Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

A Dim Valley Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 12, 2021

Introductions are always important, helping the audience find the mood of the picture and begin to process characterizations as onscreen personalities start their journey. Writer/director Brandon Colvin isn’t a fan of such immediate impressions, opening the endeavor with ten minutes of a man getting hurt after falling off his bike, also showing a friend his ability to trigger a click in his jaw. This material represents a good portion of “A Dim Valley,” with Colvin in no hurry to introduce screen tension, motivations, or even a plot for this wandering effort, which is primarily about a marijuana- thwacked odyssey into the indie film unknown. “A Dim Valley” is strictly for audiences in an altered state of mind, working with vagueness to such a degree, I’m not even sure Colvin had anything written down before he started shooting the feature.

Albert (Whitmer Thomas) and Ian (Zach Weintraub) are two graduate students from Cumberland Polytechnic University who are stuck in the woods for a few weeks, acting as field research assistants for their professor, Clarence (Robert Longstreet). The men are meant to embrace the open world, helping Clarence collect samples of life and excrement, keeping each other company as they deal with their standoffish supervisor. Albert and Ian are not terribly bright, and they share an affinity for marijuana with Clarence, who’s going through troubling times in his life, unable to manage his heartache. While out in the middle of the night, Albert discovers three women making their way through the woods, drawn to the strange appeal of Rose (Rachel McKeon), Iris (Rosalie Lowe), Reed (Feathers Wise), who welcome the student into their dynamic, with the foursome soon bringing their oddness to Clarence’s cabin for an evening of self-examination, fate, and hidden sexuality.

“A Dim Valley” doesn’t immediately jump off the screen. Colvin isn’t trying to do anything more than offer the basics in cabin ambiance with the trio of men, finding the two students generally clueless despite their academic achievements. They don’t seem to understand the demands of their summer assignment, and the feature spends a substantial amount of time observing their interests in drugs, light banter, and paddle ball (no, really). Ian and Albert aren’t fleshed-out creations, they’re just there in “A Dim Valley,” helping Colvin fill his run time with a general farting around, watching the guys deal with catching butterflies and collecting bat guano. Clarence’s inner life is a bit more transparent, offering limited patience with his supervisor role, with things about his life gnawing at his soul. He’s working to blunt his pain with alcohol and drugs, finally reaching a point of defiance when he decides to partake in a round of public urination, giving him time in jail to think things over.

Rose, Iris, and Reed show up in the second act of “A Dim Valley,” first as visions for Albert, who can’t quite process their siren-esque presence. They eventually introduce themselves to the baffled grad student, giving off strong witchcraft vibes as they lure the young man into their camp site, which quickly catches on fire. Of course, Colvin would have a much more interesting film if the trio was some form of evil, but genre elements are refused by the helmer, who prefers to remain in a hazy state of mind, offering a vague idea of the women fulfilling their “purpose” while the characters continue on their marijuana mission. Once again, Clarence emerges with some dramatic depth as the professor makes contact with someone from his past at a bar, with this emotional darkness increasing during a tarot card reading with the strangers, who whisper something about finality into his ear.

A Dim Valley Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation aims to preserve the mystery mood of "A Dim Valley." A creative choice was made to shoot the feature with heavy softness, which creates a glow to the picture at times, especially with lighting sources such as headlamps. Detail isn't destroyed in the process, with a good sense of skin surfaces while examining the actors in various stages of undress. Facial particulars preserve fine hairs and elements of aging. Exteriors offer forest and lake distance, and cabin interiors secure a look at woodsy construction. Colors are compelling, working around distinct greenery and natural skintones. Primaries deliver on costuming and decoration. Heavy blue lighting also makes a positive impression. "A Dim Valley" is a very dark endeavor at times, but delineation isn't threatened, maintaining frame information.

A Dim Valley Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA tracks offers a lot of activity for a simple movie, leading with crisp dialogue exchanges that preserve emotionality. Stillness is also key to the listening event, creating quiet moments of reflection. Atmospherics are generous throughout, registering changes in weather and nature exploration, with the presence of insects common. Soundtrack selections deliver a heavier sound, with clean instrumentation.

A Dim Valley Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features writer/director Brando Colvin.

• Storyboards offers 24 pages of pre-production planning.

• Behind-The-Scenes Photos collect 70 images from the "A Dim Valley" shoot.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:43, HD) is included.

A Dim Valley Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Nothing is particularly clear during "A Dim Valley," but the feature isn't a puzzle to be solved. It's not even all that an interpretive an experience, coming across as more of an exercise in style (cinematography by Cody Duncum is accomplished), keeping viewers at arm's length as things happen to blank characters, making emotional involvement difficult -- perhaps impossible for most viewers. There are ideas on sex and magic, Scrabble and heartache, but "A Dim Valley" doesn't sharpen to a fine point. Colvin attempts to generate some sort of vibe to the endeavor, but he's perfectly happy keeping the film to himself.