It’s been five years since Julia Ducournau’s Raw was released. In that time the film has become a firm entry on lists exploring the best genre films of the new millennium, and deservedly so. Ducournau herself has gone on to win the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2021 with Titane, the follow-up to Raw. Initially only granted a Blu-ray release in HMV, Second Sight acquired the title and last year released one of their trademark indulgent disc sets. For those lacking the funds (or shelf space) for the definitive edition, Second Sight has just released a standard edition.
This new disc might be missing the art cards and booklet of essays, but it retains all the exclusive content. Featured on the disc are a wealth of in-depth interviews with talent including lead Garance Marillier, producer Jean des Forets, and director Julia Ducournau. Also present are a couple of new commentaries that open up new ideas about the film and offer tons of insight. Then there’s the wonderfully eloquent analysis by film critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas. Each specially curated bonus feature adds value and makes this the ideal companion for those with a passion for both the world of horror and filmmaking.
Upon Raw’s cinema release we awarded the film the full five stars. Nothing has changed in the last five years and so the rating remains. The story of veterinarian Justine (Garance Marillier) who develops a craving for human flesh after a hazing initiation goes awry remains as absorbing as ever. On the surface, Raw might sound like a film about a deranged cannibal, but it’s so much more. Justine is hungry for flesh, and the experience also awakens other desires within herself. A late bloomer, she suddenly finds herself on the brink of a sexual awakening amidst all the carnage. Working as a coming-of-age tale, Raw follows the formula of many horrors before and uses the genre to explore the rite of passage from girl to womanhood. The transition into adulthood for women is a bloody affair and so stories set within this environment always have the ability to strike a chord. Such films require talent both in front and behind the camera to work, and Raw has an abundance of it.
Garance Marillier is phenomenal here. Her performance commands and holds attention, which when you consider that she’s in practically every frame, is no small feat. Marillier’s performance is bold and brave, her interpretation of Justine’s journey aligns with Ducournau’s vision beautifully. Justine is pushed into some heavy scenes; these could have lost some of their potency in lesser talented hands. As it stands, these moments land with a violent impact and it’s easy to see why there were mass fainting during the first public screenings. Marillier is genuinely mesmerising, and when accompanied by the banging energetic score, helps induce an almost trance-like state.
Ducournau captures the wild, loud, exuberance of youth, almost embedding the young adult experience into the seams of the film. The director paces Raw perfectly and balances the coming-of-age aspects brilliantly with the darker, more bloody elements. Raw does a lot more than just throw a load of the red stuff around however; there are some pretty grisly moments, one involving waxing and fingers being the worst, but they are expertly handled. The risk of these scenes becoming overly gratuitous is avoided, and by tackling them in such a mature way, the few gore scenes still pack a punch.
A perfect excuse to rewatch an amazingly crafted film, Second Sight’s blu-ray is a loving and respectful rendition of a modern classic.
Raw
Summary
Ferocious and flawless, Raw grips you from the start and doesn’t let you go until the bitter end. Simply incredible.
Raw is available to own on Blu-ray via Second Sight now.
