Criterion Crazy: October 2024 Releases
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
Criterion is back with its latest announcement, and it’s a small but strong one. There are only four releases (with five titles), and no previous Criterion Collection films are getting upgraded to 4K for the first time in a while, but what we have here are a handful of motion pictures that have been begging to be released with the Criterion treatment. We have everything from a more contemporary cult classic and an adaptation of a classic play, to an iconic work of the silent era. I did like how Criterion went all-in on the horror film theme last year this time, but I won’t complain with the films that we do get because quality trumps gimmickry every day of the week. There’s not much else to say outside of that you’re in for a treat with this reasonably great announcement, so let’s just dive into the individual titles and what features they come with.
The Favourite: Pandora’s Box (1929)
If I were to plot my favourite silent films on a list, you would most certainly find Pandora’s Box by G. W. Pabst on it. This ninety five year old masterpiece is a must have for any cinephile, especially those who aren’t scared about exploring the silent era. Available on Blu-ray and DVD (I think a 4K version of a film this old may be incredibly daunting at this point in time), you’ll be getting a breathtaking digipak that comes with a wonderful booklet. The features aren’t anything to miss out on as well, including four scores (!) to pick from (so you can really decide your preferred way to watch the film), both a documentary and an interview of/with star Louise Brooks, additional interviews (including one with the director’s son, Michael Pabst), audio commentary by film scholars, and a token Criterion essay (this time by critic J. Hoberman). Any hardcore film lover should pick this legendary film up, even if it is a completely blind buy. You owe it to yourself to watch and own a film this important and of this magnitude.
Everything is Miserable: Gummo (1997)
You’d think that Harmony Korine’s magnum opus, Gummo, would have been a part of the Criterion Collection by now. Well, for many film lovers, their wishes have finally been answered with this release including both 4K and Blu-ray options. There aren’t too many special features, but what we do get feels appropriate for Korine and Gummo fans, including an interview with the infamous director, an episode of Projections featuring Korine, and a sit down interview between him and iconic auteur Werner Herzog (who is a huge fan of this film and would later go on to star in the former’s followup film, Julien Donkey-Boy). Acclaimed music video director Hype Williams also gets “an appreciation” on this release, whatever that means (leave it to Korine to have an unorthodox Criterion feature). If you haven’t seen Gummo before, I recommend streaming or renting it first because it is for sure not for everyone; this film has its major fans, including yours truly, but there are many that cannot connect with this abrasive, chaotic, nihilistic feature.
Double Trouble: I Walked with a Zombie / The Seventh Victim: Produced by Val Lewton
Of course, Criterion couldn’t just let the month of October go without some horror classics. We’ve got a mini boxset including two of producer Val Lewton’s greatest works, including The Seventh Victim (1943), and, my personal favourite of this pair, I Walked with a Zombie (1943): two strong classics for any horror junkie who may be curious about picking up a blind buy of works from yesteryear. Available in 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD (which makes the accessibility for all Criterion collectors quite nice), you’re looking at a myriad of features involving film scholars and experts, including interviews, commentary, essays, and even a documentary. If you have a 4K set up that can account for the use of shadows in these films, I’d opt for that option; there’s nothing like noir horror of the classic era that is shown correctly.
Buy I Walked with a Zombie / The Seventh Victim: Produced by Val Lewton Here
Under-Seen Choice: Demon Pond (1979)
Sometimes, the Criterion Collection is all about discovering works you may have never watched — or even known about — just waiting for you to stumble upon them and find new favourites. Such may be the case with Japanese New Wave director Masahiro Shinoda’s adaptation of the classic play, Demon Pond. This film is so obscure by the usual Criterion Collection’s standards that it doesn’t even have its own Wikipedia page by the time of this review; the limited features mirror this mystery, including an interview (with film scholar Dudley Andrew), an essay (by critic Michael Atkinson), and a piece on the special effects in the film. That’s it. However, if the stunning cover art wasn’t enough, you can pick up this once overlooked title on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD (so you can’t miss out, should you be interested). If you are a fan of Japanese art cinema, you could be looking at your next favourite release.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Toronto Metropolitan University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.