5.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A mother stops at nothing to recover her kidnapped son.
Starring: Halle Berry, Sage Correa, Chris McGinn, Lew Temple, Jason GeorgeThriller | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Kidnap is a movie made for cheap tagline blurbs. "She'll stop at nothing to save her son." "A mother's love knows no bounds." "They kidnaped from the wrong mother." Director Luis Prieto's (Pusher) film is about as straightforward as Action-Thrillers come. It's simple and efficient. There's no clutter, the runtime is very lean, and the movie was seemingly made for little more than the price of a Chrysler minivan, an old Mustang, a black Volvo, cast and crew salaries, and some miscellaneous expenditures. That's not a bad thing. Prieto gets as much out of the simple premise as he can. Sure the film lacks imagination, but as a straightforward, no-frills flick meant to kill about 80 minutes and not redefine the cinema landscape, it accomplishes its job of offering enjoyable escapist entertainment.
Kidnap was digitally photographed, and the 1080p Blu-ray transfer presents the film well enough. Noise is a near constant companion, rarely presented in any bothersome excess save for a scene in a tunnel where the lighting intensifies the noise significantly to the point that the screen is overwhelmed by it. Otherwise, the image is stable and enjoyable. Details are fair, nothing special in the HD realm but nothing that really disappoints. Facial, clothing, and car details are fine, revealing the basics with little effort. Colors are well saturated, particularly the cars, while surrounding environmental elements such as leaves and other city pieces find enough pop and punch to satisfy. Skin tones appear healthy and black levels in the final act are fine. No major compression or source issues beyond the noise are evident.
Kidnap features a forceful and exciting DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The film never shies away from presenting various car crashes, crunching metal, and the like with immersive, aggressive push. The listener will feel like he or she is in the van with Halle Berry, desperately weaving through traffic at speed, crashing into other vehicles, or experiencing the rush of a big rig rumbling by. Bass can be extreme but is presented with impressive balance even at serious depth. Shotgun blasts later in the film likewise deliver potent, concussive depth. The din at the carnival to begin is authentic and engaging with full stage saturation. Music is clear and detailed with positive stage envelopment. Dialogue is presented clearly and firmly from the front-center, always well prioritized even through the high-speed chaos.
This Blu-ray release of Kidnap contains one extra. A Look Inside 'Kidnap' (1080p, 3:13) offers a basic story and character recap. A DVD copy of the film and a UV/iTunes digital copy code are also included with purchase.
Kidnap is certainly nothing special, but it's fast-paced, efficient, and watchable. Berry delivers a convincing performance as a mother who pushes herself to her limit to retrieve her missing son. It's a straightforward film, with a lot of Duel and maybe a little Breakdown making up its story. This isn't life-changing cinema, but it makes for a lightning-quick passable time killer. Video is adequate, audio can be intense, and one brief throwaway extra is included. Worth a look.
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