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

ADDITION: Radiance Blu-ray (May 2025): Radiance have transferred Claude Faraldo's Themroc to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "4K Restoration from the original negative by StudioCanal". It's a film that uses its raw, unpolished aesthetic to underscore its themes of primal liberation and societal critique. Shot on a low budget in the gritty urban landscape of Paris, the film’s visual style - crafted by Faraldo and cinematographer Jean-Marc Ripert (The Cop, America as Seen by a Frenchman, Viva la muerte) - blends documentary-like realism with surreal, anarchic imagery, reflecting the protagonist’s descent into a Neanderthal-like existence. The 1080P image is thick and heavy without crisp detail. The Blu-ray transfer is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. The film frequently employs handheld camera techniques, giving it a documentary-like immediacy that mirrors the gritty realism of post-May 1968 French cinema. Faraldo and Ripert use close-ups to emphasize Themroc’s (Michel Piccoli) emotional intensity, capturing every grunt, howl, and wild expression as he transitions from a repressed worker to a primal figure. The cold, desaturated tones of the early scenes represent societal oppression, while the warm, fiery hues of the later scenes signify liberation and primal energy If you want a sharp, tight HD presentation - this ain't it although it does seem consistent and probably accurately reflects the film's original production.

NOTE: We have added 42 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Radiance use a linear PCM dual-mono track (24-bit) - however there is no  intelligible dialogue used in the film. However, the sound design of Themroc is a radical and integral component of its avant-garde identity, using an unconventional auditory approach to amplify its themes of primal liberation and societal critique. With no intelligible dialogue, the film relies on a combination of nonsensical vocalizations, raw sound effects, and sparse music to create a chaotic, immersive soundscape that mirrors Themroc’s rejection of modern civilization. The auditory elements - described by critic Michel Chion as utilizing "grommelot" - work in tandem with the film’s visuals to evoke a primal, anarchic atmosphere while challenging the conventions of language and communication. There are exaggerated everyday sounds that highlight the dehumanizing nature of modern society. The clatter of dishes during his mechanical breakfast, the screech of train brakes during his commute, and the hum of industrial machinery at the factory create a cacophony of urban noise that feels oppressive. The music in Themroc, composed by Harald Maury (his only film credit composition but was in the Sound Dept. for Werner Herzog's Nosferatu the Vampyre and Luc Besson's Subway,) is used sparingly but effectively, complementing the film’s chaotic energy. Maury's score incorporates elements of free jazz, a genre known for its rejection of traditional musical structures, which aligns perfectly with the film’s anarchist themes. One can hear discordant, improvisational tones - saxophone wails, erratic drumbeats, and atonal piano chords. The uncompressed mono PCM audio track delivers a clear and immersive experience, capturing the film’s barrage of sounds - vocalizations, effects, and music - with authenticity and intensity. Radiance offer optional English subtitles (see sample of door sign below) on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Radiance Blu-ray offer a curated and concise but also impactful selection of extras, totaling just over an hour, that provide historical context, critical analysis, and additional material for fans of Themroc and avant-garde cinema. There is a 23-minute interview with critic and filmmaker David Thompson who delves into Themroc’s release, its controversies, and its significance as a cult classic. Thompson discusses the film’s provocative elements - incest, cannibalism, and nudity - and its place within the post-May 1968 countercultural movement. He also addresses the controversy surrounding one of the film’s posters, which sparked debate due to its explicit imagery, and Themroc’s role as the first film aired in Channel 4’s Red Triangle series in 1986, a UK initiative to broadcast controversial films with an adults-only warning symbol. Additionally, Thompson explores Faraldo’s career, the film’s anarchic vision, and its lasting impact on experimental cinema. Included is an 18-minute archival TV interview, filmed in 1973 shortly after Themroc’s release, features Michel Piccoli and Claude Faraldo surrounded by an audience following a screening. The interview captures raw audience reactions, with attendees expressing a mix of shock, wonder, and fascination at the film’s content, particularly its lack of intelligible dialogue, explicit themes, and anarchic tone. Piccoli and Faraldo discuss key scenes, such as the apartment destruction and the communal roasting sequence, and explain their decision to use grommelot - a theatrical style of nonsensical speech involving grunts and howls - instead of traditional dialogue. They also likely reflect on the film’s themes of societal rejection, primal liberation, and its critique of modern life. Lastly is a 23-minute interview with film critic Manuela Lazic who examines Michel Piccoli’s career, focusing on his role in Themroc. Lazic covers Piccoli’s family background, his training as an actor, and his distinctive qualities - his looks, voice, and gravitas - that made him a leading figure in French cinema. She discusses his key roles in films by directors like Luis Buñuel (Belle de Jour), Jean-Luc Godard (Contempt), and others, situating his performance as Themroc within his broader oeuvre. Also included is a gallery that features a collection of  posters / promotional images for the film. The package has a booklet that includes new writing by Alison Smith, a noted scholar of French cinema and author of French Cinema in the 1970s: The Echoes of May. Smith’s expertise ensures a thoughtful and well-researched essay, making the booklet a worthwhile companion to the film.

Claude Faraldo's Themroc is a provocative, avant-garde French film that defies conventional cinematic norms to deliver a scathing critique of modern society. Starring Michel Piccoli as the titular character, the film operates in the realm of absurdist comedy and anarchist satire, using its unconventional structure, lack of intelligible dialogue, and transgressive themes to challenge societal constructs. The Radiance Films Blu-ray release of Themroc offers an HD presentation of Claude Faraldo’s provocative satire, from a 4K restoration from the original negative by StudioCanal, and it includes a thoughtful array of extras. Not to all tastes but for fans of avant-garde cinema, French countercultural films, or Michel Piccoli’s daring performances, this is the definitive release that honors Themroc’s radical vision, introducing this boundary-pushing film to a new audience while celebrating its historical significance with care and reverence. To a select crowd - this is warmly recommended.

Gary Tooze