Funny Halloween: Borgman (2014) (Blu-ray Review)

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Borgman (2014) (Blu-ray Review)

Directed By: Alex van Warmerdam

Starring: Jan Bijvoet, Hadewych Minis, Jeroen Perceval

Rated: UR/Region A/1:85/1080p/Number of Discs 1

Available from: NEW VIDEO GROUP

plot

A dark suburban fable exploring the nature of evil in unexpected places, BORGMAN follows an enigmatic vagrant who enters the lives of an upper-class family and quickly unravels their carefully curated lifestyle. Charming and mysterious, Camiel Borgman seems almost otherworldly, and it isn’t long before he has the wife, children and nanny under his spell in a calculated bid to take over their home life. However, his domestic assimilation takes a malevolent turn as his ultimate plan comes to bear, igniting a series of increasingly maddening and menacing events.

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Borgman is one of those movies you have to let breath just a little bit. It is an odd film and perhaps when it ends you will still need to connect some of the dots, but it is one that if you let roll for a bit more or less delivers. It is a foreign film and and some things might come across a bit odd due to that alone, but the story shines through and moves into some very dark and eerie areas before the film wraps up. Our lead, which seems harmless at first, eventually lets the other foot drop and you soon realize just how dark things and this character can get. And, the great performance from Jan Bijvoet will not be lost in the translation, it shines through no matter what and if you take nothing else away from this film, it’ll at least be his performance.

One of the oddest things about this movie is that things are still funny at times. It is soo weird to think that something so twisted in spots can still take time to make you laugh, but it does just that. Borgman is somewhat a new entry into the thriller home invasion sub-genre, but it also touches base with horror in the form of slashers and other odd things that somehow blend here. This won’t be a film that everyone will find to their liking, but if it is you should find it strange, entertaining, and overall a fun time for one reason or another. The transfer looks good, even if some of the blacks seem a little light in areas. Overall, it is a cool Blu-ray release that packs an art film of sorts that I think many of you should be able to appreciate.

Extras