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

ADDITION: Arrow Video Blu-ray (July 2020): Arrow Video have transferred Tomu Uchida's The Mad Fox to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand new restoration by Toei". There are minor inconsistencies with, what appears to be, a blocky softness in a few transitions. Generally the colors are the star of the 1080P with beautifully rich and deep, crimson, reds and bold yellows. Black levels are also excellent on the dual-layered transfer with a high bitrate. This is a unique-looking and beautiful film - showcased impressively by the HD presentation. 

NOTE: To see the 17 large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Arrow Video use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original Japanese language. The Mad Fox has few audio effects but a traditional, medieval Japanese, musical score by Chûji Kinoshita (The Human Condition, Twenty-Four Eyes) sounding authentically flat and suitably minimalist to support the era of the films. Arrow Video offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

Outside of a trailer and stills gallery the Arrow Video Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp (author of the Historical Dictionary of Japanese Cinema (Historical Dictionaries of Literature and the Arts). He expands upon the comments made regarding Tomu Uchida in his commentary of Arrow's Blu-ray of Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji. Here is talks about indirect connections with Mizoguchi, two of the four assistant directors of The Mad Fox, - one being Norifumi Suzuki director of Girl Boss Guerilla and Terrifying Girls' High School: Lynch Law Classroom. He also discusses the unique look of the film - it's lack of shadows, widescreen aesthetic etc., the low depth of field shots, he includes history (eruption of Mount Fuji), art, poetry, literature, the end of the 'classic era of Japanese cinema' as well as links to the forthcoming "Pink" era (Sharp is also the author of Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema.) It's filled with detail and he certainly knows his stuff. The package also has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matt Griffin and for the first pressings, an illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Ronald Cavaye and Hayley Scanlon. 

Heavily stylistic Tomu Uchida's The Mad Fox isn't for all tastes. It's austere, poetic look is visually very appealing and this does appear to be one of the last gasps of classical Japanese cinema. The story has mystic elements broaching topics of love, treachery, suspicion, folklore, fate, power, eroticism etc. and has an epic feel regarding its narrative. The Arrow Video Blu-ray provides us with a film rarely seen outside of retrospectives of festivals. I feel very fortunate to have seen Tomu Uchida's The Mad Fox and we give this a strong recommendation!

Gary Tooze