6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.6 |
When her husband goes missing during their Caribbean vacation, a woman sets off on her own to take down the men she thinks are responsible.
Starring: Gina Carano, Stephen Lang, Danny Trejo, Luis Guzmán, Amaury NolascoThriller | 100% |
Action | 89% |
Martial arts | 32% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Survivors have scars. Losers have funerals.
Director John Stockwell's (Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden) In the Blood
is
best described as the Liam Neeson kidnapping Thriller Taken meets the hit video game Far Cry 3, a first-person shooter in which a young man is forced to battle his
way through a tropical paradise. At In the Blood's core, though, is a straight-up Action flick with the obligatory windy road towards the
not-so-twisty resolution.
The twists
help maintain an energy, even when the film gets bogged down in its beat-'em-up routine. The mystery is but a vehicle to allow MMA star Gina
Carano (Haywire) the opportunity to strut her stuff and clean the island out of
bad guys with some well-placed punches, kicks, gunshots, and a little bit of
torture. The film satisfies genre requirements and does so not so much with flair, but with a commanding presence from its star and no-nonsense
rhythm from its director.
It's in the blood.
In the Blood's 1080p transfer looks a bit hot, but that's almost to be expected of a hard Action film set in the Caribbean. Anchor Bay's presentation nevertheless reveals a good, balanced level of detail and vibrant coloring throughout. The transfer proves more than capable of capturing a wide variety of textures, from dense jungle to run-down urban areas, from a darkened nightclub to a well-lit operating room. Facial and clothing textures are nicely revealing and consistently so. A number of shots, particularly early on, are sourced from "consumer" camera equipment, such as cell phones, digital cameras, and the now-ubiquitous "GoPro" style camera, all of which, of course, lack the precision and professionalism of the other photography but nevertheless carry their scenes well enough within the picture's flow and context. As noted, colors are quite hot, with sharp jungle greens and red blood standing apart. More balanced shades, such as an orange stripe on ambulance or blue surgical attire, are handled as well as can expected. Flesh tones, however, never push too far away from natural, but black levels do show some paleness and heavy noise in select shots. Overall, however, this is a good, dependable transfer from Anchor Bay.
In the Blood arrives on Blu-ray with an Action movie-standard Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation is aggressive and immersive in all areas. Music is smooth, clear, and evenly spaced across the front and through the back. Dance club beats are particularly impressive, coming across as slightly muddled (adding location realism to the experience) and sending a deep, potent energy through the listening area. Support sound effects are consistently engaging and do well to place the listener in the Caribbean location, whether the listener be hearing wildlife or chanting crowds. Gunfire erupts with a fairly continuous presence in the third act. Shots ring out powerfully and fill the room with their brand of sonic aggression. Dialogue delivery is smooth and stable from the center. Overall, this is a well-rounded and engaging sound presentation from Anchor Bay.
In the Blood's only disc-based supplement is 'In the Blood:' Behind the Scenes (1080i, 19:20). Cast and crew speak on the film's physicality, project origins, themes behind the action, casting and performances, character motivations, and more. the piece also features a good deal of behind-the-scenes footage. Also included in the case are DVD and UV digital copies.
In the Blood should more than satisfy the Action lover's craving for something new, though not necessarily something different. The film works best in its bookends, dampened, but not ruined, by a monotonous middle stretch. Nevertheless, star Gina Carano acquits herself nicely in the lead role, carrying the action with ease and never coming close to embarrassing herself in the film's dramatic moments. She shows potential as a dependable, film-carrying, go-to Action hero star. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of In the Blood is disappointingly absent much in the way of supplemental content, but video and audio presentations do satisfy. Recommended to genre fans.
2019
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2-Disc Extended Cut
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1985
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The Expatriate
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