range—a hallmark of Rollin's frequent collaborations. The narrative follows Elizabeth's vague memories and desperate attempts to escape the black tower, populated by bizarre characters such as the eerie Dr. Francis (Bernard Papineau) and his unsettling assistant, Solange (Rachel Mhas). Interspersed with scenes of explicit eroticism and jarring bursts of violence, the film often feels disjointed. Rollin sets up an intriguing mystery but ultimately fails to develop it beyond surface-level thrills and moody atmospherics.

"The Night of the Hunted" showcases Rollin's experimental bend in the early '80s, aiming for a more sophisticated plot intertwined with his signature erotic fantasy elements. The story hints at broader themes of identity and memory but doesn't delve deeply enough to be impactful. Though the pacing may bore newcomers to Rollin's work, the film holds value for fans interested in his explorations outside conventional horror. Its blend of soft sci-fi, light horror, and eroticism makes for a haunting yet perplexing experience—an odd yet somewhat rewarding deviation in Rollin's eclectic oeuvre.

"The Night of the Hunted" stands out in Jean Rollin's filmography by diverging from his trademark themes such as lesbian vampires and eerie cemeteries. Instead, it delivers a soft sci-fi narrative centered on an amnesiac attempting to escape a mysterious medical facility. This shift provides an intriguing and unique viewing experience, especially for Rollin's dedicated fans. However, newcomers might find it less accessible compared to his more signature works like "The Grapes of Death."

On a technical level, the Blu-ray presentation by Kino-Lorber and Redemption Films offers modest improvements in high-definition. The picture quality is average, lacking extensive digital restoration, but it manages to look better than previous releases. The audio quality fares slightly better, contributing to the atmospheric tension of the film. Supplements included are minimal but sufficient for those interested in Rollin's oeuvre.

In conclusion, "The Night of the Hunted" is worth exploring for its distinctive departure from Jean Rollin's usual style. Though it may not be his most engaging work, it showcases some commendable stylistic elements and Brigitte Lahaie's captivating performance. The Blu-ray release enhances the viewing experience but primarily caters to fans and collectors familiar with Rollin's cinematic world.