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

ADDITION: Criterion 4K UHD / Blu-ray (June 2025): Criterion has transferred William Friedkin's Sorcerer to 4K UHD and Blu-ray. It is cited as a "New 4K digital restoration, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack approved by director William Friedkin, and alternate original theatrical 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack". The 4K UHD package has "One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and two Blu-rays with the film and special features". In 2013, we reviewed Paramount Blu-ray of Sorcerer HERE.

While we are in possession of the 4K UHD disc, we cannot resolve the encode yet, and therefore, cannot obtain screen captures. We hope to add to this review at some point in the future. So, the below captures are from Criterion's 2025 1080P Blu-ray transfer.

Comparatively to the old Paramount 1080P (in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio,) the new 1.85:1 Criterion has a shade of teal, but detail and film textures are richer and more nuanced. There is also more information in the frame. The new transfers transform William Friedkin’s gritty vision into a visually arresting and tactile experience. The enhanced resolution reveals intricate details in the jungle’s dense foliage, the weathered trucks, and Roy Scheider’s expressive face, while the heavy, organic grain (particularly pronounced during rain-soaked scenes) lends an authentic, palpable quality that honors the film’s 1970s aesthetic. While I can't speak to the HD presentations' color accuracy, they are nuanced yet muted with deep blacks and bold highlights in the oil well fire sequences, though the overall palette remains understated, reflecting the film’s bleak tone. These features and the textures are more pronounced via the 2160P 4K UHD.

NOTE: We have added 60 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray and 4K UHD discs, Criterion uses a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track and 2.0 channel (24-bit) in the original English language. Sorcerer's sound design, featuring Tangerine Dream’s (The Keep, Thief, Risky Business) electronic score, is a groundbreaking element. The ambient, pulsating synths create an otherworldly atmosphere, contrasting with the film’s realism and heightening the sense of impending doom. Natural sounds (rain, creaking wood, engine roars) are meticulously layered, immersing the audience in the men’s ordeal. The pacing is deliberately slow with extended silences and real-time depictions of mechanical tasks, a choice that divided audiences but aligns with Friedkin’s intent to mirror the characters’ endurance. The Criterion surround tracks enhance these elements, preserving their auditory richness for a new generation, cementing Sorcerer’s legacy as a bold fusion of style and substance. Criterion offers optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray and Region FREE 4K UHD.

The extras for the Criterion 4K UHD package are relegated to the third disc (a second Blu-ray) that provides an exhaustive exploration of Sorcerer’s legacy, starting with Friedkin Uncut (2018), a 1-3/4 hour documentary by Francesco Zippel that features candid interviews (with Friedkin, Wes Anderson, Dario Argento, Samuel Blumenfeld, Ellen Burstyn, Francis Ford Coppola, Willem Dafoe, Caleb Deschanel, Gina Gershon, Walon Green, Philip Kaufman, Matthew McConaughey, Zubin Mehta, William Petersen, Michael Shannon, Quentin Tarantino, and Edgar Wright) and archival footage (of Thierry Frémaux, Walter Hill, Fritz Lang, Orson Welles, Mark Kermode, and Sherry Lansing,) offering insights into his work and reflecting on his career by colleagues and admirers sharing memories and praise. A new 1/2-hour conversation between filmmaker James Gray and critic Sean Fennessey delves into its cinematic context, while a 1-1/4 hour 2015 discussion between Friedkin and Nicolas Winding Refn (The Neon Demon) adds a lively, respectful exchange. Archival audio interviews with Green and editor Bud Smith, lasting over a 1/2-hour, sourced from Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan’s collection, provide historical depth, complemented by 6 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage that captures the on-set production. The Blu-ray and 4K UHD packages are rounded out with the original trailer and a liner notes essay by Justin Chang (FilmCraft: Editing.)

William Friedkin's Sorcerer unfolds as a slow-burn thriller, structured in two distinct halves that mirror the psychological and physical deterioration of its characters. The four protagonists are deeply flawed antiheroes, their back stories providing psychological depth while limiting traditional arcs. Jackie Scanlon (portrayed with brooding intensity by Scheider) evolves from a guilt-ridden fugitive to a reluctant leader, his survival instinct clashing with his moral decay. Victor Manzon’s stoic demeanor hides a crumbling facade. His French sophistication is eroded by the jungle’s brutality. Nilo (the sociopathic wildcard) embodies raw survivalism, while Kassem’s revolutionary zeal is tested by isolation, revealing a shared humanity beneath their differences. Their interactions are minimal, reflecting their mutual distrust, yet moments of camaraderie (such as sharing a cigarette during a breakdown) hint at a fleeting solidarity. Sorcerer’s production was a grueling endeavor, marked by logistical nightmares and Friedkin’s perfectionism. Filming in the jungles of the Dominican Republic and Ecuador exposed the crew to harsh conditions, including political instability and natural disasters, mirroring the film’s narrative chaos. Sorcerer is a flawed yet masterful work that showcases William Friedkin’s audacity and technical skill, transforming a classic premise into a visceral exploration of human endurance and existential dread. For contemporary audiences in 2025, Sorcerer stands as a testament to Friedkin’s uncompromising vision, deserving of its renewed acclaim. Criterion's Blu-ray and 4K UHD packages are exceptional, offering a definitive home viewing experience and bountiful supplements that justify its cult status. Very strongly recommended.

Gary Tooze