One of the quintessential classics of 80s fantasy movies is The Dark Crystal. Now in 4K and looking better than ever, it’s time to return to the world of Thra.
The Dark Crystal is a uniquely dense tale with some of the most obtuse and intricate lore before we even get to the story itself. This complexity was very much intentional, as it created a strange and alien world that is remarkably striking even today.
Set on the world of Thra, the cruel Skeksis live in the Castle of the Crystal and draw their power from the titular and quite purple Dark Crystal. Their opposites are the kind Mystics, who shelter one of the last Gelfling, an elf-like race that the Skeksis had wiped out years prior.
This was because the Gelfling were linked to a prophecy that challenged the Skeksis and their rule over Thra. What follows is a quest that unearths the true origins of both the Skeksis and the Mystics, as well as the untold mysteries of Thra itself.
Even though this film is over four decades old by this point, I don’t really want to spoil the story any further. Mainly because The Dark Crystal is somewhat of an experience the first time you view it.
Much of this is down to the otherworldly setting of Thra and the fact that it’s all handled via puppets. You see, The Dark Crystal was the brainchild of Jim Henson, and while The Muppets were cute and cuddly, the puppets in The Dark Crystal were quite the opposite and actually rather terrifying.
As a child, I was drawn to The Dark Crystal through my love of The Muppets and the strange world it brought forth. The latter was in part to do with the inclusion of Brian Froud for the movie’s concept art, which would be a continued collaboration with Henson on the subsequent puppet-filled film Labyrinth.
Froud’s designs created a frightening world of rapaciously evil monsters, including the Skeksis and the chitinous Garthim, as well as the kind Mystics and the ethereal Gelfling. The real draw of The Dark Crystal was a world unlike any other, and while that was manifested through the technical and functional skill of Jim Henson and his team of puppeteers, it was Froud’s art that made it all feel so strange.
Froud’s work also had a big effect on the world of anime, strongly influencing artists such as Yutaka Izubuchi, who would later work on anime such as Aura Battler Dunbine and The Record of Lodoss War. While it was Froud’s earlier work on the book Faeries which had the strongest impact, films such as The Dark Crystal only cemented that influence further.
This is the key point: The Dark Crystal was and is a movie with an immense artistic impact. Its depiction of all the characters and creatures in the world through puppetry. Not to mention its unique designwork makes everything seem so otherworldly, and unlike any other film before or since.
The closest we get is Labyrinth, but even then, that’s a far more human and relatable tale than The Dark Crystal. Which, by comparison, takes a quite abstract, alien, and spiritualistic approach.
That’s why this remastered version in 4K is really quite special. Not only due to the increased and amazing visual fidelity on display, which makes a huge difference towards the end of the film, but also all the extras and trinkets this set comes with. The main prize though is the Crystal Shard, which plays a huge role in the film’s story. You also get some very nice art cards and a book about the film.
If you, like me, grew up in awe and abject terror of the world of The Dark Crystal, returning to it later in life has been a revelatory experience. Not least because I can appreciate it more without having to hide behind the sofa, and at a higher level of fidelity than I had access to as a kid. All of this brings the world of Thra to life in a new and fresh way. That said, the whimpering Chamberlain still gives me the heebie-jeebies.
The Dark Crystal 4K limited edition is currently available from Amazon for $78.99.
Disclosure: Shout! Factory sent me this Blu-ray for the purposes of this review.
Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
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