Death Comes to Pemberley Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Death Comes to Pemberley Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 31, 2014

There’s little room for invention when it comes to the world of author Jane Austen, with her works adapted countless times, while parodies and spin-offs have managed to extend the celebration, reveling in her tea-and-heartache formula. BBC’s three-part “Death Comes to Pemberley” (based on a novel by P.D. James) is a sequel to Austen’s most visible work, “Pride and Prejudice,” catching up with beloved and loathed characters six years after the book’s conclusion. Instead of warmth and introspection, “Death Comes to Pemberley” is a murder mystery, taking on semi-whodunit tone as old antagonisms are stoked by new revelations of misconduct.

“Death Comes to Pemberley” is strictly for fans of Austen’s book and the many iterations of “Pride & Prejudice,” forgoing any introductions to snap the viewer back into the comfort of couple Fitzwilliam Darcy (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth (the great Anna Maxwell Martin), exploring their domestic situation as its disrupted by the suspicious ways of George Wickham (Matthew Goode), who’s been accused of murder on Pemberley property. Newcomers will likely be dazed by the flurry of last names and established relationships, and the production adds a sense of distance with its curious joylessness, trying the furrow-brow approach to butch up Austen’s world. “Death Comes to Pemberley” can be a harsh show (the opening episode details the public hanging of a child), and it never gains traction in areas of suspense, often playing too dreary to register necessary tension.

Death Comes to Pemberley Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation manages a difficult HD workload of evening sequences lit by candlelight and daytime adventures around the estate and other locations. Contrast isn't always secure, looking a tad muddy at times. Colors show a little more energy, with communicative hues emerging from ornate dresses and Pemberley decorations, while skintones are natural, pinkish yet appropriately drained. Detail is satisfactory when characters are lit in full, with a fresh sense of skin and artistic achievements to study. Some banding is detected, along with pockets of noise.

Death Comes to Pemberley Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides a basic listening experience, balancing outdoor and interior atmospherics with dialogue exchanges. Male voices sound mildly beefed up, with lower tones boosted right to the edge of distortion, contributing to an artificial presence that's not annoying but noticeable. Scoring is flat but serviceable, never taking command of moments. It's not a mix built for excitement, leaving most of its activity to the basics, and they are passable.

Death Comes to Pemberley Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this disc.

Death Comes to Pemberley Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Something is just off about "Death Comes to Pemberley." The cast doesn't seem challenged by the material, the locations are gorgeous but remain routine spreads of nature, and the core conflict eventually winds down to winded exchanges of heated dialogue and the halfhearted stoking of old memories. Urgency is missing from this update, along with any kind of soulfulness that often endears Austen's work to her readers.