The Film

Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer is the type of film that spins a convention around in a way that makes you think you are witnessing something wholly original. At times it is a film of great beauty and poise, but you will eventually realize that, no matter what the motive of the killer, it is just another movie about a murderer.

Directed by Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run), Perfume is the story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (Ben Whishaw). An orphan who has lived his life as a servant with various masters, Jean-Baptiste is unique in that he experiences the world through scent. His other senses are intact, but his sense of smell is what drives him, how he feels. It influences his thoughts and actions. An actor named Baldini (Dustin Hoffman) discovers the boy’s talents and begins to mentor him in all things, not realizing that Jean-Baptiste is unraveling right before his eyes. When Jean-Baptiste finds himself aroused by a woman’s scent, he becomes obsessed with the smell, wanting to capture it forever. As it is a story of a murderer, one thing leads to another and another serial killer is born. The scents he captures are his trophies.

Perfume is unfortunate in that the idea is very intriguing but the execution never lives up to it. The film is plagued with hammy dialogue, some moments of questionable acting, and a sense of absurdity that is hard to shake. On the positive side, the visuals are phenomenal. Tykwer creates a unique style that shows off the lush set design and costumes. If there is one thing I never questioned, it was the authenticity of the world the story takes place in.

The DVD

The video is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. The transfer is very pretty, featuring an incredible, brilliant color palette. A minute amount of grain and video noise pops up here and there, but nothing that would taint the otherwise spectacular image.

The audio is offered in English 5.1/2.0 Dolby Digital Surround Sound and English/French/Spanish subtitles. The film has a surprisingly strong audio effort, with plenty of nuanced surround effects. The dialogue could have been cranked up a notch, but that is my only complaint.

The Extras

“The Story of Perfume” is your typical EPK featurette with interviews from the cast and crew. It does have a few moments of insight concerning casting and the script, but overall it’s a rather dull piece.

Final Thoughts

Perfume has an interesting concept that can hold you, but ultimately it fails to deliver. – Jeff Ritchie