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Murder Me, Monster AKA Muere, monstruo, muere (Blu-ray)
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray ALL - United Kingdom - Anti-Worlds Releasing Review written by and copyright: Rick Curzon (21st August 2023). |
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The Film
 Our most comprehensive deep dive disc ever! Packed with astounding extras created exclusively for Anti-Worlds. A visual feast but not for the faint of heart, Un Certain Regard contender MURDER ME, MONSTER (MUERE, MONSTRUO, MUERE) is an atmospheric and eerie, Argentinian fantasy-horror-thriller with cult appeal from writer/ director Alejandro Fadel (The Wild Ones). Starring newcomer Victor Lopez as a policeman investigating a series of gruesome murders after headless bodies start to appear in the region. The excellent Lopez stars alongside the equally talented Tania Casciani (Los Ojos Ilorosos), Esteban Bigliardi (La Flor) and Sofia Palomino (Emilia). When rural police officer Cruz (Victor Lopez) investigates the bizarre case of a headless woman found in a remote area by the Andes mountains, David (Esteban Bigliardi), the husband of his lover Francisca (Tania Casciani), becomes the prime suspect. David is sent to a local mental hospital after he blames the murder on the inexplicable appearance of a monster who he claims brutally beheads its victims after they plea “Murder Me, Monster”. As more bodies are found it becomes apparent that the culprit may still be at large and Cruz must work fast to determine who, or what, the real monster may be.
Video
If you're looking for a straightforward monster flick, look elsewhere as this is a very arty approach to the material with an oblique approach. By the end of the film any conclusions the viewer reaches are entirely your own because no proper explanations are offered. It's very much a deliberately paced, drawn out narrative that eschews clarity; it's similar in tone to Under the Skin (2014). If you enjoyed that film, most likely you'll love this. I have to say based on first viewing I wasn't keen as I like my mysteries to have some kind of explanation and this just doesn't really give anything. It seems to be about isolation and the lack of communication. However, the ambiance and mise en scène are so compelling I shall be giving this one another run at some point. It's an extremely atmospheric experience that needs to viewed on as big a display as possible with the best possible sound system for maximum enjoyment. It makes an artful expression of silence within the 5.1 sound field (see my comments below). Technical info from the booklet: Muere, Monstruo, Muere was shot with an Arri Alexa Mini Camera using Vintage Hawk C Series Anamorphic lenses 10 achieve the 2.35:1 framing proportion[*]. These 1980's lenses provide a very particular look that include an enhanced perspective and several optical aberrations, as well as the distinctive blue flares and bokeh inherent to this kind of lens. We decided to shoot this way because we thought that the optical personality of the film should resemble the awkwardness of the characters depicted and also add to the overall mood of the film.Visually it's an incredibly rich viewing experience with stunning cinematography that crafts exquisite visuals and rich colour values. Primaries are very strong with many instances of intense reds, browns are velvety and earthy, greens thick and leafy; overall the image has a green cast and at other times warmer favouring brown. Black levels are exceptional and contrast supportive with plenty of shadow detail and gentle highlights. Detail is superlative and although there's not much filmic grain this still manages to look filmic due to the use of the vintage lenses. The bitrate hovers between 30-40 Mpbs and favours being closer to the latter. Encoding is firstvrate, no digital tinkering or artefacts that I could see. This is a textbook example of how to shoot a film digitally and still give it the feel of film and the transfer is as good an HD presentation as I have ever seen and shy of 4K UHD BD and HDR ain't gonna look better ('A+'). 1080p24 / AVC MPEG-4 / BD50 / * I measured it at 2.39:1 / 109:31
Audio
Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz) Subtitles: English (optional) This is as strong a 5.1 track as I've ever come across with exceptional delineation and separation. The sound field is very active with near constant ambiance from the surrounds. Leading actor Victor Lopez's rich, deep, sonorous voice dominates the front sound space whenever he speaks and even occasionally causes the subwoofer to tickle! Occasionally the track kicks out as one would expect for a horror film soundtrack to do but more often that not it plays on a delicately wrought atmosphere. The score and the monster sound effects use the space well to envelope the viewer. Subtitles are - as far as I can tell, I don't speak Spanish - comprehensive and I saw no errors ('A+').
