Kindred Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Kindred Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 26, 2021

Co-writers Joe Marcantonio and Jason McColgan try to summon the spirit of early Polanksi with “Kindred,” which shares a great deal in common with “Rosemary’s Baby” and a few other paranoid offerings from the director. Marcantonio also makes his feature-length helming debut with the endeavor, aiming to give the audience a deliberately paced ride of panic and despair, hoping to reach a dark psychological space with the movie, which deals intimately with imprisonment and manipulation. “Kindred” isn’t a particularly long picture, but it could still do with another editorial pass, with Marcantonio trying a bit too hard to prove himself with dreamscape imagery and prolonged suspense, missing a chance to manufacture an impressive nail-biter with real snowballing potential.

Screwing up the courage to visit his mother, Margaret (a frenzied Fiona Shaw), and brother, Thomas (Jack Lowden), at his family’s remote estate, Ben (Edward Holcroft) decides to use the moment to tell his surviving parent that he’s planning to move from England to Australia with his girlfriend, Charlotte (Tamara Lawrance). The news is not met with support, as Margaret is deeply hurt, expecting Ben to move into her house and help preserve a dwelling that’s been in the family for nine generations. Feeling good about their future together, Charlotte’s vision for freedom is complicated by news of a pregnancy, and her worst fears are realized when Ben is killed during a horse accident. Ready to return to her own house and deal with grief, Charlotte is instead kept inside by Margaret, who has plans to raise the baby. Slowly recognizing that she’s being kept against her will, Charlotte attempts to resist such control, with Thomas stepping up to become a source of comfort for the pregnant woman, who quickly learns she can’t trust anyone.

“Kindred” is a slow-burn viewing experience, and there’s a reason why. Marcantonio is looking to bring the audience in closer to Charlotte’s perspective, establishing her unease around Margaret as she joins Ben during an important visit to the family’s remote estate. Antagonisms are established, as Ben shows no patience for Thomas, who’s become the primary caregiver for his mother and the house, providing support and daily meals. Ben’s disdain extends to Margaret, an icy woman with severe control issues who demands the legacy of the family comes first in all decisions. Initial hostilities are quite welcome, capturing the toxicity of these relationships, reinforcing Ben’s drive to move to Australia, starting fresh with Charlotte, who has her own parental issues revealed later in the movie. What little passes here for shock value arrives with Ben’s death, leaving Charlotte to deal with a pregnancy she doesn’t even want, interacting with Dr. Richards (Anton Lesser), a local medical professional who protects Margaret’s interests.

Matters tighten when Charlotte’s request to return to her own home is rejected, leaving the pregnant woman to handle Margaret and Thomas on her own, trying her best to trust their judgement. She doesn’t have a phone and she’s often feeling disoriented, leaving her to rely on their expertise as they constant implore her to get rest and stay quiet. We’ve seen this type of movie before, with Charlotte eventually noticing clues that everything isn’t right, including the discovery of undissolved bits of pills in her tea, while Thomas’s attention isn’t entirely about personal support. “Kindred” attempts to drill deep into Charlotte’s blurred headspace through visits to her dreamscapes, putting her into contact with horses and birds, which symbolize evil or possible liberation from the waking nightmare. Such additions are unnecessary, slowing pace. “Kindred” connects with more visceral elements, such as Charlotte recognizing her captivity, trying to reach her friend, Jane (Chloe Pirrie), but these moments are few and far between.

Kindred Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation does well with detail, with the feature paying close attention to facial surfaces through tight close-ups, surveying differences in age and health, also exploring some gore with Ben's accident. Interiors are highly decorated, showcasing interesting textures around the estate. Cavernous rooms are dimensional, along with outside tours. Clothing is fibrous, and dreamscape visits retain vivid animal feathers and fur. Colors offers a chillier sense of the home, identifying the alien surroundings with deep reds and golds. Greenery is distinct, along with warmer sunshine. Delineation is satisfactory. Some banding is detected during dreamscape visits, along with periodic background blockiness.

Kindred Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix delivers an intimate listening experience, with mostly cautious, quiet performances nicely balanced with more volcanic eruptions when mental illness starts to reveal itself. Scoring cues are crisp, with a deep sense of orchestral strings and sharp piano playing. Surrounds welcome musical moods, and atmospherics with household movement and outdoor visits are appreciable. Low-end isn't challenged, but some violence packs a punch.

Kindred Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features co-writer/director Joe Marcantonio.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:15, HD) is included.

Kindred Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The writing tries to maintain a mind game among the residents in "Kindred," throttling violence as the picture works out character histories in the final act, long after certain personalities are already labeled a threat. The movie gets off the right foot, putting Charlotte in a difficult position of submission. But such weakness starts to become confusing due to Lawrance's innate power as an actress, making one wonder exactly why Charlotte simply can't walk away from the situation. "Kindred" struggles to create a level of suspense that carries throughout the entire feature, only working in select moments. The film ends up too long and oddly managed as it unfolds, lacking a final act that supplies a satisfying punch. The production almost seems fearful to really unleash hell here, sticking to sluggish style and superfluous characterization, imagining itself to be a more dramatic offering than something unsettling.