The Fury Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "The Fury" boasts a meticulous 1.85:1 1080p transfer, encoded using the AVC MPEG-4 codec, and is region-locked to B. Overseen by James White at Deluxe Digital Cinema - EMEA, London, the restoration process employed 2K resolution scanning, advanced color grading via Nucoda Film Master, and diligent frame-by-frame cleanup. As a result, thousands of instances of dirt, scratches, and debris were painstakingly removed, preserving the original texture and grain structure of the film.

The visual fidelity of "The Fury" is impressive considering its age. Detailed skin textures, such as the depth of Kirk Douglas’ chin cleft and Amy Irving’s eye blood vessels in psychic close-ups, stand out. Environmental details are equally well-defined—check the grit in the hotel room or the sheen of oil on frying eggs. The film maintains an authentic 1970s look with inherent soft focus yet remains bright and filmic. Colors are robust and vibrant: greens, blues, and reds are rendered with exceptional clarity and no noticeable wash or bleed. Skin tones appear natural throughout.

Contrast and brightness settings excel, offering clear visibility in darker scenes, such as Peter’s police car escape, where shadow detail is maintained without loss of depth. Black levels are profound, adding significant punch to the picture. The digital integrity is impeccable, with no compression issues, jaggies, posterization, or edge enhancement detected. Occasional minimal print damage is rare and fleeting, with the preservation effort ensuring the original organic grain structure remains intact, providing a genuinely theatrical experience. This Blu-ray release stands as the most pristine presentation of "The Fury" available, merging top-tier restoration techniques with careful attention to the film's cinematic heritage.

The Blu-ray edition of "The Fury" boasts multiple audio tracks, including English DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0, English LPCM 2.0 mono, and an isolated score track in LPCM 2.0. The DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0 track stands out for its expansive soundstage, leveraging the front LCR speakers while providing a mono signal to the surrounds. This track effectively layers vocals, effects, and score, resulting in a mix that is predominantly clean and clear. While dialogue remains natural and precise, occasional distractions arise from overly prominent sound effects, such as those of waves. Despite this, stereo elements like car movements, gunshots, and ambient sounds are well-separated, enhancing the overall auditory experience, though the surround channels lack significant utilization.

John Williams' score takes full advantage of the DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0 track, delivering powerful and immersive audio that excels in both dramatic and subtle moments. The bass performance is commendable, delivering satisfying rumbles during explosive actions and effectively supporting the lower frequencies of the score. While instances of distortion and high-end suffering do occur, these issues are minimal compared to the poorer LPCM 2.0 mono track, which presents significant distortions in vocals and louder segments. Notably, there are no audio dropouts or major distortions to report in the DTS-HD MA track, ensuring a consistently engaging auditory experience. Consequently, despite its minor flaws, the DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0 track remains the superior choice for this Blu-ray release.

The Blu-ray release of "The Fury" includes a robust array of extras that offer a deep dive into the film's production and legacy. Each feature provides valuable insights, with standout interviews from key cast and crew members discussing their experiences and contributions. Among these extras is an informative interview with cinematographer Richard H. Kline who details his collaboration with Brian De Palma and the innovative optical effects used. Another highlight is "The Fury: A Location Journal," where Sam Irvin, an intern on the film, vividly recounts his on-set experiences and interactions with the cast and crew. Additionally, original archive interviews offer a nostalgic look-back on the film’s initial promotional tour. These comprehensive extras, combined with the inclusion of Sam Irwin's short film "Double Negative" and a thoughtfully composed booklet, significantly enrich the viewer's appreciation of De Palma's work.

Extras included in this disc:

• Blood on the Lens: Cinematographer Richard H. Kline discusses his collaboration and the film's optical effects.
• Spinning Tales: Actress Fiona Lewis shares anecdotes from her time on set and her interactions with De Palma.
• The Fury: A Location Journal: Sam Irvin recounts his detailed experiences as an intern, providing extensive behind-the-scenes insights.
• Original Archive Interviews: Interviews from the 1978 promotional tour featuring Brian De Palma, Frank Yablans, Carrie Snodgress, and Amy Irving.
• Double Negative: Sam Irvin’s short film tribute to Brian De Palma.
• Gallery: A slideshow of production pictures with the film’s score.
• Reversible Sleeve: Features original and newly commissioned artwork.
• Booklet: Comprehensive writings on the film with interviews and original stills.

