Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Closet Monster Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 1, 2017

“Closet Monster” embarks on a coming-of-age journey that includes pit stops at parental frustration, sexuality, and friendship. Writer/director Stephen Dunn strives to transform the woes of teendom into a surreal odyssey of personal awakening, and the feature achieves a level of understanding that keeps it involving, but never illuminating. Dunn makes an effort to avoid routine, but as “Closet Monster” labors to retain an intimate perspective, it’s easy to see that many filmmakers have covered the same dramatic ground, only here there’s the addition of a talking hamster and a few moments of white-hot rage to give the material a boost in originality.

Oscar (Connor Jessup) is a troubled kid from a broken home pouring his energy into a creature make-up design dream. He’s gay but isn’t ready to understand himself yet, trying to survive while in the care of his hostile father, Peter (Aaron Abrams), joined by his pet hamster and primary confidant, Buffy (Isabella Rossellini, who’s pitch-perfect in the voice role). Dunn keeps personal obstacles coming for Oscar, but the character’s primary concern is his sexuality, finding himself drawn to classmate Wilder (Aliocha Schneider), grasping the possibility of identity while facing growing condemnation at home and school.

Closet Monster Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation isn't as vivid as one might expect, with brightness dialed down a few notches, which doesn't register as an intentional choice. Delineation seems to suffer most, with dense hairstyles and evening sequences solidifying. Colors are there, but rarely exciting, with primaries adequate, while more pronounced party hues are obviously memorable. Detail is average for an HD-shot feature, picking up on facial particulars and locations, while nightmare sequences tend to enjoy the most impressive texture. Minor banding is detected.

Closet Monster Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix doesn't hold any surprises, keeping to basic design that emphasizes dialogue exchanges, which sound clean and crisp, handling all dramatic surges. Music is also bright and bold, delivering a steady electro thump that brings out some low-end while teasing surround capabilities, delivering a more immersive listening experience during party sequences and montages. Atmospherics are communicative, capturing rainstorms and group activity with nuance and fullness.

Closet Monster Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (11:40, HD) with Stephen Dunn catches up with the writer/director in what appears to be Strand Releasing headquarters, discussing ideas for hamster voice casting, script development, choices in imagery, and casting.

• Behind the Scenes Featurettes (10:31, HD) break down the production process into miniature glimpses of life on set, focusing on story origins and construction and technical accomplishments.

• Deleted Scenes (7:16, HD) are offered.

• And a Three Trailers (5:27, HD) are included.

Closet Monster Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Closet Monster" isn't an After School Special, but it periodically tests the comfort of cliché. However, Dunn is sharp enough to reinforce Oscar's mission of self, looking to art and communication to keep the character an open book impatiently waiting for adulthood. "Closet Monster" finds dramatic depth in quiet, more introspective moments, which are more involving than any grander arc of dysfunction.