Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

A Study in Terror Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 4, 2018

A Study in Terror isn't a film adaptation of a particular Sherlock Holmes story as written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle but rather a newly realized (at the time of its making) adventure that pits the world-famous sleuth against the infamous "Jack the Ripper" killer, whose murders rocked London in the late 1800s. The film, directed by James Hill (Born Free), nevertheless brings the ruthless killer and the legendary detective together in a seamless manner. The film explores Holmes at his classic and most familiar best, pairing him with the reliable Dr. Watson (the ever-amazed sidekick who never does seem to just accept the fact that Holmes' powers of deduction border on the inhuman, no matter how many times he is witness to them) and the police inspector Lestrade. The film is also notable for casting the legendary Judi Dench in one of her earliest roles.

The notorious killer Jack the Ripper is terrorizing London, and Scotland Yard and Inspector Lestrade (Frank Finlay) is clueless. World-famous Detective Sherlock Holmes (John Neville) and his trusted partner Watson (Donald Houston) are on the case. They'll have to travel through London's darkest, seediest underbelly if they are to put an end to the killing spree that is suffocating the city.

This is classic Sherlock Holmes. He is depicted with the same typical cadence that seems to transcend actors and follow the character, minus of course, some of the more sassy modern spins. The film embraces mannerisms, the smart and modestly cocky way he carries himself, gleefully reveling in his powers of seemingly blind and perfect deduction, not only in the case but in everyday life, such as identifying the person ringing the doorbell or locating his missing pipe, as always much to Watson’s shocked surprise. In A Study in Terror, Holmes finds himself intrigued by and eventually committed to solving the murders and ridding London of the infamous Jack the Ripper killer. It’s serious business to be sure, but Holmes almost gleefully accepts the challenge and seems just as interested in hubris as he is following clues and piecing together the mystery. John Neville nails the character, and not just because he melts into the costume. He understands the fine point mannerisms and carries himself assuredly, as he learns the facts, reasons the evidence, and draws his conclusions. “Smug” might be a word to describe the character portrayal, but with a man of Holmes’ skills and intellect, and with established character traits, it’s a performance that’s right on the money.

Holmes thrives on the case. He’d be a lost, lonely man without murder and mayhem in his life. That’s not to say he likes it or wishes for it, but he does find his purpose in it. It’s a game too him, a high stakes game to be sure, but one for which he is well equipped to play, mentally and physically alike. A Study in Terror does not give him many physical challenges, and even the mental gymnastics don’t prove all that taxing on him, either. For such a deranged, dangerous, and infamous killer on the loose, the film never really challenges Holmes on any level, not his powers of deduction and certainly not his fortitude. The movie largely plays it safe, even as it’s unafraid of depicting grisly murders and London’s seedier underbelly. Holmes must work for his reward, but not to any extent that one might believe would in some way alter the hero in the way he approaches future cases, not on any way that leaves him seriously physically or emotionally scarred.

A Study in Terror Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

A Study in Terror's 1080p Blu-ray transfer is defined by a few things. First, the biggest negative, which is regular, and sometimes significant, print wear and damage. Pops and speckles and bursts of random vertical lines are commonplace, not usually to the point of excess and major distraction but enough to notice in most every shot. Additional maladies include some flickering, prominently during a scene in chapter three, and some mild compression artifacts along the way. On the flip side, textural qualities are really quite nice, which includes a fairly stable grain structure. Brick and stone work around London appears sharp and well detailed. Facial and clothing textures are likewise strong. None of the detailing arrives at the level of crispness and clarity the format is capable of revealing, but for an older film that has clearly not been given the royal restoration treatment, it's hard to find significant fault with the textural presentation. The same goes for the film's color palette. They're bold, lacking the richness and nuance of superior Blu-ray images but are more than capable of pushing intense reds, for example, as well as variously ornate golden details in a mansion in chapter three or the weary London alleyway grays that feature fairly prominently throughout the film. For its rather regular bouts of print wear and deterioration, the image still looks very good on the whole, especially considering all factors along the way.

A Study in Terror Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

A Study in Terror features an LPCM 2.0 uncompressed soundtrack. It's a bit shrilly and tinny. Dialogue occasionally has a hard edge to it, but it does push well enough towards the center and general, essential clarity is fine. Music enjoys satisfactory spacing across the front. Clarity, much like dialogue, certainly leaves a bit to be desired but it's fairly solid and stable in the aggregate. Scattered sound effects -- a rolling carriage and horse trots, a gunshot, piercing screams, and the like -- play with good basic definition and stage presence. Light atmospherics don't immerse the listener but do help to sonically shape the world a bit beyond essential front-and-center sound elements. There is some honest dialogue reverberation throughout a cavernous hallway at the 23-minute mark.

A Study in Terror Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Mill Creek's Blu-ray release of A Study in Terror contains no supplemental content.

A Study in Terror Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A Study in Terror doesn't reinvent or even stretch the lead character all that much. In fact, it's a fairly rote, albeit original, Holmes tale. The character operates in a familiar comfort zone bubble. He is well acted and the case is modestly intriguing, but it's not much of a challenge for Holmes, who simply follows the bread crumbs in his own familiar style until they eventually lead him to the answers he seeks. It's a decent enough cinema escape but doesn't stretch or reach much beyond that. Mill Creek's featureless Blu-ray delivers imperfect, but largely enjoyable, video and audio. Given the budget nature of the release, the A/V presentation is just fine. Recommended at a cheap price.