Vampyr Blu-ray Review

The Criterion Collection's Blu-ray release of "Vampyr" offers a high-definition presentation, sourced from Cineteca di Bologna's 1998 restoration. The 1080p transfer, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC, maintains the original narrow aspect ratio of 1.19:1. The restoration is based on surviving 35mm prints from German and French sources, as the original negative is lost. The meticulous work, involving MTI Film's DRS and Digital Vision's Phoenix, removed thousands of instances of dirt, debris, and scratches, while managing jitter, flicker, grain, and noise. Pro Tools HD and iZotope RX were utilized to clean the soundtrack. The telecine process was overseen by Thomas Christensen and Lee Kline, with Jorgen Christiansen handling color correction.

Despite the inherent limitations of the source material, the overall video quality is commendable. While there are noticeable fluctuations in density and occasional shakiness owing to the aged elements used, Criterion’s efforts ensure these anomalies are minimally distracting. The unique cinematography of "Vampyr," with its intentional hazy and dreamy effects, benefits from careful grading and diligent restoration work. The contrast ranges from milky in outdoor scenes to sharper in interiors, supporting the film’s atmospheric intent. Small scratches, white specks, and frame jitters are present but vastly reduced, thus maintaining reasonable image stability. Given the challenging condition of the extant elements, this release likely represents the most faithful and cleaned-up version of Dreyer’s film available.

Handling the visual peculiarities emanating from its archival materials, Criterion has ensured that the essence of "Vampyr" shines through these compromises. Although certain scenes exhibit softness and grain variances, the ethereal visual style largely compensates for these technical flaws. It's evident a considerable effort went into refining this presentation to balance fidelity with historical reverence. This Blu-ray stands as a testament to conscientious preservation work restoring a nearly lost vintage classic.

The audio presentation of the Blu-ray release of "Vampyr" includes two versions: a restored and reconstructed German LPCM 1.0 track and an alternate version with English titles in German Dolby Digital 1.0. Both audio tracks exhibit the inherent limitations typical of early 1930s sound recordings, marked by a persistent hiss and some noise. Despite these flaws, the lossless LPCM track offers decent depth for a film of its era, though differences compared to the lossy Dolby Digital track are minimal. Occasional transitions and inconsistencies in the audio reconstruction are noticeable but do not significantly detract from the viewing experience.

The singular survival of the German version, capturing spoken lines originally delivered in three languages, is faithfully presented in PCM mono. Viewers will notice the music score occasionally dropping out, sometimes abruptly, contributing to an already atmospheric sound design filled with eerie effects. Wolfgang Zeller's compositions add to the film's unsettling ambiance, though the integration of dialogue, music, and sound effects retains the abruptness characteristic of early sound technology. Overall, while the limitations are evident, the audio tracks manage to enhance the film's haunting and captivating qualities.

The Blu-ray extras for "Vampyr" offer a comprehensive and enriching suite of features that delve deep into the film’s production, narrative, and legacy. The alternate version with English text is particularly notable for clarity, replacing the original German text while retaining subtitled dialogue, thus preserving the visual integrity of Dreyer’s vision without clutter. Tony Rayns' expert audio commentary provides valuable insights into the film's historical context and unique cinematic techniques. The Carl Th. Dreyer documentary adds depth to understanding the director's ethos, combining archival interviews and film clips. Casper Tybjerg's visual essay offers a scholarly perspective on Dreyer’s stylistic choices and broader filmic environment. Lastly, the radio broadcast and extensive booklets/books provide further scholarly and anecdotal content that film enthusiasts will find indispensable.

Extras included in this disc:

• Alternate Version with English Text: Replaces German text with English while retaining subtitled dialogue.
• Audio Commentary: Tony Rayns' critical analysis and historical context.
• Carl Th. Dreyer: 1966 documentary covering Dreyer’s career and techniques.
• Visual Essay: Casper Tybjerg's exploration of Vampyr's style and influence.
• Radio Broadcast: Dreyer’s 1958 essay on film art and auteur theory.
• Booklet: Insightful essays, interviews, and restoration notes.
• Book: Complete screenplay and source story "Carmilla".

Carl Theodor Dreyer’s Vampyr (1932) is an audacious blend of horror and visual artistry, unparalleled in its use of shadow and atmospheric imagery. Despite the influence of contemporaneous supernatural stories like Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla, Dreyer sidesteps conventional horror motifs, focusing instead on a minimalist narrative arc driven by mood and visual experimentation. This approach creates a film more akin to an eerie dream than a coherent tale. The protagonist, Allan Gray—a role filled by producer Baron Nicolas de Gunzburg under the alias Julian West—navigates a desolate French village plagued by vampiric lore. Dreyer’s reliance on silent film techniques for his first sound film manifests in expansive periods of non-dialogue, striking intertitles, and unsettling soundscapes that accentuate the film’s nightmarish ambiance. Significant scenes, such as Gray’s burials and his subsequent perspectives from within the coffin, showcase Dreyer’s innovative use of trick photography, double exposures, and reverse motion, solidifying the movie’s lasting visual impact.

Despite the film's initial negative reception due to its surreal, non-linear storytelling, Vampyr has left an indelible mark on cinema history, influencing directors like Aleksandr Sokurov and Guy Maddin. Both filmmakers have channeled Dreyer’s avant-garde approach to overlapping reality and supernatural elements. Specifically, Sokurov’s The Second Circle and Whispering Pages reflect a similar use of sparse dialogue and ethereal imagery. Maddin's Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary and Keyhole, while injecting a unique sense of abstract humor, echo Dreyer's visual style and thematic exploration of distorted realities. Notably, Dreyer shot Vampyr on location in France with cinematographer Rudolph Maté using primarily non-professional actors. Though released concurrently with Bela Lugosi's commercially triumphant Dracula, Vampyr diverges through its prophetic experimentalism, cementing its status as a cult classic appreciated mainly by cinephiles and film scholars.

Carl Theodor Dreyer's "Vampyr" is a seminal work in the Gothic horror genre that has gained renewed appreciation since the VHS era. The film's influential, avant-garde style continues to captivate modern audiences, challenging conventional expectations of horror with its prophetic and surreal storytelling. Criterion's Blu-ray release, derived from a meticulous 2K restoration and reconstruction of the 1998 German version, offers an exceptional visual presentation that preserves the eerie, haunting quality of Dreyer's masterpiece. This release is bolstered by supplemental materials, including archival articles that offer contextual insights and speculate on future restorations.

While "Vampyr" may not be held in the highest regard by all horror enthusiasts due to its unconventional narrative and lack of richly-drawn characters, it excels as a work of atmospheric art. The film's visual poetry, marked by some of the most haunting images ever put on screen, offers a deeply immersive experience. Although the Blu-ray disc may not boast an abundance of bonus features, those included are both informative and engaging, enhancing the viewer's appreciation of this pioneering work.

In conclusion, Criterion's Blu-ray release of "Vampyr" is a must-have for anyone seriously invested in the history of horror cinema. The comprehensive restoration and high-quality presentation ensure that this avant-garde film will be preserved and accessible for future generations. Highly recommended for its historical significance, visual artistry, and as an essential piece for any well-rounded horror collection.