Mystery Road: Series 1 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Mystery Road: Series 1 Blu-ray Movie Review

No rules, just right.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III March 26, 2019

Although it's an imported TV series and a continuation of two feature-length Australian films, don't let that stop you from jumping right in to Rachel Perkins' Mystery Road (2018), a six-part mini-series described as "Australia's answer to True Detective". Like the original Twin Peaks and dozens of imitators, this entertaining production explores one small town's dark underbelly after a tragic event: in this case, young farmhands Marley Thompson and Reese Dale have gone missing from an outback cattle station. Following his lead appearance in those earlier films, 2013's Mystery Road and 2016's Goldstone (both directed by Ivan Sen), Aaron Pedersen returns as indigenous detective Jay Swan: the case seems right up his alley but, this time, he's been paired with local police sergeant Emma James (Judy Davis).

This first series of Mystery Road takes place within the timeline of both earlier films, splitting the difference between the self-titled original and Goldstone: our missing persons case drives its narrative, while the historical rift between Caucasian and Aborigine (often referred to as "black") citizens remains an important component as well. Jay Swan, himself the latter, reluctantly works alongside white sergeant James and, although they're more alike than different, some of their suspects are resentful of the partnership. While a hackneyed "mutual understanding" isn't attained during their time together (at least one spelled out in capital letters), it's an interesting dynamic continued from Goldstone and works just as well the second time around. Skin color aside, the prickly Jones makes a great counterbalance for Swan's more stoic demeanor, and I dare say that both of them learn from each other's successes and mistakes. (That, and the fact they're not polar opposites, makes their professional relationship atypical in a good way.)

While its similarity to both films extends beyond the visuals, spirit, and slow-burning pace, the latter obviously gets much more breathing room with a serialized, six-episode format that spans over five hours. Although Mystery Road's almost stubborn commitment to a reduced speed will threaten the attention span of new viewers, it unfolds organically and ends up building to a satisfying climax. It also devotes the extra time to several subplots and characters that a two-hour movie wouldn't touch, such as Swan's ex-wife Mary (Tasma Walton, returning from the first film) and older teenage daughter Crystal (Madeleine Madden, taking over for Tricia Whitton), whose appearance feels like a natural extension instead of cheap dramatic filler. The investigation itself also becomes a lot more intense during the series’ second half, especially after Swan interrogates a suspect using at least one technique right out of the Vic Mackey or Jack Bauer playbook. Moments like these only prove that while he and Sergeant James have learned to work together on a rudimentary level, they’re still miles apart in temperament and may never see eye-to- eye.

This is a promising start to what I hope isn’t a one-shot series, as Mystery Road’s unique atmosphere and slow-burning drama has a way of burrowing under your skin in a way that most shows of its kind don’t. Although there’s still room for improvement in several areas (including the over-reliance on red herrings, which is more noticeable when watching episodes back-to-back), this six-episode run is a satisfying slice of international television that should satisfy anyone looking to broaden their horizons a bit. Acorn Media’s Blu-ray package makes the gamble a little easier, as Mystery Road is supported by an excellent A/V presentation and a few limited but well- meaning bonus features.

Mystery Road: Series 1 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio, Acorn Media's 1080p/24 transfer of Mystery Road showcases the series' sun-baked atmosphere with great attention to detail. Fans of both feature-length films will be glad to know that, although Ivan Sen no longer serves as director, editor, or cinematographer (among other things), the look and feel of Mystery Road hasn't fundamentally changed all that much, either in overall style or quality. Scenes shot in the rugged Australian outback fare the best with a staggering amount of clarity, especially in birds'-eye view and establishing shots; there are times when I was tempted to pause and count all the little stones and other fine details. Close-ups also look great, with extremely crisp textures (deep facial wrinkles, Jay Swan's denim shirts, etc.) that likewise rival what you might see on a 4K upscale. Colors look true to their original broadcast appearance, if not slightly better defined here: Mystery Road favors dusty browns and oranges over more vivid hues, which can't help but stand out when they appear (usually on clothing, paint, or neon lighting). Skin tones appear accurate with no obvious bleeding.

