A William Friedkin masterpiece makes a gorgeous 4K UHD debut in the Criterion Collection.
The Production: 5/5
Within a supplemental documentary for this release of Sorcerer, director William Friedkin states, unequivocally, that this 1977 film — a loose modernization of Georges Arnaud’s 1950 novel The Wages of Fear — is the one for which he most wants to be remembered. Coming from the man who oversaw his fair share of masterfully made films (The French Connection; The Exorcist; Cruising; To Live and Die in L.A.; Bug), it’s a striking statement, particularly when considering just how fraught its reception was upon release, and how Friedkin, who died in 2023, didn’t really come to grips with what he’d made until many years later.
Still, watching Sorcerer, it’s easy to understand why, of all his films, Friedkin would single out this hypnotic, existentially fraught and nerve-shredding opus as his finest hour. In plunging four morally dubious protagonists in the depths of the unforgiving jungle, tasked with driving two truckloads of nitroglycerine 200 miles across unpredictable, unforgiving terrain, Friedkin made a politically charged thriller which only grows more relevant and harrowing with each passing year. Overshadowed upon its release by escapist blockbuster Star Wars, Sorcerer has emerged as one of the best films of the 1970s, and an extraordinary piece of cinema.
Sorcerer, which Friedkin co-wrote with Walon Green, was the first theatrical film Friedkin made following the Oscar-winning, blockbuster success that was 1973’s The Exorcist. He retained his fondness for infusing a ficitional narrative with documentary-like elements, as evidenced by the opening half-hour of Sorcerer, which tracks four, seemingly unrelated characters in brief sequences. There’s Nilo (Francisco Cabal), a dapper Veracruz assassin; Kassem (Amidou), a Palestinian terrorist who orchestrates a Jerusalem bombing; Victor Manzon (Bruno Cremer), a Parisian financier facing fraud charges, and Scanlon (Roy Scheider), a mid-level Irish mafioso in Elizabeth, New Jersey, who goes on the lam after a church robbery goes bloodily awry.
All four men land in the fictional Central American village of Porvenir (filmed in the Dominican Republic), a place of dire poverty and soul-crushing manual labor. Porvenir is dominated by a nameless American oil company, which soon finds itself in need of drivers, when a well explodes and catches fire, needing nitroglycerine to snuff the flames. The four volunteers are divided between two trucks, and the journey begins.
Long stretches of Sorcerer unfold free from any dialogue, which allows Friedkin to harness the individual elements of cinema — sound, image, editing — in such a way as to rivet the viewer’s attention on the most granular details. The sweat on a man’s brow, the way an old package of dynamite leaks explosive fluid, the animals populating the dense foliage around them — Sorcerer remains gripping, in part because it is so effortlessly immersive. Every turn in the road brings a fresh threat, and Friedkin deftly tightens the screw to an almost merciless degree. That the film climaxes with an ugly reality, rather than a conventionally happy ending, further speaks to his commitment to his vision.
The cast is superb throughout, as Scheider, often dinged as not being up to the material, does a fine job evoking a man on the ragged edge of sanity, and Cremer, Amidou and Cabal each have moments to shine, vividly illustrating each man’s plight in economic fashion. The infamous set pieces are numerous — not least the absolutely dazzling and terrifying bridge crossing, filmed in Mexico, as well as the superbly edited “tree removal” scene — and all of it makes the grueling, multi-year production feel worth it. While Sorcerer took some time to get its due, film fans can now revel in what William Friedkin himself considers the finest work he ever crafted.
Video: 5/5
3D Rating: NA
Sorcerer makes its debut in the Criterion Collection and on 4K UHD disc with a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation, offered with a Dolby Vision high dynamic range (HDR) grade and in 2160p resolution. Per the included booklet, this 4K restoration was created from the original 35mm camera negative, with select shots taken from a 35mm color reversal intermediate.
For color reference, Criterion used a 1998 35mm print (provided by Paramount) as well as a 2013 digital master, both of which were approved by the late Friedkin. Presumably, the 2013 digital master was used to create Warner Brothers’ prior 2014 Blu-ray release of Sorcerer, although that version was presented at 1.78:1. (The Criterion set also features the 2025 restoration on a separate Blu-ray in high-definition SDR.)
Regardless, this 2025 4K edition looks superb, wonderfully filmic and evocative of a newly struck print. The image is finely detailed with plenty of clothing and facial texture (such as sweating brows) displayed in crisp, clear fashion. Black levels are solid, there’s a finely resolved layer of grain present and there is no discernible visual blemish to behold.
Audio: 5/5
Sorcerer is heavily dependent upon the effectiveness of its soundtrack, and thankfully, that component is well-represented in the DTS-HD MA 5.1 track featured here. The surrounds get a healthy workout throughout — the scenes in Jerusalem and New Jersey, for instance, feature plenty of immersive detail — and really kick into gear once the descent into the jungle commences, with the bridge sequence full of appropriately water-logged touches and the demolition of the tree, full of punch and bite and presence.
Per the enclosed booklet, the 5.1 remix was created in 2013 and approved by the late Friedkin. The DTS-HD MA 2.0 stereo track included here was remastered from the 35mm magnetic track. Dialogue sounds full and detailed, with no discernible distortion, drop-out or other notable defect to be heard. English subtitles are included.
Special Features: 5/5
A three-disc set feels appropriate for a film of Sorcerer’s ambition, and the Criterion Collection ensures fans get their money’s worth. The 4K UHD disc contains only the film, and there is a Blu-ray disc which also houses only the film.
A second Blu-ray disc is home to the set’s supplemental features: “Friedkin Uncut,” a feature-length 2018 documentary (1:47; Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo; 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen) is here, alongside a 2025 conversation between filmmaker James Gray and writer Sean Fennessey (28:18; Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo; 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen); a nearly-feature-length 2015 conversation between Friedkin and filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn (1:17; Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo; 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen); audio excerpts of interviews with Walon Green and editor Bud Smith (36:27; Dolby Digital 1.0 mono; 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen); a silent montage of behind-the-scenes footage from the New Jersey location shooting (6:09; 1.33:1 fullscreen) and the film’s theatrical trailer (2:53; Dolby Digital 1.0 mono; 1.33:1 fullscreen).
A booklet, featuring an essay from film critic Justin Chang and technical information about the video and audio restoration, completes the three-disc set.
Overall: 5/5
Within a supplemental documentary for this release of Sorcerer, director William Friedkin states, unequivocally, that this 1977 film — a loose modernization of George Arnaud’s 1950 novel The Wages of Fear — is the one for which he most wants to be remembered. Coming from the man who oversaw his fair share of masterfully made films (The French Connection; The Exorcist; Cruising; To Live and Die in L.A.; Bug), it’s a striking statement, particularly when considering just how fraught its reception was upon release, and how Friedkin, who died in 2023, didn’t really come to grips with what he’d made until many years later.
Still, watching Sorcerer, it’s easy to understand why, of all his films, Friedkin would single out this hypnotic, existentially fraught and nerve-shredding opus as his finest hour. In plunging four morally dubious protagonists in the depths of the unforgiving jungle, tasked with driving two truckloads of nitroglycerine 200 miles across unpredictable, unforgiving terrain, Friedkin made a politically charged thriller which only grows more relevant and harrowing with each passing year. Overshadowed upon its release by escapist blockbuster Star Wars, Sorcerer has emerged as one of the best films of the 1970s, and an extraordinary piece of cinema.
A superb visual and aural presentation, together with some well-chosen supplements, makes this three-disc package a gift for fans of the film, and a welcome addition to the Criterion Collection. Very highly recommended.
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