Luz Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Luz Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 2, 2020

It doesn’t come as a tremendous surprise to learn that “Luz” is actually a thesis film from writer/director Tilman Singer. The German production doesn’t aim to go big with its tale of possession and obsession, preferring to play everything with a slow-burn study of performance as tensions rise in small rooms. It’s largely inexplicable, with Singer playing homage to Euro cinema brain-bleeders of the 1980s with the picture trying to reach a specific audience with its avant-garde antics. It’s all a great big question mark of behavior, history, and domination, and while “Luz” has something, it visibly struggles to fill a scant 65-minute-long run time, with Singer clearly trying to taffy-pull a minor idea into something major, leaning into the stillness of the effort instead of developing its level of dread.

Long takes and staring contests define the “Luz” viewing experience, but something is happening during the feature, which details strange encounters surrounding the titular young woman. Tilman doesn’t desire a ripping pace for the picture, instead focusing on idiosyncratic performances from the cast, who try to give their all to the helmer, inhabiting confused and distorted people. There’s something of a puzzle when it comes to motivations and personal histories, but Tilman likes to keep things just out of reach, preferring to hold attention through cinematographic muscle. “Luz” looks very nice for small production, making a clear move to worship at the altar of John Carpenter, offering a steely look at the gradual breakdown of patience that occurs in the effort, while scoring from Simon Waskow supplies a synth-laden sound to best amplify the production’s love of a special decade in genre filmmaking.

Luz Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation supplies a distinctly film-like viewing experience for "Luz," which was shot on 16mm, delivering heavy grain throughout. Also included is the "Grindhouse" treatment, with Tilman trying to transform his feature into a secret discovery with the addition of speckling, scratches, and print damage. Detail is satisfacotry with limited environments, surveying the cold brick realm of the bar, and the width of the interrogation room. Facial particulars are present, with subtle sweat and fine hairs, and costuming is fibrous. Colors are deep, particularly strong with extreme lighting and skintones, which remain natural. Grain is heavy but film-like. Delineation is communicative.

Luz Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix does well with room tone, with the low-budget movie not swinging for the fences when it comes to providing an explosive genre track. Surrounds are active, and they feel around the different buildings in play, also exploring the translation elements of the plot. Dialogue exchanges are crisp, managing strange performances and emotional outbursts. Music carries with a sharp synth, adding mood and emphasis. Low-end is good, better with soundtrack throb.

Luz Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Foldout Poster is provided.

• Interview (28:05, HD) is a chat with writer/director Tilman Singer.

• Tilman Singer Short Films (HD) include 2014's "The Events at Mr. Yamamoto's Alpine Residence" (9:29) and 2016's "El Fin Del Mundo" (17:00).

• And a U.S. Trailer (:58, HD) and an International Teaser (:49, HD) are included.

Luz Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Luz" has vibrations of illness that keep it mildly interesting, entering a realm of unreality that provides ample opportunity for disturbing imagery and quaking performances. It's a small picture and often feels like it, with Tilman trying to generate a memory-tearing adventure through time with nothing more than an active sound design, a few rooms, and actors devouring every morsel of darkness the screenplay offers them. There is and will be an audience for the feature, which plays directly to cult film appreciation, becoming a secret password movie for those innately drawn to this type of experience. I certainly respect what Tilman is trying to do with "Luz," but I'm not convinced he was ready to do it, as there's a good 30 minutes of dramatic pressure that's trying to reach a feature-length run time, often caught struggling to do so. There's atmosphere and an idea, but it's hard to shake the feeling that all this was meant to be a supremely taught short at one point in its development.