First there was the reduction of available discs to rent via services like Netflix, then streaming rights for entertainment jumped from one streamer to another. To make matters even harder for consumers, some services straight up started deleting their films and series, never to be seen again, only for Netflix to announce they’re cancelling disc rentals September 2023. In these days of always-on, always-available entertainment, what are people to do to watch the things they love? This is where physical distributors and boutiques like Cult Epics come in. Specifically in the case of Cult Epics, this is where cinephiles can go to get niche content centered on controversial art films. In April 2023, Cult Epics released a limited edition two-disc Blu-ray of writer/director Martin Koolhoven’s AmnesiA (2001), a psychological thriller starring Fedja van Huêt (Speak No Evil) in a dual role and Carice van Houten (Game of Thrones). With its carefully designed slipcover, 4K HD transfer, and collection of bonus materials, those looking to get a little weird with Koolhoven’s dark comedy can do that and a little more.
Fedja van Huêt as Alex in aMNESIa. Photo courtesy of Cult Epics.
Photographer Alex (van Huêt) receives a call from his estranged twin brother Aram (also, van Huêt) saying he has to go away for a few days and needs Alex to come home to take care of their ailing mother (Sacha Bulthuis). Knowing she’s been a hypochondriac for years, Alex is hesitant but eventually relents, packing his things and leaving in the night. Just as he’s about to fall asleep while driving, he’s awoken by the sound of a stranger’s voice, Sandra (van Houten), from the backseat. After a chat, the pair continue on to his childhood home, her being his only connection to the outside world and possibly the only way he gets to return.
Fedja van Huêt as Alex in aMNESIa. Photo courtesy of Cult Epics.
As this is a restoration release, let’s start there: this looks incredible, especially when compared against footage from the prior release. Thanks to the 44-minute conversation between Koolhoven and van Houten, viewers can see the old footage, the darkness of the image, the heavier than normal grain, a very lo-fi quality overall. By comparison, the 4K HD restoration could be a modern film stylized like a thriller from the early Aughts, which is an absolute compliment. Though there’s no information included with either the press materials or the release itself to indicate the process for conducting or approving the restoration (outside of it coming from the original camera negative), this is superb work all around. Adding to that, there’s not only feature-length commentary from Koolhoven and van Huet moderated by author Peter Verstraten, there’s a 38-minute featurette “The Making of AmnesiA,” the aforementioned 44-minute conversation, a brief behind-the-scenes video featuring van Houten talking about a scene in the film that was inspired by a joke, and a theatrical trailer, so the total on-disc package for the Blu-ray will make any fan of the film excited to dig a little deeper.
If you’re able to get ahold of the limited edition two-disc Blu-ray, the second disc includes Koolhoven’s prior two films Dark Light (1997) and Suzy Q (1999), the more recent of the two also featuring van Houten. In addition to the extra Koolhoven films, there’s a slipcover with a special design from artist Peter Strain that utilizes the resonant imagery from the film, combining Alex’s camera lens, the twins in profile on opposite sides of the lens, a figure seemingly lying prone in the lens itself, all the while flames flicker at the top. It’s an evocative image pulling together several ideas of the film in a much more intriguing way than the art of the liner notes which is just a replication of the original film poster. As a neat choice, with the disc case being clear plastic, the reverse side of the liner presents the posters for the additional two films on the respective sides where the discs sit.
In short, existing fans of AmnesiA will find little to complain about and much to explore.
The aMNESIa. limited edition two-disc Blu-ray bundle. Photo courtesy of Cult Epics.
