5.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A married couple find themselves trapped in their frozen vehicle after a blizzard and struggle to survive amid plunging temperatures and unforeseen obstacles.
Starring: Genesis Rodriguez, Vincent PiazzaThriller | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.38:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
“Centigrade” is a survival picture that’s based on true story, though the specifics of the inspiration are vague at best. It’s better to put the reality of the story aside and approach the feature as a two-hander drama, where the participants are stuck inside of a car buried in the snow for 85 minutes of screen time. Screenwriters Daley Nixon and Brendan Walsh (who also directs) have quite the creative task, trying to make near immobility into a nail- biting experience of panic. “Centigrade” doesn’t achieve a few of its limited goals, but the movie is largely successful as a claustrophobic mission of self-preservation and logic. It’s not the easiest film to sit through, presenting all sorts of anguish and argumentative behavior, but Walsh believes in the endeavor’s importance as an offering of emotionality and perseverance, even when he can’t communicate such urgency to the viewer.
"Centigrade" isn't the most visually varied picture, with the story taking place inside of a car buried in the snow. The AVC encoded image (2.38:1 aspect ratio) presentation has a slightly brightened appearance to illuminate the movement inside the vehicle, limiting deep blacks. Artifacting is also troublesome, with banding a common sight, and a few pockets of posturization are found as well. Detail isn't meant to be extraordinary with such a limited view, but skin deterioration comes through satisfactorily, offering sharp close-ups of the characters slowly losing their survival battle. A few exterior shots offer textured snowscapes. Colors are acceptable, dealing with darker winter gear and natural skintones. Lit candles provide more yellowish highlights.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix focuses on car interiors, which carry a more intimate sound as the characters move around and engage with each other, often angrily. Dialogue exchanges are clear, with sharp emotionality that aids in the understanding of individual breakdowns as the days wear on. Sound effects are distinct, highlighting the surround movement of objects and cracking ice. Scoring cues are sharp, with pounding percussion to provide some low-end response, and gentle strings to indicate dramatic emphasis. Atmospherics are loud, exploring whipping winds and snow during exterior shots.
Matters grow agonizing for Naomi and Matt as "Centigrade" unfolds, but Walsh isn't making a thriller, he's finding a place to reside for 85 minutes, reveling in the pain experienced by the couple, who soon face their worst fear while wasting away. The writing isn't active enough to support a feature- length event, and dramatics tend to grow repetitive, especially in the second half. Walsh certainly creates an atmosphere of dread, helped along by passionate performances from Rodriguez and Piazza that communicate fear. "Centigrade" is effective, but less so the longer it plays out, unintentionally exposing storytelling limits while asking viewers to remain in a place of physical and psychological torture without much in the way of a cinematic reward at the end.
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