Kino Lorber has released director Mark Pellington’s latest experimental film, The Severing, on Blu-ray.

The Severing is a story told exclusively and uniquely through dance movements. It has been called a “cathartic dance piece”, and that’s exactly what it feels like. The dancers, clad in body paint, caked in dirt and dust, in a rusty set that is reminiscent of the first Saw film, writhe and convulse, contorting their bodies in unrecognizable and alien ways that seem almost artificial in the beginning. With inter titles that occasionally pop up on the screen, we are given some vague context as to what we are witnessing. What we have here is a “story” of longing, hope, loss, and reconciliation told in a primal fashion that, on many levels, will become instantly relatable to those who have experienced a deep and life altering grief. The dancers use their bodies to express every nuance of emotion, every stage of the grieving process, creating a visceral reaction in the viewer.

It is an unapologetic art film through and through, and Mark Pellington and his cast of dancers, as well as the rest of his crew, are in full control here. The score is beautiful, the lighting and set design are meticulous – everyone is committed to this vision, and it shows.

The Severing is not for everyone. For those of us on its wavelength, however, it is a small miracle. A miracle that should never have seen the light of day, but is here, and is a testament to the power of dance and the art of cinema.

Kino Lorber has brought The Severing to Blu-ray. Special features include an in-depth commentary featuring Pellington and his crew, as well as a music video and the trailer for the film.