Extras
Audio commentary by writer-director Alejandro Fadel, co-cinematographer Julian Apezteguia, co-cinematographer Manuel Rebella, costume designer Flora Caliguri, art director Laura Caliguri, production director-field producer Daniel Rutolo, sound director Santiago Fumagalli, film editor Andrés Pepe Estrada, producer Agustina Llambi-Campbell and moderator Santiago Calori (Spanish with optional English subtitles) (2023) This is a dense track with each commentator listed above identified by initials in the subtitles every time they speak. As a result it's not always the easiest yaktrak I've listened to follow and it does require you to be really paying attention and reading along unless you speak Spanish of course. It's worth the effort though as practically every aspect of this film is represented and covered, certainly from the behind the scenes point of view. Presented in lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 mono (48kHz). "El elemento enigmático" 2020 short Film (41:01) Described by on-screen text thusly: A spin-off from 'Murder Me Monster, this film further explores the world hinted at in the original feature, a medium length sensory experience wherein we delve deeper into the mysteries first hinted at ...More slow, oblique, strange, atmospheric, beautifully shot ... material. This is difficult to describe really and is about some indivduals walking in the mountains wearing suits and helmets and they find dead bodies etc. The sound is all music with burned in purple and blue Spanish subtitles which are translated at the top of the screen by optional English subs. Presented in 1080p24 2.39:1 with uncompressed Spanish LPCM 2.0 Stereo (48kHz, 16-bit) sound that plays in surround when pumped through ProLogic II (or similar) but is mainly front centric with only some ambiance making an appearance in the surround channels. Even more of an arty mood piece than the main feature with lots of visual trickery and layered imagery. Very little happens. Deleted Scenes: - Deleted Scene #1 (1:59) - Deleted Scene #2 (5:22) - Deleted Scene #3 (2:25) - Deleted Scene #4 (3:56) - Deleted Scene #5 (2:30) - Deleted Scene #6 (4:08) - Deleted Scene #7 (2:30) - Deleted Scene #8 (4:28) 27:18 worth of deleted scenes and although there is value here I can see why they were cut as the film is already very deliberately paced and not far of two hours which is about as long as a monster mash ought to be. Presented in 1080p24 2.39:1 with lossy Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo (48kHz) with optional English subtitles. Image is more or less in the same quality as the feature and sound is adequate. Trailers: - Green Band Trailer (1:39) - Red Band Trailer (2:04) Both flavours of trailer are presented in 1080p24 2.39:1 with Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz) with burned in Spanish subtitles so essentially in the same quality as the main feature. Needless to say the trailers make the film look far more pacy and engaging than I found it in my initial viewing and I was quite excite going into the film as a result. Unshot Scene Storyboards (with 2023 commentary by director Alejandro Fadel in Spanish with optional English subtitles) (14:12) What it says on the tin with the director talking through his original unshot opening and closing for the film presented in 1080p24 2.39:1 with uncompressed Spanish LPCM 2.0 stereo (48kHz, 16-bit) with optional Spanish subtitles. It's a shame these weren't shot because they provide more context and a shade more explanation. 24-page liner notes booklet "Comments from Writer / Director Alejandro Fadel" by Alejandro Fadel, "Argentina - A Frightening Landscape: The Cinema of Unease" by Evrim Ersoy, film credits and technical details Hardcopy companion that provides some much needed insight into the production and which inspired me to give the film a second view ... at some point. Make your own monster! - access to print files for a 3D printer to create a replica of the film’s monster A feature that is on BD-Rom that I couldn't access but sounds intriguing and unique for a BD release.
Packaging
Standard clear BD Keepcase.
Overall
I found the film hard to engage with in my initial viewing but will give it another shot soon. However, this disc is demo quality with decent extras to provide contextual added value. As a result I'm giving it my highest recommendation as one of the best looking and sounding films on the format I've yet encountered. Only an UHD BD release with HDR or Dolby Vision is going to top this ('A+'). Highly recommended!
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