Les démons Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Les démons" encapsulates a myriad of visual elements that reflect the film's age and historical value. The AVC encoded (2.25:1 aspect ratio) image displays some wear, evidenced by visible scratches and debris throughout. Framing occasionally deviates slightly off-center, and a semi-windowboxed treatment reveals borders on the left side sporadically. Despite these elements, there are commendable instances of sharpness and fine details, particularly in costuming which maintains its fibrous quality and anatomical specifics, including stretch marks. Skintones are accurately rendered with close-ups that reveal adequate facial character details. Colors exhibit a slight fade yet retain stability and authenticity, notably the ornate clothing and incidences of deep red bloodletting. Blacks are adequate but lack the intensity needed for solidification, with occasional noise detected in certain pockets.

Utilizing an HD master from the original camera negative, this 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode offers an average presentation likely not to astonish but still respectable given the film's age and history. The source material reflects reasonable condition with notable detailing in buildings and foliage, even as some scenes are softer overall. Costumes and interior textures maintain sufficient visibility, despite some image softness. Occasional white specks, dirt spots on frame edges, and scratches make occasional appearances. Whites are crisp; however, contrast is compromised likely due to aging elements leaving a yellowish tint. Colors are generally dull and faded, except for selectively maintained reds and blues. Blacks are rich yet occasionally dominate finer details. The overall smoother texture suggests potential noise reduction, slightly detracting from the film's authentic Techniscope grain.

The 2.0 LPCM track on the Blu-ray presentation of "Les démons" is a mixed bag, showcasing notable damage that manifests as a persistent hiss and rhythmic humming in certain sections. Some scenes dramatically drop in audio quality as if they were sourced from different materials entirely. Despite these inconsistencies, the dialogue remains sufficiently clear, ensuring comprehensible exchanges without significant distortion. The scoring isn't particularly pronounced but offers a noticeable bassy throb, especially during sex scenes, while the track maintains a steady level when it isn’t contending with age-related wear.

The French uncompressed PCM mono soundtrack stands out for its stability and the overall clarity of vocal delivery, despite the poor ADR work and mismatched lip movements, which are indicative of the film's limited budget and production constraints. Background hissing and noise are minimal and do not detract significantly from the viewing experience. While the dynamic range feels somewhat limited, with occasional distortions at higher frequencies, the soundtrack remains consistent and stable throughout most of the runtime. Although the mix lacks substantial bass presence, it compensates with impressive imaging and soundstage, generating a wide soundfield especially when the music plays, and delivering effective off-screen effects.

In summary, while "Les démons" features some predictable flaws given its age and production history, the dialog clarity and balanced scoring preserved in this release make it a relatively smooth auditory experience. The impressive imaging and soundstage of the PCM mono mix enhance the film's atmosphere, making up for its shortcomings in bass and dynamic range.

The Blu Ray extras for "Les démons" provide a compelling deep-dive into the film's production and creative background. The Interview with writer/director Jess Franco (16:19, HD) is particularly insightful; it begins humorously with Franco self-deprecatingly calling the film as bad as ever, before delving into its genesis, financial constraints, and behind-the-scenes details. The Deleted Footage (10:15, HD) presents random scenes without sound, typically utilized in the era's marketing materials. Additionally, the disc includes two theatrical trailers in high definition.

Extras included in this disc:

• Interview: Jess Franco discusses the film’s inspirations and production history.
• Deleted Footage: Randomly collected scenes used for marketing.
• Theatrical Trailer #1
• Theatrical Trailer #2

Jess Franco’s 1973 offering, "The Demons," embraces the intersection of erotic horror and exploitation cinema with an unrelenting commitment to graphic violence and explicit sexuality. Set against the backdrop of the Inquisition, the film dives deep into the hysteria and hypocrisy of a religious ruling class more captivated by their sadomasochistic pursuits than any genuine moral mission. The narrative follows Sister Margaret (Britt Nichols) and her sister, Kathleen (Anne Libert), as they traverse a landscape fraught with satanic visitations and persecution. Although the plot is often secondary to Franco's indulgence in nudity and seduction, there is an undeniable fascination in his provocative screen energy and voyeuristic intent, delivered through omnipresent zooms and a jazzy score by Jean-Bernard Raiteux that echoes American-style porno intros.

The film opens with a grim scene of a woman accused of witchcraft being burned alive—a fate that sets off a cycle of revenge underpinning much of the ensuing narrative. Despite the incoherent storytelling and an overbearing focus on bodily horrors, Franco maintains viewer engagement through a series of unsettling and sensational visual experiences. From torture techniques to exploitative displays of nudity, "The Demons" spares no detail in its pursuit of carnal and violent excesses. This often leaves subplots halfheartedly developed, favoring scenes that prioritize Franco's lewd fascinations.

While teeming with melodrama, political backstabbing, and corrupt religious figures, the film subtly hints at clever criticisms of those in power, suggesting their punitive actions are driven by personal pleasure rather than justice. Characters like Lady de Winter (Karin Field) and Thomas Renfield (Alberto Dalbés) embody this perverse dichotomy, engaging in moments that blend eroticism with cruelty. Ultimately, "The Demons" is a lurid tableau that doesn’t shy away from exposing societal hypocrisies, albeit through a lens that many might find challenging to appreciate beyond its surface provocations.

The Blu-ray release of Jess Franco's "Les démons" offers an intriguing yet polarizing experience for those familiar with the director's oeuvre and the subgenre of nunsploitation. The film explores themes of historical condemnation and moral degradation through its narrative set in a time of religious fervor and persecution. While often criticized for being slow-paced and populated with dreamlike sequences that verge on confusion, the work maintains a peculiar charm emblematic of Franco’s distinctive cinematic style. This release features an admirable effort in both audio and visual remastering, given the film's age and original condition.

Connoisseurs of European exploitation cinema will find this presentation particularly appealing due to its robust technical qualities. The Blu-ray boasts a clear and immersive audio experience that significantly enhances the viewing, capturing the provocative soundscape that Franco intended. The picture quality is equally impressive, with a commendable restoration that breathes new life into the film's more vivid and explicit scenes. Although the supplemental materials are sparse, this release still serves as an essential piece for collectors and enthusiasts of the genre.

In conclusion, "Les démons" is an acquired taste, ideal for those who are well-versed in nunsploitation or Franco's eclectic filmography. It's quite slow, and a few dreamscape scenarios introduce confusion rather than artful mischief. Still, its distinct cinematic fingerprint is worth a look to anyone interested in sleazy European releases dressed up as historical inspection with a side of condemnation. Just be ready to stare at pubic hair for at least 15% of the runtime.