Honeyjoon Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Honeyjoon Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 11, 2026

Ayden Mayeri is an up-and-coming actress who’s been quite enjoyable in recent years, including work on the criminally underseen television show, “I Love That for You,” and supporting turns in “Cora Bora,” “Jackpot,” and “Confess, Fletch.” Mayeri receives a chance to explore more dramatic challenges in “Honeyjoon,” paired with co-star Amira Casar (“Call Me By Your Name”) for this very modest study of grief and family relationships during a time of emotional upheaval. Writer/director Lilian T. Mehrel finds a break in communication and healing and gradually digs into the ways of a mother and her daughter attempting to take a trip together while dealing with the weight of the world. “Honeyjoon” is delicate, but also funny and refreshingly spare when investigating the troubled union and individual character concerns. Mehrel makes her feature-length helming debut with the offering, showing confidence with atmosphere and casting, with Mayeri and Casar wonderful together.

June (Ayden Mayeri) and her mother, Lela (Amira Casar), have traveled to the Azores to confront a painful new reality. June’s father and Lela’s husband has passed away, and the pair are looking for the perfect moment to spread his ashes in a “paradise” he enjoyed as a younger man. Lela is a therapist who struggling with loneliness, and June is a wayward young woman unsure how to handle the loss and support her mother. The twosome elect to visit the area, finding help from Joao (Jose Condessa), a hotel employee who offers to take the travelers on a private tour. June is immediately attracted to the young man, and she deals with Lela’s motherly concerns, learning how to live with the woman during their excursion. For the widow, things are complicated, with the last year spent without her husband finally becoming real as she prepares to release his ashes, feeling the loss in a new way around her daughter.

Information is portioned out carefully in “Honeyjoon,” but viewers understand the tension between June and Lela. The trip is the first time they’ve been together in years, pulled into a travel plan to deal with the one year anniversary of their personal loss. The Azores isn’t a place for such somber remembrance, with the mother and daughter surrounded by newlyweds on their honeymoons, embracing the romance of it all while the main characters are focused on losing a loved one. “Honeyjoon” follows the twosome as they settle into their hotel, forced to share a single bed, while Lela has a bit of a flatulence issue. There’s cultural urgency in play as well, as Lela is committed to following Iranian news about a female revolution, deeply feeling the hits as authorities crack down on freedoms, with June trying to support her more passionate mother without getting involved in her frustration.

“Honeyjoon” remains with Lela and June on their adventures, out to follow a path of experiences set by their deceased loved one. Joao eventually joins the story, offering a tour that’s filled with stories about the area, and he engages carefully with June, who’s very attracted to the local. This lustfulness adds to unexpected surges of sexuality in the film, which creates physical intensity, but also allows a bit of humor to slip into the offering. Sightseeing footage provides “Honeyjoon” with a few breaks in the mission, capturing the trio as they embrace the beauty of the Azores, also looking for a spot to release the ashes. It’s lighthearted enough at times, but Mehrel enjoys peeling character layers, and the writing reveals more about the man who died and his impact on other lives, with Lela fighting a feeling of emptiness as she tries to make sense of the world without a partner.

Honeyjoon Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The image presentation (1.78:1 aspect ratio) for "Honeyjoon" mostly deals with a brightly lit endeavor, and one that's rich with color. Greenery is lush throughout the viewing experience, taking in the natural beauty of the surroundings. Clothing delivers crisp whites and primaries, joined by decorative additions and hotel views. Skintones are natural. Detail is strong, exploring skin particulars on the cast, getting into elements of age and fine hairs at times. Costuming remains fibrous. Interiors maintain dimension, touring hotel spots and domestic spaces. Exteriors are a bigger priority for the production, and distances maintain appealing depth, capturing the expanse of the region. Delineation is satisfactory. Trouble does arrive around the 66- minute mark, where a brief scene lit only with burning candles encounters issues such as banding and solidification with blacks, and redness in faces intensifies.

Honeyjoon Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix provides sharp dialogue exchanges, maintaining intelligibility and emotional nuance throughout the listening event. Scoring delivers delicate support with crisp instrumentation. Surrounds manage musical moods at times, creating immersive moments. Atmospherics are also compelling, exploring environmental changes and community bustle. Low-end isn't challenged.

Honeyjoon Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet offers a "visual essay" by writer/director Lilian T. Mehrel.

• Commentary features writer/director Lilian T. Mehrel.

• Behind the Scenes (5:58, HD) is a look at the making of "Honeyjoon," and also the filmmaking journey for writer/director Lilian T. Mehrel. The helmer discusses her creative and emotional inspirations, and shares the financing story for the picture, winning one million dollars from a Tribeca "Untold Stories" contest, giving her a year to make the feature. Casting is highlighted, and Mehrel shares her enthusiasm for the moviegoing experience, embracing the power of a group response to her sense of humor.

• "Pitch Excerpts" (5:42, HD) offer a look at the formation of "Honeyjoon," with writer/director Lilian T. Mehrel entering a filmmaking contest, sharing her story ideas and filmmaking plans on video. Clips from an early version of the feature are included, along with a more autobiographical understanding of the story, as the death of Mehrel's father inspired the tale and tone of the endeavor. Footage from Mehrel's own trip with her mother are also included, revealing the intimate nature of the material. The helmer's victory at the contest is provided as well, watching the overwhelmed filmmaker accept her prize.

• "Concierge Casting" (2:56, HD) examines the audition process for "Honeyjoon," offering videos of actors Antonio Maria and Tiago Sarmento as they try to score roles in the picture.

• "Super 8 Film Memories" (1:47, HD) collects travel footage shot for "Honeyjoon."

• "Whale Watching" (:43, HD) is a brief video following actors Ayden Mayeri, Amira Casar, and Jose Condessa as they travel on a boat to catch a glimpse of oceanic creatures.

• Image Gallery collects camera tests and film stills.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:37, HD) is included.

Honeyjoon Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Emotional blockage must be cleared in "Honeyjoon," but Mehrel doesn't go overboard with displays of shredded feelings. She keeps the film small and attentive to behavior, which allows Mayeri and Casar to find their moments, creating terrific character beats and relationship nuances to inspect. It's a short picture (around 70 minutes) and it's not interested in summoning a tidal wave of hurt. The material picks up on actions and reactions, and pays attention to private moments, which results in a more fulfilling understanding of the odyssey for both women. It's well-observed work, and Mayeri and Casar really capture a true familial dynamic, portraying complicated people coming together to honor a life, learning how to communicate in the process.