Cloud
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Synopsis
A gonzo revenge thriller, a darkly comic anticapitalist critique, and a dizzying plunge into the alienated abyss of the internet, Cloud is among the most audacious genre experiments to date from master of psychological tension Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Factory worker Yoshii (Masaki Suda) quits his job to pursue his side business reselling questionably procured items online at outrageous markups. His profits quickly grow—but so does his list of enemies, and the petty grievances of his disgruntled clients and competitors soon take on a terrifying life of their own. With slow-burn precision, Kurosawa constructs a dread-inducing vision of digital depersonalization that ignites into something altogether shocking and unpredictable.
Picture 9/10
Criterion’s Premieres series presents Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cloud on Blu-ray in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1 on a dual-layer disc. It’s delivered with a 1080p/24hz high-definition presentation. No details are provided about the source, though I would assume it derives from a 2K digital intermediate.
Filmed digitally in 4K, the presentation looks terrific here. The encode appears solid throughout and, outside of the occasional bit of noise creeping into the blacks, there’s little to complain about. The image remains clean and stable, with a surprisingly wide range in the shadows, particularly beneficial given just how dark much of the film is.
The color palette leans heavily toward colder tones, but they’re rendered beautifully, with subtle gradations that prevent the image from ever feeling flat. Fine detail is strong as well, with textures coming through cleanly and naturally a good amount of the time. All around, it’s a strong presentation.
Cloud - Screen Captures
Audio 8/10
The film’s 5.1 surround soundtrack (presented in DTS-HD MA) is fairly low-key early on, with a few effective touches in the way it captures ambient background noise, sometimes to subtly creepy effect. Dialogue comes through cleanly, with good range and fidelity.
The mix becomes far more active during the film’s climax, which (without giving anything away) features considerably more action than what precedes it. The track handles the shift well, opening up without becoming overwhelming. Overall, it’s a perfectly effective presentation that suits the film’s tone as it progresses.
Extras 3/10
As a Premieres release, the disc includes only one substantial supplement: a 15-minute interview with director Kiyoshi Kurosawa. He begins by touching briefly on his background and earlier work before turning his focus to Cloud, explaining where the initial idea originated and what inspired various elements of the story. From there, he discusses his working methods, particularly his approach to writing scripts, before offering some thoughts on the current state of filmmaking in Japan. It’s brief, but still a rewarding and thoughtful interview. (It also features numerous clips from what appears to be a new restoration of 1998's Serpent’s Path, for whatever that may be worth.)
Rounding out the disc is the trailer and an insert featuring a short essay by Sean Gillman. There isn’t much here—which is to be expected for the line—but the Kurosawa interview makes for a worthwhile addition.
Closing
Criterion’s budget release delivers a strong digital presentation of Kurosawa’s latest thriller, anchored by a sharp encode and a brief but worthwhile interview with the director.
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