Detention Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Detention Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 23, 2022

“Detention” is based on a video game, but it’s not traditional gamer cinema. The material examines the horrors of Taiwan during the “White Terror” period, blending points of painful history with a ghost story of sorts. “Detention” isn’t blessed with a sharpest of technical achievements, but the main push to address stains of the past in a different way is interesting, while the gaming aspects are respected, following the characters in exploration mode as the screenplay tries to tell a more intimate story of love and loss.

“Detention” follows the progress of two young characters as they enter a purgatory of sorts, dealing with a ghost realm version of their high school. The story tracks the progress of the students as they seek answers concerning their situation, and there’s personal history as well, reflecting on the political state of the land during this troubling time period.

Detention Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.38:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers two distinct moods, working through the real world and purgatory, which favors a moody look with candlelight and enormous amounts of post-production tinkering. Detail is present, great with facial surfaces and school decoration. Monster events are also reasonably textured, along with bodily harm. Colors deliver warmth with daylight and home tours, and slip into murkier hues with spirit realm grays and blacks, broken up by vivid reds. Mild banding is detected.

Detention Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix keeps up the horror show with plenty of activity, offering distinct panning and separation effects with monster encounters and spooky events. Dialogue exchanges are crisp, capturing precise emotionality. Scoring cues are full and wide, supporting the various moods of the feature. Low-end delivers some weight during violent activities and chases.

Detention Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (14 pages) contains essays by Timmy Chih-Ting Chen and Panos Kotzathanasis.

• "Point of Origin: Adapting 'Detention'" (5:52, HD) explores the video game world of the film (including clips from the original game), and the work required to successfully realize the story on the big screen.

• "Return to Greenwood High: Making 'Detention'" (6:26, HD) offers a fly-on-the-wall overview of the production process, watching the cast and crew create scenes for the film.

• "The Visual Effects of 'Detention'" (9:30, HD) offers an overview of the VFX team's efforts to bring the monsters of the movie to life, also identifying all the tweaks and atmospheric enhancements in the picture.

• "The Day of Light" (1:43, HD) is a music video by Lei Kuang Hsia.

• And a Trailer (1:13, HD) is included.

Detention Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Detention" successfully recreates the gaming experience, also developing core themes and increases threat for more dramatic moments, helping to offer those unfamiliar with Taiwanese history and gaming highlights a chance to get into the story, which balances between matters of the heart and monstrous attacks from beyond.