The Raven Blu-ray Review

The Blu-Ray release of "The Raven" boasts a new 2K scan from original film elements, delivering a mixed yet generally positive visual performance. The AVC encoded image (1.37:1 aspect ratio) provides satisfactory, though occasionally inconsistent, detail. Facial surfaces are rendered with enough clarity to appreciate the encroaching madness and makeup intricacies, particularly in Karloff's disfiguring work. Costumes retain their silky textures and formal stiffness, and interiors showcase depth and regal decoration, especially in the torture dens. However, certain scenes, particularly earlier in the film, exhibit qualities barely above a DVD upscale, with dismal resolution that improves notably during Irene Ware's dance routine.

Contrasting issues somewhat mar the presentation. Highlights tend to bake fidelity, leading to clipping and a loss of detail in bright areas. Fade-outs reveal facial definition that otherwise gets obliterated when lights return. Black levels also fail to reach full density at times, depriving some scenes of their intended grandeur. Despite these drawbacks, the overall image remains stable and film-like, thanks to well-resolved grain, devoid of artifacting. While some minor speckling and scratches are visible, they are a small concession given the film's age and overall source quality. This release ultimately offers a faithful rendition of the classic film's visuals, albeit with certain technical caveats.

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix of "The Raven" provides a generally clear and clean audio experience, ensuring that dialogue remains intelligible throughout. The audio presentation successfully balances performances with necessary mood and suspense changes, offering a satisfactory scoring that enhances the overall atmosphere. Although there are a few limitations, these do not significantly impact the clarity or the listener’s understanding of the content. The atmospheric effects are adequate, particularly capturing the resonate feel of hard rainfall.

In specific scenes, such as when Lugosi plays the piano early on, the age of the original recording surfaces, giving the audio a slightly melting quality typical of older materials. Despite these age-related imperfections, the intelligibility of dialogue within this mono presentation remains strong, staying well above any light static. The mix blends dialogue and score efficiently without overwhelming the treble. Given its origins from the early talkie era, the sound quality of "The Raven" holds up impressively well under modern playback conditions.

The Blu-ray of "The Raven" provides a meticulously curated collection of extras, enriching the viewing experience with historical insights and rare content. The two commentaries by Gregory William Mank and Steve Haberman offer deep dives into the film's significance and production, each from a distinct expert perspective. The featurette "A Good Game: Karloff and Lugosi at Universal: Part 2 – 'The Raven'" is particularly enlightening, shedding light on Boris Karloff's reluctant involvement, Bela Lugosi's keen enthusiasm for the project, and the impacts of the Hays Code on the screenplay. Complementing these are an audio recording of Lugosi reading Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart", providing a fascinating auditory treat, and a comprehensive still gallery displaying various behind-the-scenes shots, promotional material, and more. Although a trailer is missing, the overall package remains robust.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary #1: Features author Gregory William Mank.
• Commentary #2: Features author Steve Haberman.
• A Good Game: Karloff and Lugosi at Universal: Part 2 – 'The Raven': In-depth look into the making-of story, starring roles, and personal dynamics.
• Audio Recording: Bela Lugosi reads Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart."
• Still Gallery: Collection of film stills, BTS snaps, publicity shots, poster art, lobby cards, theater displays, and newspaper ads.

1935's The Raven is a chilling film that draws inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe’s macabre imagination rather than adapting a specific story. Bela Lugosi stars as a demented doctor whose fascination with Poe leads him to build and use torture devices on unsuspecting guests. Though at times the narrative seems to care more about delivering madness than cohesive storytelling, it remains compelling by intertwining real-world creativity with fictional dread.

Reuniting Lugosi and Boris Karloff after their iconic performances in The Black Cat, The Raven features Karloff as a criminal transformed by a disastrous surgery, executed by Lugosi’s character. While Karloff's makeup falters in close-ups, his portrayal of someone driven by resentment towards humanity is both precise and chilling. Lugosi’s performance, teetering between rational intellectualism and total madness, carries the film, especially in his unsettling recitations of Poe’s work.

In essence, The Raven doesn't stray far from Universal’s horror formula but carves a unique niche with its cerebral and human-focused horror. The film elicits terror not through overt bloodshed but implied mania, suggesting a dim view of society where one’s appearance might dictate their destiny. Supporting roles mainly serve to highlight the terror, while comic relief falls flat next to the unfolding madness. The Raven presents a condemnatory view on how influential literature can perversely shape human behavior, distinguishing it within the genre.

The Blu-ray release of "The Raven" offers a faithful reproduction of this classic horror film, capturing the essence of its eerie narrative and visual style. The story revolves around a mad doctor, brilliantly portrayed by Bela Lugosi, who is driven to insanity through his obsession with Edgar Allan Poe's works. His descent into madness, coupled with Boris Karloff’s compelling performance, grounds the film in an unsettling, atmospheric tension.

The video transfer is notable for maintaining the film's original textures and dynamic contrasts, preserving the shadows and lighting that are quintessential to its gothic aesthetic. The restored audio complements the visuals effectively, ensuring that every piece of dialogue and musical score enhances the chilling ambiance. This meticulous attention to technical detail honors the film's legacy and provides an immersive experience for viewers.

"The Raven" may not be a paragon of narrative coherence, occasionally succumbing to the need for illogical plot twists to heighten dramatic tension. However, these elements contribute to its unique charm, keeping the audience engaged with unexpected developments. Lugosi’s fervent embodiment of his character and the mounting weirdness as the story progresses ensure the film remains an enjoyable genre piece.

In conclusion, "The Raven" isn't a refined picture, with the writing making it up as it goes, limiting logic to play into more cinematic interests of evil men and screaming victims. The Poe elements are amusing, giving the material a certain ghoulishness that's most welcome, and it's hard to deny Lugosi's commitment to the effort, cackling and quaking with true purpose. The Raven is more fun than polished, presenting an agreeable genre distraction that grows weirder as it goes. And when the feature starts to lose its way, there's Lugosi and Karloff there to make sure screen pain and intimidation are taken care of.