Blu-ray

Before dazzling mainstream cinema audiences with The Matrix, Andy and Lana (née Larry) Wachowski made a splash on the indie movie scene with this hugely enjoyable neo-noir thriller.

Stripped of the attention once lavished on its lesbian sex scenes (which barely raise an eyebrow these days), it's now easier than ever to truly appreciate the brilliance of Bound's intricate plotting, tongue-in-cheek bravura, central performances and stylish visuals. Low-budget filmmaking at its very best.

Picture: This Blu-ray's AVC 1.85:1 imagery may not be the most refined 1080p encode you'll ever see, but we've no doubt that it's a pretty accurate reflection of the source material.

While close-ups reveal pleasing amounts of fine detail, clarity and sharpness, in medium and long shots they're held at bay by the use of heavy shadows to emulate the look of old black-and-white film noir productions. Many of these large areas of darkness have been deliberately crushed, giving them (and any other blacks in the same shot, including hair and clothing) a uniformly flat look. But as this was done intentionally, it's hard to imagine the film looking better than it does here. 
Picture rating: 4/5

Audio: Bound arrives on Blu-ray with a choice of two soundtracks – an LPCM 2.0 presentation of the original stereo mix and a DTS-HD MA 5.1 remix. Both demonstrate excellent clarity and precision across the front of the soundstage, with the 5.1 mix only really making use of the surround speakers to deliver ambient effects and enhance the score.
Audio rating: 3.5/5

Extras: Banish any memories you still have of the mediocre bundles of extras that Bound was tied to on DVD. Arrow's lavish Blu-ray package comprises an audio commentary (with the Wachowskis joined by 'sex consultant' Susie Bright and editor Zach Staenberg); a 29-minute retrospective Making of…; new interviews with actors Jennifer Tilly, Gina Gershon, Joe Pantoliano and Christopher Meloni; two archival promo featurettes; three trailers; two TV spots; a stills gallery; and a 20-page booklet.
Extras rating: 3.5/5

We say: This impressive Blu-ray easily makes amends for Bound's dismal treatment on DVD in the past

Bound, Arrow Academy, Region B BD & R2 DVD, £23 Approx
HCC VERDICT: 4/5