In 1989, German filmmaker Robert Sigl brought a gothic horror film to the world. Now, 37 years after its initial release, Visual Vengeance is giving this film a chance to not only survive, but thrive on Blu-ray.
Synopsis: Laurin is a quiet and precocious adolescent girl living in rural 1901 Germany. She voyeuristically observes the behavior of the self-absorbed grownups around her, all of them seemingly oblivious to the fact that this strange little girl is growing up alone. While her father is away at sea, her mother's violent death leaves Laurin effectively orphaned and unsupervised. Now, a murderer has begun targeting Laurin's classmates, and Laurin has begun having terrifying hallucinations of the children. The grownups are desperate to catch the killer, but they're woefully ignorant of the dark, secret world right under their noses. An evil has surfaced in their seemingly idyllic village, deeply rooted in childhood traumas and long-buried secrets...and no child is safe.
Laurin is a gothic slow-burn horror film that works. Dóra Szinetár as Laurin is amazing. She never has to say a word; she can get any point across simply from her eyes. Most horror film fans in this generation don't know how to enjoy a slow-burn horror film. If it is not fast-paced slasher horror, they get bored. They will never know the satisfaction that comes with staying with it to the end.
Visual Vengeance has transferred this film to Blu-ray in 1080p in 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The audio track is an English Dolby Digital 2.0 track. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
The quality of this film transfer is surprisingly good. In some Visual Vengeance Blu-rays the picture has been suspect to say the least. But the colors are bright and vibrant and the picture is fairly sharp. To me, this transfer is a win. Now, as with all Visual Vengeance Blu-ray releases. Laurin is filled with bonus features. Take a look at what is included.
Bonus Materials:
* Feature-length audio commentary by film historian Troy Howarth, author of Innocence Lost: Robert Sigl and the Curse of Laurin
* Updated subtitle translations for the German version assisted by Robert Sigl
* Original VHS rough cut of Laurin from Sigl’s private collection, featuring set-recorded audio allowing viewers to hear the actors’ real voices prior to overdubbing
* Laurin c’est moi: New Interview with Director Robert Sigl (59 min.)
* Two award-winning short films by Robert Sigl: The Christmas Tree (Der Weihnachtsbaum, 1983, 20 min.) and Coronoia 21: It Comes with the Snow (2021, 10 min.)
* The Making of Laurin archival documentary
* Interview with actor Dóra Szinetár
* Interview with actor Barnabás Tóth
* Interview with cinematographer Nyika Jancsó
* Film historian Jonathan Rigby Interview
* Optional German language audio track
* Robert Sigl Bavarian Film Awards Presentation
* 8 photo galleries featuring never-before-seen images from Robert Sigl’s personal archives.
* Collectible folded mini-poster.
* Blu-ray sleeve featuring original home video art.
* 6-page liner notes essay by Tony Strauss of Weng’s Chop magazine - FIRST PRESSING ONLY
* Limited Edition mini-postcard set reproduced from German promotional materials - FIRST PRESSING ONLY
* ‘Stick your own’ VHS sticker sheet - FIRST PRESSING ONLY
* Limited Edition O-CARD by Justin Coons - FIRST PRESSING ONLY
* Original Trailer
* Visual Vengeance Trailers
Interviews, a commentary, a rough cut of the film, an additional short film and artwork galore. This is why Visual Vengeance is a label to keep your eyes on. They put so much work into their releases.
If you love 80s gothic horror, this new Blu-ray of Laurin is truly a must-own. The video quality is better than I expected and the bonus features are plentiful. If you would like to add this Blu-ray to your home video library, head over to MVD Shop or Amazon today.
Out of 4 film reels (4 being the best) the Blu-ray of Laurin receives.....
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