5.7 | / 10 |
Users | 2.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.4 |
After years of trying to conceive, Madeline (Ladd) and Michael Matheson (Stephen Park, 'Scary Movie 3', 'The Pink Panther') are finally about to become parents. But with only weeks to go before delivery, an accident leaves both Michael and the unborn child dead. Devastated, Madeline decides to carry the child to term and deliver naturally. What seemed like madness becomes a miracle when, after delivering a dead child, Madeline finds her baby is indeed alive… and hungry. She soon discovers that her baby – now named Grace – thirsts for something more than mother’s milk, and Madeline is determined to feed her child, no matter the consequences. With nowhere to turn, Madeline must make a mother’s ultimate decision: What will she sacrifice to keep her child alive?
Starring: Jordan Ladd, Samantha Ferris, Gabrielle Rose, Serge Houde, Stephen ParkHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 54% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: LPCM 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English SDH
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
I don't need to understand a miracle.
"This movie's messed up." "I think I'm going to be sick." "I can't believe what I'm seeing."
Forget the usual critical blurbs; it's real-life audience reactions that really drives the direction a
film ultimately takes as it steers into history, and for a Horror movie, quotes like those above are
music to the filmmaker's ears. What higher praise could there be for a Horror movie than total
audience repulsion? Grace is one of the most unnerving Horror pictures ever made, a
completely repugnant experience that takes on an innocent air and slowly builds towards a
horrific climax, completing a moviegoing experience that's sure to simmer in the gut long after
the lights come up. Taking the absolute opposite approach than that of the mainstream genre
pictures that infest theaters every month, Grace throws convention out the window and
comes up with an original twist that serves as the film's primary draw and source of strength.
Never all that gory and never hedging its bets on loud musical cues as some deranged figure
scampers eerily across the screen or jumps out of a shadow, Grace instead thrives on its
implied terror, its abhorrent nature, and the total depravity that slowly but surely infests every
frame and, by extension, every member of its audience that won't soon forget the experience.
Welcome to the world.
Grace emerges on Blu-ray with a fair 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. This transfer's most noticeable trait is the incredible amount of noise seen throughout. Solid-colored and dark backgrounds in particular are wholly abuzz; a red wall inside the independent clinic as seen early in the movie is a perfect example. There's also the appearance of a somewhat unnatural artificial brightness that runs throughout much of the film, resulting in plenty of fine detail appearing washed out. On the whole, the image looks mostly flat and lifeless. Fine detail is moderately high, but doesn't necessarily impress when considered alongside some of the better Blu-ray discs. One of the film's opening scenes, taking place around a dinner table, appears completely flat and devoid of life; this is a trend that remains throughout the film. Also visible, but not too terribly distracting, is minor blocking and banding in a few shots. Grace's transfer isn't a flat-out terrible one, but it's far from pretty, though it seems to reflect the filmmaker-intended appearance well enough.
Blu-ray breathes life into Grace with a solid PCM 5.1 uncompressed soundtrack. Though the film begins with a soundtrack that comes across as fairly basic, it jumps to life later in the film. The independent clinic featured in the opening minutes contains some light mood music heard off in the background, the faint but realistic presentation doing well to place the listener into the room. The first truly attention-grabbing moment comes during Grace's birth in chapter five; a drum beat dominates the track and increases dramatically in intensity as the baby is born, building to a crescendo with a nearly deafening thunder of bass. A buzzing fly in chapter seven, and at several other points throughout the movie, seems to literally fly around the soundstage, moving effortlessly from one corner to the other and side to side with superb results. The track is never a fully-engaging one; this isn't an Action or even big-budget Horror extravaganza. It's generally reserved but picks up when it needs to, offers up a fair atmosphere, employs the back channels to fine use when required. Along with sound dialogue reproduction, Grace's uncompressed soundtrack impresses.
Grace provides viewers with several special features worth feeding on, this package
headlined by two commentary tracks. Writer/Director Paul Solet and Actor Jordan Ladd appear on
the first, a Blu-ray exclusive track. A rather lighthearted affair, the participants share a good
chemistry together and play off each other's comments with a natural flow, beginning by
speaking
of their dogs and continuing on with a track that's at once both easygoing and informative.
Discussions include the usual array of comments, including the weather during the shoot,
products
created for the film, the pace of the shoot, and other assorted tidbits. Track two once again
features Solet, this time accompanied by Producer Adam Green and Director of Photography
Zoran
Popovic, who doesn't appear until later in the track. This commentary proves to be a bit more
substantive
than the previous, focusing a good bit on the technical aspects of the production but also
featuring
discussions on some of the inside details of how Hollywood works, among other interesting
nuggets of information.
'Grace' at Sundance (480p, 13:11) begins by providing a brief history of the festival and
moves on to look at the film's premiere and reception and follows Director Paul Solet as he recalls
the event. The piece also showcases a question and answer session with audience, several
interview sessions with the director, his personal advertising campaign to promote the film,
and his reactions to critical reviews. This is a fantastic little piece that's a must-watch.
'Grace:' Conception (480p, 6:46) features Director Solet recalling the slow process of
writing the script and why the film works so well. 'Grace:' Delivered (480p, 37:03) is
another great piece that takes viewers through some of the rigors of the shoot and presents
plenty of candid behind-the-scenes footage. 'Grace:' Family (480p, 11:58) looks at what
sets Grace apart from other Horror pictures. Next up is Her Mother's Eyes: The Look
of 'Grace' (480p, 7:03), a piece that examines the visual tone of the film, paying particular
attention to set design and photographic style. Lullaby: Scoring 'Grace' (480p, 8:55)
features Composer Austin Wintory speaking on his work for the film. Rounding out this
impressive collection of extras is the film's theatrical trailer (480p, 2:26).
Though not quite as raw as something like Plague Town but worlds better than much of the mass-market, widely consumed, major studio-backed Horror pictures of the past few decades, Grace succeeds not because of shock value or gore, but because of its ability to create one of the most disturbing atmospheres ever committed to film, and its uncanny ability to work to near perfection as a thinking man's movie that will churn the stomach, distress the soul, and occupy the mind long after the credits roll. That's the very essence of "Horror," and by that definition, Grace is a true Horror film. Starz's Blu-ray presentation of Grace makes the grade. Although the transfer isn't the prettiest on the market, the disc does sport a quality PCM uncompressed soundtrack and offers viewers a fantastic array of high quality bonus features. Grace is absolutely not recommended for pregnant women or mothers of young children, but does come highly recommended for Horror aficionados yearning for something new.
Uncut
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Warner Archive Collection
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