Arrows Region FREE Blu-ray of The Possessed is from a "Brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative". This transfer is housed on a dual-layered Blu-ray with a high bitrate. It looks rich in grain and supports the film's cinematographic techniques including hazy, bleached and saturated flashbacks and many extreme close-ups. I saw a very few faint scratches and overall it looks fabulous - at Arrow's usual high standard with sublimely appointed contrast. It is in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio.

Arrow use linear PCM mono tracks (24-bit) for both Italian and English soundtracks. It is another fairly passive effort with few aggressive effects but a wonderful evocative score by Renzo Rossellini, the younger brother of director Roberto Rossellini. he is notable for work in The War Trilogy films Rome, Open City (1945), Paisan (1946) as well as other films like Viva L'Italia. There are both optional English and English (SDH) subtitles for different translations - see samples below - on this Region FREE Blu-ray.

I keep thinking how good certain commentaries when I am indulging in them - and then I hear one from Tim Lucas - and realize he is the most-prepared and best with subtle analysis, multiple connected-film references and a calm, settling voice in reflecting minute details of the production. His comments about The Possessed are no exception. A pure pleasure to listen to and a great addition to this package. We also get a 25-minute video appreciation on The Possessed by the cultural critic and academic Richard Dyer where he discusses how he first discovered it and details of its impressions on him. Lipstick Marks is a 12-minute interview with the film's makeup artist Giannetto De Rossi. Youth Memories is a 16-minute interview with the film's award-winning assistant art director Dante Ferretti. I found a lot in the 1/2 hour piece The Legacy of the Bazzoni Brothers which is an interview with actor/director Francesco Barilli, a close friend of Luigi and Camillo Bazzoni. Lastly are original trailers in Italian and English. The package itself has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sean Phillips and first-pressing purchasers get an illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Andreas Ehrenreich, Roberto Curti and original reviews.

"The Possessed" is a proto-giallo and has no obvious black-glove/sharp-knife conventions and typical tropes of the stylish genre - but it is a deeply probing mystery involving memory, romance and deceptions. I loved it and the impressive black and white cinematography via Arrow's luscious HD transfer presentation. The inclusion of commentary gives this Blu-ray even more essential value. Our highest recommendation! 

Gary Tooze