Second Sight Films, out now

A worried father attempts to uncover a controversial psychologist’s unconventional therapy techniques on his institutionalised wife, amidst a series of horrific murders that seem to be targeting those closest to him.

Writer/director David Cronenberg’s 1979 horror thriller was written in response to his acrimonious divorce – and one shudders to think just what he was going through if this is anything to go by.

Art Hindle is Frank Carveth, Samantha Eggar his troubled wife, and Oliver Reed an unusually nuanced Dr Carveth in this grim Canadian horror movie. It’s a slow build, set against a grim Toronto backdrop, the muted colours gaining added detail in this new 4K restoration approved by the director, presented in HDR with Dolby Vision.

This is Cronenberg and composer Howard Shore’s first collaboration (it’s now 17 movies), the soundtrack adding a sense of impending dread as the full extent of the body horror is unveiled.

There’s new audio commentaries by cult movie aficionados Martyn Conterio and Kat Ellinger, as well as one by William Beard. Other new material is a new interview with Shore and a video essay on rage in Cronenberg’s movies. Other features are ported across from Second Sight’s 2013 Blu-ray – interviews with actors Art Hindle, Robert Silverman and Cindy Hinds, executive producer Pierre David, and Cronenberg talking about his early films.

Verdict: Another grim and unsettling Cronenberg gem, this alternate take on Kramer Vs Kramer gets the Second Sight VIP treatment to good effect. 9/10

Nick Joy