Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Anything for Jackson Blu-ray Movie Review

A surprisingly full house.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III June 2, 2021

Most horror movies are usually playing with a distinct handicap (i.e., a lot of them suck), but every once in a while something emerges from the genre's thick, murky soup that's genuinely impressive. This year -- or last year, if we're being pedantic -- that something might just be the first 85 minutes of Justin G. Dyck's Anything for Jackson, a stylishly shot and genuinely chilling film that unfortunately can't quite manage to stick a decent landing. But for a while, it's very good. Great, even. That, of course, makes its final stretch all the more disappointing in comparison, but this is still a memorable little film well worth checking out... especially if you're running low on nightmare fuel.

Truth be told, this Exorcist-style affair was probably a cathartic experience for both director Dyck and the film's writer, Keith Cooper, whose collective filmography is absolutely loaded with kid-friendly pablum and Lifetime-grade Christmas movies. Far removed from pony rescues and Yuletide cheer, Anything for Jackson concerns the fate of pregnant young woman Becker (Konstantina Mantelos, Departure), who's unceremoniously kidnapped by elderly couple Audrey (Sheila McCarthy, The Day After Tomorrow) and Henry (Julian Richings, Man of Steel) while out for her regular morning jog. Handcuffed to a bed in their sound-proofed attic, we soon learn why she became a target: Audrey and Henry recently lost their daughter and grandson in a car accident and, using an ancient Satanic book purchased overseas, they hope to resurrect the latter via a reverse exorcism when Becker finally gives birth. For now, it's just a waiting game.

It's a pretty solid hook for a genre that doesn't always bother with interesting setups, made better when Anything for Jackson follows through with a respectable amount of original ideas, genuine WTF moments, and of course a handful of truly twisted visuals that may not leave your mind for days, if ever. A perpetually looping gunshot death? Yikes. Trick or treat kid turned ten-foot goliath? Double yikes. That contortionist breathing through a plastic bag? Holy shit, you guys. Anything for Jackson serves up deep, unsettling dread previously seen in the likes of Event Horizon and Hellraiser and, for the most part, it comes at just the right moment. The story unfolds at a good clip too, rarely giving away too much at once while juggling black comedy, suspense, and flashback-fueled drama pretty damn well. Once a few outsiders creep into the picture, including fellow Satanist Ian (Josh Cruddas), nosy snow shoveler Rory (Yannick Bisson), and police detective Bellows (Lanette Ware), the elderly couple's paranoia grows exponentially. More fuel is thrown onto the fire once it's discovered they might have read the book wrong: that's how all those evil spirits and other horrific events arrive, most of which seem to have a contagiously suicidal effect on visitors and residents alike. Whoopsie!

The film's rock-solid cinematography and excellent tone carry a lot of weight, which is also supported by most of the lead and supporting actors -- even the ones who seem a bit off are that way for a good reason. Sadly, Anything for Jackson fizzles out a little during its last 10 minutes, both by turning into a "greatest hits" collection of the film's best scares and serving up a weak non-ending. Luckily, these disappointments aren't enough to sink the entire ship: this one will get a replay or two in the near future and, more than likely, should age better than most. Its most memorable aspects aren't based on cheap jump-scares or a last-minute twist, even though a few odds and ends keep this from being an otherwise bulletproof production. But's it's fine work for what's essentially the first real film from its director and writer, who will hopefully stay in this genre a little longer rather than head elsewhere. RLJ Entertainment's Blu-ray, although unfortunately a movie-only disc, at least offers a clean A/V presentation and a low price tag.

Anything for Jackson Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

While Anything for Jackson's visual origins remain unknown, most signs point to an all-digital production... and one that's refreshingly light on CGI effects. The film's palette is heavily muted, partially due to its wintry exteriors, but the extent of this desaturation isn't really felt until a handful of flashbacks that employ more normal levels of color. That's not to say Anything for Jackson is a dull and muddy affair: certain scenes stand out like the amber and teal lighting of certain interiors, as well as specific articles of clothing like Henry's scarf and, of course, the unexpected geyser of blood that shoots from the business end of a snow blower. But for the most part its tightly controlled palette does a good job of reigning in our sensory expectations so that those sudden scares, when they sporadically arrive, pretty much take over completely. Image detail is quite good in close-ups and wide shots alike, although the film's most dimly-lit scenes do tend to look rather flat and muddy -- sometimes by design, and sometimes just unavoidably so. Although confined to only a single-layered Blu-ray, the film's relatively short 97-minute runtime ensures that this movie-only disc runs at a consistently high bit rate and avoids typical pitfalls such as compression artifacts and banding. Overall, a solid effort that likely surpasses all streaming versions... including on Shudder, where it premiered last December.

Anything for Jackson Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, the DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix exceeds budget constraints to deliver a wholly immersive and surprisingly thoughtful atmosphere... even though it starts off on a bad foot, utilizing the annoying horror trope of "super-old song paired with disturbing visuals". (In this case, it's a modified version of Harry Dacre's "Daisy Bell", AKA "Bicycle Built for Two".) Once it clears that hurdle, it's full steam ahead: nicely reigned in during intimate conversations, other moments peppered with subtle surround activity to create a vague sense of dream, and a full-on sonic assault for the film's most shocking moments. Dialogue remains clear and intelligible throughout, even though most of its residents are Canadian, LOL. Overall, it's a perfectly fine presentation that doesn't necessarily carve out any new sonic territory in the genre... but there really aren't any faults here, and thus no real room for improvement outside of an Atmos remix.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are also included during the main feature.

Anything for Jackson Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a standard keepcase with poster-themed cover artwork, a matching embossed slipcover, and a promotional insert. Unfortunately, no bonus features are included.

Anything for Jackson Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Justin G. Dyck's Anything for Jackson is a surprisingly effective little horror film with solid performances, a decent hook, plenty of surprises, and a few dashes of nightmare fuel just to keep things interesting. Although the ending feels like a disappointment, it's respectably great work for the director as well as writer Keith Cooper, who are new to the genre after working mostly in sanitized Disney Channel territory. Overall, it's a film well worth checking out once... but don't worry, it should hold up to repeat viewings too. RLJ Entertainment's Blu-ray is only weak in the extras department, as its A/V presentation plays to the film's low-budget but very effective atmosphere. Recommended.