Fear and Desire – Kino Lorber (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1953
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Writer: Howard Sackler
Cast: Frank Silvera, Kenneth Harp, Paul Mazursky, Stephen Coit, Virginia Leith, David Allen, Toba Kubrick

Release Date: February 26th, 2024
Approximate Running Times: 70 Minutes 19 Seconds (Premiere Cut), 60 Minutes 56 Seconds (Theatrical Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10 (4K UHD - Both Versions), 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Blu-ray - Both Versions)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English (Both Versions)
Subtitles: English SDH (Both Versions)
Region Coding: Region Free (UHD), Region A (Blu-Ray)
Retail Price: $39.95

"In this existential drama—which has the feeling of a waking dream rather than a conventional war film—four soldiers return to their senses after crash-landing in a forest behind enemy lines. Blindly navigating their way back to their unit, they attack an isolated cabin occupied by enemy soldiers, then apprehend a peasant woman who is tormented by the deranged young soldier assigned to guard her. On the verge of freedom, they discover an outpost of enemy officers, and must decide whether to slip silently past or stage a violent confrontation with their doppelgängers." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5 (4K UHD), 3.5/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand New HDR/Dolby Vision Masters for Both Cuts of Fear and Desire – 4K Restorations from the 35mm Camera Negative and Fine Grain."

Fear and Desire comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 92 GB

Feature: 40.9 GB (Premiere Cut), 26.7 GB (Theatrical Cut)

There are still some instances of source damage that remain, though the source has been cleaned up. When compared to Kino Lorber’s 2012 Blu-ray, this new transfer is a substantial improvement when it comes to image clarity, contrast, and black levels. Unfortunately, there are compression artifacts that make any of the improvements a bigger letdown.

Fear and Desire comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.4 GB

Feature: 17.4 GB (Premiere Cut), 16.4 GB (Theatrical Cut)

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Audio: 4.25/5

Both versions come with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English with removable English SDH. Both audio tracks are in good shape. Dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced, and range-wise, they are satisfactory.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include an audio commentary with film historian Eddy Von Mueller for the premiere cut, an audio commentary with film historian and screenwriter Gary Gerani for the theatrical cut, and three short films directed by Stanley Kubrick: Flying Padre (8 minutes 37 seconds, 1.37:1 aspect ratio, DTS-HD mono English with removable English SDH), Day of the Fight (16 minutes 18 seconds, 1.37:1 aspect ratio, DTS-HD mono English with removable English SDH), and The Seafarers (28 minutes 43 seconds, 1.37:1 aspect ratio, DTS-HD mono English with removable English SDH).

Here’s the information provided about Flying Padre's transfer, “4K restoration from the original 35mm print.”

Here’s the information provided about Day of the Fight's transfer, “4K restoration from the original 35mm print.”

Here’s the information provided about The Seafarers transfer, “4K restoration from the 16mm A/B camera negatives and a 16mm print.”

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include theatrical trailers for Killer’s Kiss (1 minute 48 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), The Killing (1 minute 49 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), and Paths of Glory (3 minutes 3 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), 2012 re-release theatrical trailer for Fear and Desire (1 minute 26 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), 2023 re-release theatrical trailer for Fear and Desire (1 minute 18 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Eddy Von Mueller for the premiere cut, an audio commentary with Gary Gerani for the theatrical cut, and three short films directed by Stanley Kubrick: Flying Padre (8 minutes 37 seconds, 1.37:1 aspect ratio, DTS-HD mono English with removable English SDH), Day of the Fight (16 minutes 18 seconds, 1.37:1 aspect ratio, DTS-HD mono English with removable English SDH), and The Seafarers (28 minutes 43 seconds, 1.37:1 aspect ratio, DTS-HD mono English with removable English SDH).

Other extras include reversible cover art and a limited-edition slipcover.

Summary:

After their plane crashes, soldiers search for an escape from enemy territory.

Is it interesting to finally see Fear and Desire after all of these years? It is a film that does not have a good reputation and was directed by Stanley Kubrick, whom many consider the best director ever. The film had a brief run before it quickly disappeared, and Stanley Kubrick disowned the film, calling it the work of an amateur. Needless to say, all of these negatives that I have heard about Fear and Desire have never decreased my interest in seeing it.

In his first feature film, Stanley Kubrick tackled the subject of war, a theme that he would return to in films like Paths of Glory and Full Metal Jacket. Where those two films take place in wars that are clearly defined, in Fear and Desire, the war takes place in an unnamed country, and the identities of the combatants are not revealed. Also, just like those aforementioned films, Fear and Desire explores the effects that war has on those who partake in it.

Though it is easy to disparage a film like Fear and Desire, which undeniably has its faults, There are far worse low-budget films that were made in the 1950s that have attained cult status. Also, if Fear and Desire had been directed by anyone but Stanley Kubrick, or more importantly, by a no-name director who only made a few low-budget films, it would be held in a higher regard.

Even at this early stage of his career, Stanley Kubrick is already establishing traits that he will employ throughout his career. Notably, the way he composes a frame and voice-over narration. The most striking moments all have to do with death. The most memorable scene was between a woman and the soldiers who captured her. This scene, in which the characters have a language barrier, is incredibly effective.

Fear and Desire has two people who would work with Stanley Kubrick on other films. Frank Silvera (Killers Kiss) plays the role of Sergeant Mac, a hot-headed character who clashes with his superior officer. Other notable cast members are Paul Mazursky (Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice), who would go on to become a filmmaker in his own right, and Virginia Leith, who is most known for The Brain That Wouldn't Die. Composer Gerald Fried would work with Stanley Kubrick on Days of the Fight, Killers Kiss, The Killing, and Paths of Glory.

Despite its short running time, Fear and Desire feels much longer than it is. And though the theatrical version tightens things up, it still suffers from lethargic pacing. That said, Fear and Desire is Stanley Kubrick’s worst film, and yet it is still better than a lot of directors' best films.

Kino Lorber gives Fear and Desire a solid release, highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a VLC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer