The Outcasts: Standard Edition – Deaf Crocodile (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Ireland/UK, 1982
Director: Robert Wynne-Simmons
Writer: Robert Wynne-Simmons
Cast: Mary Ryan, Mick Lally, Don Foley, Tom Jordan, Cyril Cusack, Brenda Scallon, Bairbre Ní Chaoimh, Máirtín Jaimsie, Brendan Ellis, Gillian Hackett, Hilary Reynolds, Donal O'Kelly, James Shanahan, Paul Bennett

Release Date: March 11th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 105 Minutes 50 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

""In the dark she felt the key turning in the latch and a voice spoke to her: open the door", whispers Maura (Mary Ryan), the odd, intense daughter of an impoverished rural family in early 1800s Ireland who is accused of witchcraft after she's seen consorting in the woods with a conjurer and fiddle player named Scarf Michael (Mick Lally). Her neighbors and even her own family become increasingly consumed by fear and superstition, as Maura starts to experience surreal, poetic flashes of her latent abilities." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "The Outcasts was shot on 16mm film stock and enlarged to 35mm for its original release. This digital restoration was created from 35mm sound and picture negatives preserved at the IFI Film Archive.

This 2K restoration has been created by the IFI Irish Film Archive through IFI's Digital Restoration Project funded by Screen Ireland/Fís Eireann. With support from the Association des Cinémathèques Européennes (ACE) and the EU Creative Europe MEDIA programme."

The Outcasts comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.7 GB

Feature: 26.5 GB

The source looks excellent; any imperfections have been cleaned up. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English with removable English SDH. The audio is in excellent shape; dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include Ultra-rare early 8mm short films by Robert Wynne-Simmons: L’Eredita di Diavolo – an eerie ghost story shot in a derelict mansion once owned by Percy and Mary Shelley (14 minutes 24 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono, no dialog), The Greatest All-Star Advertial of All Time - this madcap comic short features Charlton Heston, Michael Redgrave and Peter O'Toole (1 minute 27 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono, no dialog), Bomb Disposal - featuring a cameo by Sammy Davis Jr. (4 minutes 29 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono, no dialog), and The Scrolls - an ambitious early film has surreal overtones of 1960s series such as “The Prisoner” and “The Avengers” (25 minutes 19 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono, no dialog), a short film directed by Robert Wynne-Simmons titled The Judgement Of Albion – Prophecies of William Blake (26 minutes 20 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an interview with composer Steve Cooney, moderated by Dennis Bartok of Deaf Crocodile (48 minutes 14 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with director/screenwriter Robert Wynne-Simmons, moderated by Dennis Bartok (83 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a video essay by Rod Stoneman (28 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an insert with a URL that has a PDF for Rod Stoneman’s video essay.

Summary:

The Outcasts was written and directed by Robert Wynne-Simmons, who is most known for co-writing the screenplay for Blood on Satan's Claw.

The locals accuse a socially awkward woman living in a rural village of being a witch.

Set in Ireland in 1810, the narrative revolves around a woman named Maura who's bullied by the locals. Scarf Michael, a conjurer and fiddle player, befriends her, and her behavior becomes more erratic. Their relationship sparks rumors that she’s a witch after spending the night in a graveyard with Scarf Michael. When her life is put in danger by the locals who want to harm her because of the rumors, she summons Scarf Michael to protect her.

For his directorial debut, Robert Wynne-Simmons would return to subject matter he had earlier explored in Blood on Satan's Claw. Though there are areas where The Outcasts and Blood on Satan's Claw overlap thematically, the end result is two distinctive films about witchcraft. That said, The Outcasts is a supernatural melodrama that mixes Irish folklore with the poetry of W. B. Yeats.

All around, the cast is excellent, especially Mary Ryan’s portrayal of Maura. She does a phenomenal job capturing Maura’s naivety and her social awkwardness. For a first-time actress, she delivers a remarkable performance. The other performance of note is Mick Lally’s portrayal of the otherworldly Scarf Michael.

From a production standpoint, The Outcasts is a film that far exceeds expectations. The premise is superbly executed, and a well-crafted narrative does an exceptional job building to a very satisfying finale. Another area where The Outcasts excels is its visuals, which are overflowing with atmosphere. Also, The Outcasts take full advantage of the picturesque Ireland locations. Ultimately, The Outcasts is an extraordinary film that quickly draws you in and lingers in your mind.

The Outcasts gets a solid release from Deaf Crocodile that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and insightful extras; highly recommended.

Note: There is a deluxe release of The Outcasts that comes in a slipcase and a 60-page book with rare production artwork, an essay by Irish filmmaker Paul Duane (ALL YOU NEED IS DEATH), and an essay by film critic Walter Chaw (Film Freak Central).

Written by Michael Den Boer