Delicatessan 4K Ultra HD Review

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

A Cinematic Revolution: The Impact of Delicatessen

In 1991, the French filmmaking duo Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet forever altered the landscape of French cinema. Their debut feature, Delicatessen, shattered conventional storytelling, shifting creative control away from traditional auteurs and opening new possibilities for European filmmakers. Overflowing with surrealistic dark humor, grotesque imagery, and a grimly inventive vision of humanity’s future, the film was nothing short of a revelation. Its bold visual style and macabre wit set a new standard for genre-blending cinema, influencing countless films that followed. 

A Post-Apocalyptic World of Desperation and Dark Comedy

Set in an ambiguous, crumbling post-apocalyptic future, Delicatessen unfolds in a dilapidated apartment building where food is scarce, grain serves as currency, and meat is an unaffordable luxury—unless you’re willing to pay the butcher’s sinister price. The film follows Louison (Dominique Pinon), a former circus clown who takes a job as a handyman for Clapet (Jean-Claude Dreyfus), the building’s butcher and de facto landlord. Unbeknownst to Louison, Clapet lures desperate job seekers through newspaper ads, only to butcher them and sell their flesh to the starving tenants. Meanwhile, Louison falls for Clapet’s nearsighted daughter, Julie (Marie-Laure Dougnac), complicating his already precarious situation. 

Beneath the building, a rebel faction known as the Troglodistes — a group of militant vegetarians—plot an uprising against the carnivorous oppressors above. Their underground resistance adds another layer of absurdity and tension to the film’s already bizarre world. 

A Masterclass in Surrealism and Dark Humor

Delicatessen is a masterful blend of horror, comedy, and surrealism. Jeunet and Caro craft a world where every frame is packed with eccentric details—from the rhythmic squeaking of bedsprings synchronized with a cello to the grotesque yet hilarious ways characters meet their fates. The film’s visual inventiveness extends to its exaggerated color palette and claustrophobic set design, reinforcing the absurdity and desperation of its characters. 

The humor is pitch-black, finding comedy in the most disturbing scenarios. Whether it’s a failed suicide attempt turned into a romantic encounter or the tenants’ obliviousness to the source of their meals, the film balances horror and hilarity with impeccable timing. 

Unforgettable Characters and Performances 

Dominique Pinon delivers a standout performance as Louison, bringing both pathos and physical comedy to his role as the unwitting hero. Jean-Claude Dreyfus is chilling yet darkly amusing as the pragmatic butcher Clapet, while Marie-Laure Dougnac’s Julie provides a touch of sweetness amidst the carnage. The supporting cast—each tenant more eccentric than the last—adds to the film’s chaotic charm, creating a microcosm of human folly and survival instincts. 

Legacy and Influence on Modern Cinema

Delicatessen remains a landmark in French cinema, paving the way for Jeunet’s later works (Amélie, The City of Lost Children) and inspiring a wave of visually daring, genre-defying films. Its mix of dystopian satire, slapstick, and grotesque fantasy continues to resonate, proving that even in the bleakest of worlds, creativity and dark humor can thrive. 

Final Verdict: One of the Boldest Films Ever Made

Delicatessen is not just a film—it’s an experience. Unsettling, hilarious, and visually stunning, it defies easy categorization. For those who appreciate audacious storytelling, surreal imagery, and comedy that borders on the horrific, this is essential viewing. Few films dare to be this strange, and even fewer succeed so brilliantly. 

The Video

Delicatessen is now restored in 4K from the original camera negative by StudioCanal under the supervision of Jeunet to meet the creative wishes of cinematographer Darius Khondji. On the film’s first release, the 35mm interpositive was given a specific photochemical treatment. For this restoration the original negative was worked with directly and digital tools were used for the color grading, contrast, and, for what they list as “harmonize” the grain. The result of this is a transfer to 4K Ultra HD in a 1.85:1 HEVC 2160p (4K UHD) Dolby Vision encodement that looks true to how the film has looked in the past, but slightly cleaner. I did notice some mosquito noise in places probably as a result as this attenuation of grain and the rather low bitrate (it barely cracks 70Mbps on this release). Where this disc really stands out is in the gorgeous Dolby Vision grading that has the colors and highlights in hyper-realistic world really standing out. The greens and teals, the reds and rusts, the blacks and golds, all pop on this release. The HDR10 metadata shows a MaxLL of 10000 nits and a MaxFALL of 310 nits.

The Audio

Delicatessen was originally released with a Dolby Stereo soundtrack in theaters. The 2010 StudioCanal Blu-ray release in the UK and the Lionsgate StudioCanal Collection in the US had lossless stereo mixes. This release from Severin maintains that stereo mix in French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and adds a French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix.  

The 5.1 mix is more atmospheric than aggressive, but it does contain instances where sounds are panned significantly to the left or right, such as a voice or a foley effect. Additionally, it effectively fills the soundfield with elements like rain or the noise of squeaky bedsprings.

The French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo mix delivers clean dialogue and good dynamics with a pleasant spread of sounds. While it could be slightly fuller, it offers overall warmth and ambience.

The Supplements

I received the standard, 2-disc release of Delicatessen from Severin for review, so there is no slipcover, no booklet, and no third disc with bonus features like the limited edition webstore exclusive release from Severin.  There are still some good extras packed in, including three interviews and an audio commentary (in French) with the directors.

Bonus Features:

• Audio Commentary with co-director Jean-Pierre Jeunet
• Trailer (1080p; 00:02:17)

Blu-ray Only Bonus Features:

• Interview with Co-Directors Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro (1080p; 00:26:09)
• Fine Cooked Meats: The Making of Delicatessen (720p; 00:14:05)
• Copains Comme Cochons: Interview with Co-Director Marc Caro (1080i; 00:41:52)
• The Tale of ‘Terry Gilliam Presents Delicatessen’ Interview with Terry Gilliam (1080p; 00:17:32)

The Final Assessment

Delicatessen is a French dark comedy that is clever, well-scripted, and marvelously directed, but it may not appeal to everyone. It looks better here than it ever has but still suffers from some minor visual problems. Despite the minor issues, I highly recommend this release.

Delicatessen is out on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray March 25, 2025 from Severin Films

• Rating Certificate: R (for violence)
• Studios & Distributors: Constellation | Union Générale Cinématographique | Hachette Première | Sofinergie Films | Investimage | Fondation GAN pour le Cinéma | Victoires Productions | StudioCanal | Severin Films
• Directors: Marc Caro | Jean-Pierre Jeunet
• Written By: Jean-Pierre Jeunet | Marc Caro | Gilles Adrien
• Run Time: 100 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
• HDR Format: Dolby Vision (HDR10 Compatible)
• HDR10 Metadata:
• MaxLL: 10000 nits
• MaxFALL: 310 nits
• Primary Audio: French DTS-HD MA 5.1
• Secondary Audio: French DTS-HD MA 2.0 Stereo
• Subtitles: English