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

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (October 2023): Criterion have transferred Nikyatu Jusu's Nanny to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "New 4K digital master, approved by director Nikyatu Jusu". The 1080P is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate and looks as flawless as you might expect a modern film HD presentation to appear on Blu-ray. Colors, contrast and effects are strong - rendered sublimely by the transfer.

NOTE: We have added 54 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) in the original English language. There are some notable separations - often with a dark, creepy, edge to them. Nanny has few aggressive moments that come through with impacting depth via the lossless. The music was credited to Polish composer Bartek Gliniak (author of soundtracks to over 30 films including many numerously awarded at international and national festivals) and Tanerélle (her first composing credit), sounding clean with consistent dialogue in the lossless transfer. There are also samplings of music performed by Sidney Esiri (as Dr. Sid), August Wahh, Sampha, Denitia, Sekouba Diabate, Yatta, Kondi Band, Sillaba Feat. Maher Cissoko and Andreas Unge, and Titose. Criterion offer optional English (yellow) subtitles for the Wolof language and optional English (SDH) for the English - on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

Criterion include a new 17-minuite program featuring Jusu, actors Anna Diop and Michelle Monaghan, and director of photography Rina Yang discussing the production and their contributions. Suicide by Sunlight is a 2019 a short film by Jusu, described as "Valentina, a day-walking Black vampire protected from the sun by her melanin, finds it difficult to suppress her bloodlust when a new woman is introduced to her estranged twin daughters. In a near future NYC, Black Vampires walk amongst us." Lastly is a trailer and the package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by critic Angelica Jade Bastién.

Nikyatu Jusu's Nanny is the writer-director's debut feature and achieves some sly genre-bending by incorporating stories of a displaced, exploited au pair immigrant woman, in New York City, while touching upon elements of a restrained psychological horror fueled by mysticism. The latter surfaces from separation anxiety, depression and folklore visions (with water a consistent theme) that infest her everyday existence. The titular character is played with emotional tension by Senegalese-American actress and model, Mame-Anna Diop. Nanny was the first horror film to ever win the Grand Jury Prize award at Sundance (2022.) The subtleties of motherhood's importance in Diop's 'Aisha' to bring her young son over while accepting the frustrations of attaining the American Dream - directly contrast the familial neglect by Amy (Michelle Monaghan) who places work and exploiting Western lifestyle trappings above time with her daughter. I was impressed with its multiple crossed story lines and shocking advancement into horror. Yes, that is 80-years young Leslie Uggams. Nikyatu Jusu's film on Criterion Blu-ray is absolutely recommended.

Gary Tooze