My reaction, however, is a bit more tempered. There’s an interesting exploration of memory and the way that trauma fails to heal without work being done to confront it. In this case, Alex’s refusal to return home over an unclear period implies that he’s been running away from something. His brother, Aram, on the other hand, seems tethered to the place, unable to let go without his brother there to help. The fact that they are twins adds depth to this notion, given that this is the battle that those who don’t deal with their pain find themselves struggling with: addressing it is too hard, avoiding it only make it worse. Through the conversation between Koolhoven and van Houten we learn that Alex and Aram were always brothers, but not always twins; that is, until van Huêt auditioned and Koolhoven couldn’t see the characters played by anyone else. The personalities are quite different and they dress specifically in opposition, so the challenge is more for the performer to keep them separate rather than on the audience. Especially as the audience is shown more and more via flashback about what exactly occurred that’s kept these boys almost frozen in the past, their individuality becomes more important. However, the execution of the rest of the story doesn’t always flow in a way that keeps the audience on the same page.
L-R: Fedja van Huêt as Aram and Carice van Houten as Sandra in aMNESIa. Photo courtesy of Cult Epics.
The film is a psychological thriller with this big traumatic mystery, but it’s also a dark comedy with elements of heightened reality, such as a character who is very clearly bleeding out and no one makes a big fuss over his refusal to go to a hospital or call a doctor, or, in the case of van Houten’s Sandra, experiencing an epileptic fit and all those near her do is stare as she convulses. Perhaps this is meant to convey the characters’ disassociation from reality, but it makes little sense in the grand scheme of the story. Heck, Sandra only seems to exist within the story as the means for exposition to occur as an audience surrogate except (a) we’re following Alex at the start and the end and (b) the reasoning for her even being in Alex’s car is avoided from the jump. It’s just accepted that she’s there, she has no problem going to this stranger’s home, and almost immediately hops into bed with him. This isn’t an erotic thriller by any means, but at least those possess a certain internal logic that creates explanations for the characters. Coupled together with the climax of the film itself, it’s difficult to say what it is about memory that Koolhoven is seeking to claim. A frustration to say the least.
Carice van Houten as Sandra in aMNESIa. Photo courtesy of Cult Epics.
Not every film is going to connect with every audience member and it’s a bummer when that happens. However, as a restoration, there’s little to complain about or point at that would cause me not to recommend this to those who are interested. I’d rather recommend a film I don’t like that’s constructed of good quality than a film of a poor one. No one wins with a poor quality home release, whereas there’s an opportunity to explore, examine, and grow with a solid restoration of an older film. It may not be for me, but this is a Cult Epics release art film fans may enjoy nonetheless.
AmnesiA Blu-ray Special Features:
- New Slipcase Art by Peter Strain
- Double-sided Sleeve with Original Bonus Film Posters
- Dual-layered Discs
DISC 1: AmnesiA (2001)
- 4K HD Transfer (from the original camera negative) and Restoration
- Optional Introduction by Martin Koolhoven
- Audio Commentary by Martin Koolhoven, Fedja van Huet, moderated by Peter Verstraten
- A Conversation with Martin Koolhoven & Carice van Houten (2022) (44 Mins)
- The Making of AmnesiA (2001) (38 mins)
- Behind-the-Scenes with Carice van Houten (2001) (1 Min)
- Theatrical Trailer
DISC 2: (Ltd. Edition) Bonus TV films by Martin Koolhoven
- Suzy Q (1999) 85 mins
- Dark Light (Duister Licht) (1997) 55 mins
- Trailers
AmnesiA DVD Special Features:
- 4K HD Transfer (from the original camera negative) and Restoration
- Optional Introduction by Martin Koolhoven
- Audio Commentary by Martin Koolhoven, Fedja van Huet, moderated by Peter Verstraten
- A Conversation with Martin Koolhoven & Carice van Houten (2022) (44 Mins)
- The Making of AmnesiA (2001) (38 mins)
- Behind-the-Scenes with Carice van Houten (2001) (1 Min)
- Theatrical Trailer
- Dual-layered Disc
Available on limited edition 2-disc Blu-ray and DVD April 11th, 2023.
For more information, head to the official Cult Epics AmnesiA webpage.
To purchase, head to the official MVD Entertainment Group AmnesiA webpage.
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Categories: Home Release, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews
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