Brian De Palma’s "The Fury" masterfully blends the thriller and psycho-horror genres, offering a tale rife with paranoia and supernatural intrigue. The film is based on John Farris' narrative and follows the intense story of government agent Peter Sandza, played by Kirk Douglas, searching for his kidnapped son amid shadowy conspiracies. Amy Irving and John Cassavetes deliver compelling performances as a nascent psychic and a shady government agent, respectively. De Palma's direction is youthful and vigorous, engaging the viewer with a plot that intertwines mystery and bloody action. The lush cinematography by Richard H. Kline accentuates the film's eerie atmosphere, while John Williams’ eerie orchestral score magnifies the tension and drama.

Set against varied backdrops from Israel to Chicago, "The Fury" marries conventional thriller elements with an immersive psycho-horror tone. The narrative is structured around the evolving awareness of psychic powers, elucidated through flashbacks that intricately piece together the story. Gillian, portrayed by Irving, gradually uncovers her supernatural abilities, acting as a linchpin that brings coherence to the fragmented plot. Despite the tight script and meticulous depiction of psychic phenomena, the nonlinear storytelling could feel convoluted to some viewers. Nevertheless, the strong character portrayals, particularly by Irving and Cassavetes, enhance the film's gravitas.

De Palma’s characteristic wit and style are palpably present, ensuring that "The Fury" holds its own despite comparisons to his earlier work, "Carrie." The climax is both explosive and psychologically intense, embodying the movie's thematic essence of power, control, and fear. The restored visuals on the Blu-ray release highlight De Palma’s meticulous craftsmanship, making it a compelling revisit for fans and a riveting experience for new audiences.

Arrow Video's Blu-ray release of Brian De Palma’s "The Fury" is a remarkable achievement for cinephiles and collectors alike. Featuring a brand new high-definition transfer sourced from the original camera negative, the visual restoration is impeccable. The colors are vibrant, the details sharp, and the overall presentation belies the film's age, offering an astonishingly clear viewing experience. The audio, while not as stunning as the visual elements, is robust with a standout surround track and the inclusion of an isolated music track that allows fans to fully appreciate John Williams' excellent score.

The supplemental features provided by Arrow Video are comprehensive and engaging. They include insightful interviews with cinematographer Richard H. Kline and actress Fiona Lewis, among others, offering a wealth of behind-the-scenes information and contextual knowledge that enriches the viewing experience. The extras are well-curated and plentiful, providing a deeper dive into the film's production and legacy.

The Fury is Brian De Palma’s second foray into the world of psychics, but whereas Carrie (1976) was a straight-out horror, this time out he deals with shady conspiracies, kidnap, clandestine government agencies and people possessing powers they are afraid of. Based on John Farris’ book of the same name, The Fury is full of De Palma's trademark style, wit and raw guts woven tightly together in a spookily scary story whose fear stems not from those with powers, but those in power. The Fury is not so focused on delivering shocks, but prefers to have a backbone of mystery in amongst bloody mayhem. Securing superstar Kirk Douglas in a starring role and giving the likes of Amy Irving, John Cassavetes, Carrie Snodgress and Charles Durning an equal crack of the whip. There is no lack of talent in front of the camera, and with De Palma on strong youthful form behind it and John Williams producing a top class score, the story develops with paranoia and gusto all the while building to an explosive climax. At the time of its release the film did not do particularly well, coming off the back of Carrie as it did with many expecting more of the same. Which clearly it is not. However it has only matured with age and now comes well recommended.

In conclusion, "The Fury" benefits immensely from Arrow Video's meticulous restoration work. This Blu-ray release captures De Palma's chilling vision with a quality that will undoubtedly please both newcomers and long-time fans. It stands as a definitive edition worth adding to any Blu-ray collection.