Why So Blu?

The Man Called Noon (Blu-ray Review)

An amnesiac gunfighter rides into a world of danger and deceit in The Man Called Noon. This The Man Called Noon Blu-ray review looks at the 88 Films release, which gives fans the chance to revisit the spaghetti western oddity in HD. With no memory of who he is, and only a sympathetic outlaw by his side, Noon is forced to piece together a violent past while navigating shifting allegiances.

 

Film

The Man Called Noon isn’t your typical spaghetti western. It comes with some pedigree, being directed by Peter Collinson of The Italian Job fame. That gives it a sharper edge than the average Euro-western. Even more surprising is Richard Crenna in the lead. He’s not the first actor you’d picture in this role, but he fits the part better than expected.

Crenna’s Noon has no memory of who he is. All he knows is that something in his head is worth killing for. The film plays with that mystery, letting us piece things together alongside him. It’s not about a legendary gunman riding into town, but a man struggling to stay alive while figuring out his place in the world.

The rest of the cast fills out the usual mix of outlaws, lawmen, and double-crossers. Collinson directs them with a straight face, keeping things tense without drifting into parody. What really helps is the production design. The towns, landscapes, and interiors all feel solid, giving the movie more weight than its pulpy setup suggests.

The big payoff comes in the final act. The last battle is staged with some of the coolest tactics I’ve seen in a western. A stone-built house becomes the centerpiece of the showdown, doubling as a fortress. It’s smart, stylish, and memorable. By the end, The Man Called Noon stands out as more than just another entry in the genre—it’s a mystery-driven western with its own distinct bite.

 

Video

NOTE: Stills are provided for promotional use only and are not from the Blu-ray

Encoding: MPEG-4 AVC

Resolution: 1080p

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Region: B (you will need a region-free Blu-ray player for proper playback)

HDR: N/A

Layers: BD-50

Clarity and Detail: The transfer is clean overall, with some scenes looking soft, likely inherent to the source. For this The Man Called Noon Blu-ray review, clarity and detail hold up well, keeping the western’s atmosphere intact.

Depth: Outdoor sequences have solid dimensionality, with clear foreground and background separation. Interiors don’t pop as much, though the staging still creates a layered feel.

Black Levels: Shadows run deep without crushing detail. Nighttime gunfights and darker interiors maintain contrast, making them easy to follow.

Color: The palette stays earthy and natural, with dusty browns, muted greens, and pastel skies giving the film a grounded look. Nothing feels oversaturated.

Flesh Tones: Skin tones appear consistent and lean slightly warm. Faces look natural across both sunlit exteriors and shadowy interiors.

Noise and Artifacts: The presentation is clean and stable. Grain is present, but it looks organic to the film. No major artifacts or digital noise stand out.

 

Audio

Audio Format(s): English LPCM 2.0 (Mono)

Subtitles: English

Dynamics: The track is straightforward but carries the film well. Gunfire and musical cues land with enough punch without sounding harsh.

Height: N/A

Low Frequency Extension: N/A

Surround Sound: N/A

Dialogue: Voices are clear and easy to follow. Even in busier scenes, the mix keeps speech front and center without distortion.

 

Extras

88 Films includes a modest set of extras with this release. The standout is a pair of audio commentaries, one from Western expert Lee Broughton and another from film historians Troy Howarth and Eugenio Ercolani. Both tracks add background and context for fans who want to dig deeper into the film’s place in the spaghetti western cycle. Beyond that, the disc offers an image gallery and the choice between original or newly commissioned artwork by Sean Longmore. The limited edition also comes packaged with an O-ring slipcase featuring Longmore’s art and a booklet by Lee Broughton. While the supplements are solid, the selection feels a little thin compared to what boutique collectors may expect, earning it a middling two-star grade.

LIMITED EDITION FEATURES:

• O-Ring Slipcase with New Art by Sean Longmore
• Booklet by Lee Broughton

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Audio commentary by Western expert Lee Broughton
• Audio commentary by film historians Troy Howarth and Eugenio Ercolani
• Image gallery
• Original and newly commissioned artwork by Sean Longmore

 

Summary 

The Man Called Noon may not sit at the top of the spaghetti western heap, but it earns its place as a stylish, mystery-driven entry with Richard Crenna in an unexpected lead. 88 Films delivers a solid Blu-ray presentation with clean picture, clear audio, and a handful of extras, though collectors may wish there was more in the supplements department. For fans of western oddities or those looking to expand their Euro-western shelf, this is a worthy pickup. You can find more of our coverage of 88 Films releases right here.

 

 

The Man Called Noon is released on Blu-ray in the UK by 88 Films September 8, 2025!

PRE-ORDER NOW!

 

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