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

ADDITION: Cult Epics Blu-ray (July 2026): Cult Epics have transferred Wim Verstappen's "VD" to Blu-ray. It is on a dual-layered disc with a very high bitrate. VD was shot on 35mm color film in a standard theatrical format (original aspect ratio 1.37:1,) which gives it a somewhat boxed-in, classical framing that suits its soap-opera-like family intrigues while allowing for intimate close-ups and group compositions. This is a new 2K restoration and the image looks sharp and film-like, with natural color grading that balances the warm bourgeois interiors and cooler, harsher factory scenes. Grain is minor but reasonable and organic, while contrast and detail are strong and the unflinching slaughterhouse inserts remain cringe-worthy. Minor print damage has been cleaned up effectively, resulting in a vibrant, stable transfer that honors the 1970s 35mm source material and makes the film’s provocative visual juxtapositions hit harder. There are visible cue-blips (see samples below.)

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

On their Blu-ray, Cult Epics offer either a DTS-HD Master or linear PCM dual-mono tracks (both 16-bits) - both in the original Dutch language. The sound design is straightforward mono typical for Dutch productions of the era. Dialogue is clear and front-and-center, delivered in Dutch with a naturalistic style that mixes dramatic line readings with overlapping, soap-like conversations to convey family chaos. Sound effects (factory machinery, slaughterhouse ambiance, domestic scenes) ground the satire in realism, while the graphic animal sequences include stark, unromanticized audio that amplifies discomfort. Music comes from French composer Antoine Duhamel (Tintin and the Blue Oranges, The Cop, Frank and Eva, Truffaut's Mississippi Mermaid, Godard's Weekend.) His score provides elegant, slightly ironic orchestral and jazz-inflected undertones that comment on the characters’ pretensions - polished on the surface but laced with unease or cynicism. It elevates the melodrama without overpowering it, blending seamlessly with source music and diegetic sounds to maintain the film’s black-comedy tone. The soundtrack supports the film’s satirical edge, using restraint in quieter scenes and more pronounced cues during conflicts or revelations. Both lossless tracks sound elegant and intact within the mono limitations, supporting the film’s satirical tone without distortion. It’s a faithful, no-frills presentation that suits the era and production. Cult Epics offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE-locked Blu-ray.

The Cult Epics Blu-ray extras package is thoughtfully curated to deepen appreciation of the film. Included is a thoughtful audio commentary by film historian Peter Verstraten (Humour and Irony in Dutch Post-War Fiction Film,) offering context on the production, themes, and Verstappen’s career. Festival of Love runs over 1/2 hour from 1969 - it's a short film by Verstappen that provides valuable insight into his early style. Also available is a photo gallery, Scorpio Films trailers (including a dedicated VD trailer and others for Dakota, Wan Pipel, Frank & Eva, My Nights With Susan, Sandra, Olga & Julie, Obsessions, Blue Movie, and Pastorale 1943), and new artwork by Juan Estaban R. The reversible sleeve (original Dutch poster on one side - see below) and slipcase add nice collectible value.

Wim Verstappen's "VD" was produced by Pim de la Parra under their Scorpio Films banner. Released in December 1972, it followed the massive success (and scandal) of Blue Movie (1971,) which featured explicit sex scenes and helped dismantle adult film censorship in the Netherlands. While VD did not match its predecessor’s box-office numbers, it represents a more ambitious, structurally complex work in Verstappen’s 1970s output. VD is a scathing satire on Dutch bourgeois hypocrisy, capitalism, and the sexual revolution of the 1970s. Verstappen and co-writers skewer the ruling class - portraying them as morally bankrupt while profiting from both carnal desires (via the pill) and literal flesh (via the slaughterhouse). The film suggests that “progress” in areas like contraception and commerce often masks deeper societal decay, exploitation, and emotional emptiness. The graphic slaughter scenes serve as a visceral reminder that wealth built on consumption (of bodies, animals, or people) is inherently brutal. The film anticipates later primetime soaps like Dallas or Dynasty, portraying the family unit as a cutthroat business entity. Its deadpan humor, cynical tone, and provocation (incest, graphic violence, promiscuity) made it one of the more controversial Dutch films of its era, though less sensational than Blue Movie. In summation, Cult Epic's Blu-ray is a strong, fan-friendly release that does justice to a bold, underseen title in Verstappen’s filmography. The restoration elevates the visuals, the extras provide excellent context, and the packaging is appealing. Highly recommended for admirers of 1970s Dutch cinema, cult films, or the “Pim & Wim” era. It’s a worthy companion to Cult Epics’ other Scorpio restorations. 

Gary Tooze