1331 The Shout

[Finch]

A tour de force of psychic dread that begins as an ambient murmur and builds to an existential shriek, legendary Polish director Jerzy Skolimowski’s provocative adaptation of a short story by Robert Graves is a hallucinatory confrontation with the unknown. In a small English village, an experimental composer (John Hurt) and his wife (Susannah York) see their routine existence upended by the arrival of an enigmatic stranger (a seductively sinister Alan Bates), who claims to possess knowledge of Aboriginal magic and the ability to kill using a deadly scream—a power that makes him an object of both terror and desire. With its puzzle-box structure, unnerving ambiguity, and otherworldly electronic sound design, this Cannes Film Festival award winner quivers with the primal fear of mysterious and uncontrollable forces.

2K digital restoration, approved by director Jerzy Skolimowski and director of photography Mike Molloy, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
New interviews with Skolimowski and producer Jeremy Thomas
Excerpts from Skolimowski’s appearance at the 1997 Midnight Sun Festival
On the Set of “The Shout,” a short UK television program from 1977
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by scholar Leo Goldsmith

New cover by Rafa Orrico Díez

[DeprongMori]

Really bummed that Criterion didn’t license the Kim Newman / Stephen Jones commentary from the OOP Network Blu-ray in the UK (and Newman’s essay). It seems a missed opportunity. I guess I’m keeping my Region B disc.

[tolbs1010]

What a nice surprise this is! One of Alan Bates’ best performances. Probably my favorite Jerzy film too.

[DRW.mov]

Absolutely adore this movie. Hopefully Jerzy's Deep End will follow eventually.

[knives]

Really bummed that Criterion didn’t license the Kim Newman / Stephen Jones commentary from the OOP Network Blu-ray in the UK (and Newman’s essay). It seems a missed opportunity. I guess I’m keeping my Region B disc.

Second this, but still glad that it’s been released all the same.

[Robin Davies]

I was lucky enough to see this at a cinema with a good sound system.
The shout itself was genuinely frightening.

[MichaelB]

What a nice surprise this is! One of Alan Bates’ best performances. Probably my favorite Jerzy film too.

It's one of Skolimowski's favourites, too—and just about the only one of his literary adaptations that he ranks amongst his best films. (Most, he ranks amongst his worst.)