Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Her Smell Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 5, 2019

Writer/director Alex Ross Perry specializes in off-beat character examinations, and he’s done depressive downfall with actress Elisabeth Moss before, in 2015’s “Queen of Earth.” Their collaboration was powerful then and remains vibrantly poisonous in “Her Smell,” with Perry taking his fixation with mental illness to the alternative rock realm, dialing back the clock to the mid-1990s to examine the complete and utter erosion of a music star. Perry doesn’t pull punches here, creating a deep sea dive into madness, with Moss going for broke in a turn that runs exclusively on pain and shame. “Her Smell” demands an audience with the ability to remain in the vortex of a nervous breakdown for 135 minutes, and those with the proper preparation are rewarded with a raw, often thrilling display of behavioral excess.

Years ago, the band Something She stormed the charts, becoming a monster success for Paragon Records and its owner, Howard (Eric Stoltz). They had fame, record sales, and everyone’s attention, but these days, the group is falling apart. Lead singer Becky (Elisabeth Moss) has fallen into a psychological abyss, alienating bandmates Marielle (Agyness Deyn) and Ali (Gayle Rankin), who struggle with their own problems, watching as their dream dissolves due to drug abuse and bipolar explosions. Chasing Becky is her husband, Danny (Dan Stevens), who’s trying to secure a divorce, patiently raising their daughter, Tama, on his own. Dealing with the fallout from missed gigs, broken contracts, and rage issues, Becky is slipping away from reality, unable to control her impulses as she watches the members of The Akergirls (Cara Delevinge, Ashley Benson, and Dylan Gelula) take her place as the new darlings of Paragon Records, suddenly faced with obsolescence as she clings to the comfort of music, frustrated as she loses her position as the center of attention.

“Her Smell” isn’t a completely suffocating viewing experience. Perry provides some background to Becky’s eventual rupture, showcasing in chapter breaks home movies from the band’s beginnings, where they’re receiving their first taste of the good life. The members of Something She suddenly find themselves on a photo shoot for a magazine cover, collecting gold records, and feeling anxiety from one of their earliest gigs. These are gasps of oxygen before Perry plunges back into hysteria, making specific points about the decimation of innocence and excitement, when band time was something more than a burden for Becky, who also mingles with her proud mother (Virginia Madsen) and deals with the arrival of Tama. It’s stillness and excitement, fear and courage, offering needed contrast to the mess of the band in the present day, where Becky has turned to voodoo to solve her problems, Ali feels disconnected and abused by the growing nightmare, and Marielle uses cocaine to numb herself.

Vivid reminders of innocence are fleeting, with most of “Her Smell” locked in small rooms with Becky, who doesn’t miss a chance to go on some type of rampage. Backstage at one of the group’s last shows, she’s a whirlwind of manic behavior, stomping around satisfying every dangerous whim. Danny fears for Tama, but he’s been here before, trying to locate a moment of stillness to complete his divorce mission. There’s an ill-fated recording session with Something She, finding Becky choosing to live in the studio as she works on vague song ideas, irritating Howard, who’s nearly gone bankrupt trying to support the group. Entering the building is The Akergirls, who show respect for their inspiration, only to become her backing band when Becky wants to assert her dominance. A few other sequences inspect Becky’s behavior and Ali and Marielle’s reactions to such volcanic aggression, giving “Her Smell” enough time to secure a full feel for illness that’s in dire need of treatment. It’s debatable whether or not Perry needs 135 minutes to feel out the edges of this nervous breakdown, but he takes his time, presenting Moss with a free pass to take Becky anywhere she wants to go.

Her Smell Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation deals with extreme lighting and restless camera work. Cinematographic interests are preserved, and periodic stillness permits appreciation for detail, which explores natural faces, showcasing blemishes and fatigue. Costuming is textured, going from showy stage wear to soiled cotton shirts. Backstage decoration is open for study, along with more peaceful domestic interiors in the midsection of the movie. Colors hit extremes, but not uncomfortably so, with Perry's Heaven and Hell scheme intact, delivering blazing reds. Concert lighting is more diverse, along with clothing choices. Skintones are precise. Delineation is communicative. Source has some speckling, and mild posturization is detected.

Her Smell Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix does a fantastic job keeping the listener inside various environments. Surrounds are incredibly active, capturing the far off presence of restless crowds while backstage drama unfolds, and channel separation is utilized to identify instrument placement in recording studios. Dialogue exchanges are sharp, exploring the manic energy of the performances, securing mumbling as well. Music is clear with defined instrumentation, defining percussive snap and guitar-driven power. Atmospherics are always enveloping. Low-end isn't taxed for an actor-driven effort, but beats offer thump.

Her Smell Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features writer/director Alex Ross Perry.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Her Smell Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The walls close in during "Her Smell," but the feature is never out of Perry's control, as his screenplay makes specific points about offenses and amends, tracking the arc of forgiveness and rehabilitation, ultimately adding temptation to Becky's list of problems. There's peace to the be found (Moss has a fine moment as Becky sings Bryan Adams's "Heaven" to Tama at a piano), but the movie is mostly a tornado of complications and confrontations, performed by a capable cast who eschew glamour to showcase their fatigue, committing to Perry's vision for never-ending anxiety. It's a taxing sit, but "Her Smell" preserves a human side to the impenetrable darkness, with the helmer finding a fresh way to examine rock star implosion and the collateral damage it leaves behind.