While I'm mostly heaping praise on Acorn Media's Blu-ray transfer, there were a few very small trouble spots along the way. Although I was unable to pin down the series' technical pedigree, this digitally-shot production obviously made use of different cameras and native resolutions. Whereas the establishing shots and close-ups mentioned above boast an extremely robust appearance, a handful of mid-range shots don't quite match up in overall stability; fast movement during these scenes occasionally produces a slight ghosting effect. It's a little jarring at first but ultimately doesn't prove to be very distracting, and it's so infrequent that some viewers might not even notice until after it's happened. A few stray time-lapse shots, most of them sunsets, also exhibit banding but they're likewise over and done with before this problem has time to fully register. Even so, I'd chalk up these slight dips in quality more to the formidable strength of those other scenes, which raise the bar so high that, almost by default, there's nowhere to go but down. Overall, this is an outstanding presentation that, in most cases, looks a lot more impressive than your average TV series.

Mystery Road: Series 1 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, the DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix has big-screen intentions that are represented well, even though Mystery Road isn't exactly a series filled with wall-to-wall action and consistent surround usage. Like the films, it conveys a more subtle and spacious experience that mirrors the wide-open Australian landscape, which gradually narrows to a more streamlined focus as the investigation progresses. Channel separation is sparse but used to great effect, usually to enhance the feeling of those wide shots or rare crowded scenes. The music by Antony Partos and Matteo Zingales (who previously collaborated on Animal Kingdom and HBO's production of Fahrenheit 451), also sounds excellent and full-bodied at times but not overcooked. Dialogue remains clear and easy to understand throughout...but anyone unfamiliar with the regional dialects and slang may want to make use of the optional English SDH subtitles, which also helpfully identify song cues. Without question, this is a strong effort that captures the show's spirit quite well.

Mystery Road: Series 1 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Acorn Media presents Mystery Road as a two-disc set in a standard dual-hubbed keepcase with attractive artwork and a matching slipcover. Only two bonus feature are included on Disc 2, but they're collectively the length of an entire episode. Both are presented in 1080p with DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio and feature optional English subtitles.

• Cast Interviews (29:25) - These segments catch up with lead actors Aaron Pedersen (Jay Swan) and Judy Davis (Emma James), who talk about their individual characters, racial tension in Australia, both feature films, shooting in the outback, using a gun, childhood experiences with some of the show's subject matter, working with director Rachel Perkins, and more. Both interviews have a much different feel with several interesting tidbits along the way, although the former is shot outdoors and the sound quality isn't especially good.

• Crew Interviews (23:27) - Featured participants include executive producer David Jowsey, producer Greer Simpkins, and director Rachel Perkins. Among other topics, they discuss the franchise history and a quick overview, casting the TV series, shooting locations, aerial photography, focusing on a strong older female character, supporting roles, making a TV show instead of a third film, balancing mystery and drama, working with the lead actors, the story's ultimate meaning, and a few earlier projects. It's good to hear some points of view from the other side of the camera, but there's an awful lot of overlap with the cast interviews.

Mystery Road: Series 1 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Rachel Perkins' Mystery Road, based on two feature films by Ivan Sen, is the rare case where a TV show pays homage to its origins while leaving its own distinct footprint on the material (the other such show that comes to mind is FX's Fargo, or at least the first two seasons.) Combining small-town mystery and human drama with a racially-charged backdrop set in the barren but beautiful Australian outback, Mystery Road constructs a deliberate and slow-burning atmosphere that serves its story well. Although watching both earlier films isn't required to understand the main story arc or subplots of Mystery Road, it certainly wouldn't hurt...and they're solid films in their own right, so you'd be doing yourself a favor. Acorn Media's two-disc Blu-ray package offers a fine amount of support for the show, including a respectable A/V presentation and nearly an hour's worth of interviews with five key cast and crew members. It's certainly recommended to established fans, although newcomers may want to dip their toes in the water first.