Raw — Raw(Blu Ray Boxset)

Raw is a rather distinctive and darkly quirky take on the cannibal genre. The film follows the plight of a staunch vegetarian, who goes to veterinary college, finding out she has a taste for human flesh ‘n’ blood. The 2016 feature blends together body horror, darkly sexualized humour- with moments of bloody limb gnawing, heartfelt if slightly wonky sisterly love, and moodily arty touches. Here from the guys over at Second Sight Films is a classy blu ray reissue of the film- featuring two commentary tracks, a good selection of other extras, and ltd slipcase packaging featuring an inlay booklet and art cards. 
 

Raw is a French-Belgian production, and it's the first feature-length film by French director/ screenwriter Julia Ducournau.  The film is a punchy & provocative debut- that blends wide-angle artiness, with sweaty and bloody up closeness, moments of self-doubt, sibling love and hate, and a nice feeling of unpredictability. Sure, there are a few issues here- the odd unbelievable plot points, overzealous at points annoying hazing, and some clunky characterisation here and there- but on the whole Raw is an impressive and self-assured first film from Ducournau.
 
The film focuses on late teens/ early twenties Justine (Garance Marillier)- a staunch-yet-timid vegetarian, whose had a fairly shielded upbringing. The film starts with her going off to veterinary college- following on in the academic steps of her parents, and her more upfront/ brash sister Alexia (Ella Rumpf) - who is still at the college, finishing off her last year of study. From the off, it’s clear the college has rather bizarre & extreme initiations/ hazing ceremonies for new students- this includes students been woken up in the middle of the night, with bedding thrown out of windows. Been drenched with animal blood and made to eat animal organs.   After the initiations Justine- starts getting nasty rashes and a strange hunger, then one night when her sister is doing impromptu pubic hair removal on her sister, she finds she requires human flesh, as she starts gnawing done on her sister(severed) finger. As the film unfolds her need for human flesh and blood turns Justine into a Jekyll and Hyde type character.
 
Marillier is a perfect pick for the role of Justine- switching well between timid and native staunch-ness, uncertain self-discovery, and unhinged/ at points deranged madwoman. Rumpf makes a good and believable sister and black sheep of the family.  With great supporting roles from Rabah Nait Oufella as Justine’s gay roommate/ friend, and Laurent Lucas as her distant-yet-slightly shifty father Le père. The film's cinematography is well-balanced and accomplished blending wide-angle shots of the colleges' oppressive concert buildings, and moody country road shots. With in close, sweaty at points bloody shooting, as well as more subtly nightmarish and arty touches. The films just over hour and a half runtime flows largely well enough, though as already mentioned the hazing elements do somewhat get tiresome, so maybe some of this could have been cut away.  But on the whole, Raw is a well-realized, at points compellingly brutal film, and I certainly look forward to seeing what director Julia Ducournau does next.
 
Moving onto this new region B Blu Ray, and we get a good selection of new and archive extras. On the new side of things, we get a commentary track from film critic/ author Alexandra West- this is a rewarding enough track, as she discusses how the film relates to other films in the cannibal genre, and the film's connection with the French extremity scene. Moving on to discuss the films shot set-up, characterisation, the film cast, the films themes, and Ducournau directing. She talks about how the film utilizes images of animals and how they relate to man, and much more.  Next, we get two new on-screen interviews- each of these runs at the fifteen-minute mark- ones with lead actress Garance Mariller, and the other is with the film's producer Jean Des Forets. Lastly on the new stuff we have a twelve-minute video essay with film critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.
Moving onto the archival side of things we have the following- a commentary track with director Ducournau & film critic Emma Westwood, which gives you a good insight into both the films making and what Ducournau was trying to get across. We have a forty-eight minute TV interview with Ducournau from French TV, a forty-minute Australian premiere Q &A, a few shorter featurettes, and deleted scenes/ alternative opening.  The finished release comes in a rigid slipcase, which features a perfect bound booklet featuring a new essay and interview with the film's director, and three art cards.
 
With this release of Raw , Second Sight Films have put out a classy and thorough reissue of this distinctive take on the cannibal film genre- which is most certainly up to the label’s normal high standards. If you've yet to see Raw, this is most certainly the version you need to pick up!