I Start Counting Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

I Start Counting Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 13, 2020

The ways of the teenage heart take a few disturbing directions in 1969’s “I Start Counting.” An adaptation of a novel by Audrey Erskine-Lindop, the story concerns a young girl coming into contact with her maturity and sexuality growing fixated on an elusive man during a time of serial murder in the community. It’s a tale that covers a lot of psychological ground during its run time, and director David Greene (“Rich Man, Poor Man,” “Fatal Vision”) seems ready to explore it all with the endeavor. It’s a tonal tightrope walk Greene gracefully navigates, offering more adventurous viewers a touch of a whodunit to go with offerings of juvenile obsession.

Wynne (Jenny Agutter) is 14-year-old girl trying to manage her life as she deals with her family, her friend Corinne (Clare Sutcliffe), and time in Catholic school. She’s also fixated on her 32-year-old stepbrother, George (Bryan Marshall), a grown man who leads a somewhat secretive life, offering mystery to charge Wynne’s fantasies. Trouble emerges in the form of a serial killer targeting teen girls, painting a target on Wynne as she tries to ignore the growing threat. She’s more interested in George, with her developing lustfulness complicated by evidence of blood and bodily harm on her object of desire, picking up on signs that he may be the roving murderer.

Agutter’s performance carries “I Start Counting,” tasked with embodying the excitement and confusion of a teenage girl in the throes of a crush that’s complicating rapidly. Wynne’s set her sights on George, a man with a job and a life that doesn’t involve her, but they share a living space, which is all the girl needs to remain locked on his movements. Such adolescent surges make up half of “I Start Counting,” with the rest of the movie detailing a serial killer in town, picking off young females, though Wynne doesn’t initially consider the dangers of her social life around town. Greene and screenwriter Richard Harris (a television veteran) gracefully pull the two sides together, generating an uneasy atmosphere of danger for the lead character, who’s too busy keeping up on George’s day-to-day life to notice. There’s a slight detective element to the tale, following Wynne as she secretly tails George, getting a sense of his responsibilities and even his lies. However, the picture is more invested in her whirring mind, often catching Wynne in daydreams and fantasies, bathing in the possibility of an impossible union.

I Start Counting Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Making a bold leap to Blu-ray after decades in release limbo, "I Start Counting" is offered a "New 2K restoration from it 35mm interpositive." For fans of the feature, the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is cause for celebration, with Fun City Editions managing to bring the endeavor back to life after years spent with bootleg DVDs and YouTube links. Detail emerges with freshness, offering a distinct look at characters and locations, with various trips around town showing off distances, and interiors register with decoration, especially home tours and visits to the local record shop. Facial surfaces are textured, and costuming is fibrous, with thick sweaters and wool uniforms. Colors are respectfully refreshed, handling period fashion and wonderful greenery. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Wear and tear is present during the viewing experience, with speckling and scratches, quick debris, and brief discoloration present. Some roller wear is visible on the right side of the frame during the first two reels as well.

I Start Counting Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix opens with the theme song for "I Start Counting," which sounds clear and welcoming, offering crisp vocals and instrumentation. Scoring cues are equally warm and fresh, supporting the exploratory mood of the feature. Dialogue exchanges are distinct, dealing with some iffy looping at times, but performances aren't lost, securing emotional efforts and softer declarations. Atmospherics are acceptable, overseeing household bustle and street tours.

I Start Counting Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Intro (:28, HD) offers a welcome to the "I Start Counting" disc from actress Jenny Agutter, who remarks how the feature has never had an American home video release.

• Commentary features film historian Samm Deighan.

• "A Kickstart" (20:24, HD) is an interview with Agutter, who recalls her early years in ballet school, eventually transitioning to acting due to personal interests. Agutter remembers early acting jobs and her casting in "I Start Counting," which she still isn't sure how she booked the job. Memories of director David Greene are shared, detailing his passion for the position, often staying as close to the cast as possible while they performed. She also offers the developing thespian technique at the time (she was 16 years old during the shoot), and her interactions with co-stars, some electing to help her when she needed the boost. Locations are highlighted, mixing run-down English locations with more modern buildings. Technical achievements are celebrated. The interviewee delves into release issues with marketing confusion, and the home video limbo of "I Start Counting," sharing happiness that the feature has made its way to Blu-ray, reflecting on the career boost it provided for her.

• "Loss of Innocence" (7:35, HD) is a video essay by Chris O'Neill.

• Image Gallery (:55) collects film stills.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:53, HD) is included.

I Start Counting Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"I Start Counting" isn't thunderous, aiming to be more subtle with dangerous encounters, taking time to follow Wynne and Corinne as they do teen things, such as visit a record store. These asides are valuable for their time capsule potential, but they tend to throttle the suspense of the feature, which doesn't quite come to a boil by the final moments. "I Start Counting" misses a bit with tension, but it works superbly as a character study and observance of free-range infatuation contained within an impressionable young woman.