NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Synapse Films Blu-ray (August 2023): Synapse Films have transferred Adrian Garcia Bogliano's Black Circle to Blu-ray. It is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. The film has sequences that intentionally looks older / decayed / with speckles etc. It looks about as flawless as you might expect for a modern film (5 years still counts.) Black levels are quite pronounced. Certain scenes are dampened and there are cinematographic and optical effects employed in the film that come through, presumably, very accurately. I had no issues at all with my viewing and Black Circle has many interesting visual moments. 

NOTE: We have added 48 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Synapse Films use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) in the original Swedish language. Black Circle has audio effects and some deft separations although depth would be modest. Certainly this adds atmosphere. The score was by Rickard Gramfors (his only film composure credit, although he is also a producer, actor etc.) and is available on a second disc CD included in the package. The music has a rhythmically hypnotic quality very suitable to the film's creepy pauses and introspective moods. Synapse Films offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Synapse Films Blu-ray offers a new commentary by the director / writer / editor Adrian Garcia Bogliano. His English is very good. He discusses the opening credits and not having the text of the title anywhere, his lack of 'fun' in High School but was always interested in psychology and his idea of a film about hypnosis. He talks about elements in the background of scenes - water etc. the staging, mise en scène, odes to classic Swedish cinema and other specific details in shooting the film. I found it interesting and informative. Don’t Open Your Eyes (Öppna inte ögonen) is a short film from 2017 directed by Adrian Garcia Bogliano + Andrea Quiroz starring Felice Jankell, Christina Lindberg and Erica Midfjäll. It appears to be the initial treatise for "Black Circle". Included is a lengthy (hour-long) interview with Adrian Garcia Bogliano and Christina Lindberg where they converse about her career. It is in English. Inside Black Circle is a 9-minute behind-the-scenes featurette, there is an original teaser trailer and a stills gallery. The package offers a second disc of the soundtrack included here on Compact Disc.

I really liked the concept behind Adrian Garcia Bogliano's Black Circle; a hypnotic, arcane, LP from the 70's, two sisters, doppelgangers, seeking 'success' and cult actress Christina Lindberg back on the screen. There is a heavy paranoia built up with lurking evil and while looking very Indie, I think Bogliano shows some auteur chops if he's largely misunderstood by critics. I appreciated its imperfections - I see where the filmmakers were boldly going with this - and I enjoyed the subtle hints like the t-shirt that reads; "It's only a movie" four times in a row. Synapse Films have done a great job with their Blu-ray package - a unique, interesting festival / genre film with plentiful extras from a director commentary to a second disc CD of the score. I can see certain cinema fans embracing this one.

Gary Tooze