Murder on the Home Front Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Murder on the Home Front Blu-ray Movie Review

C.S.I.: The Blitz

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 16, 2014

“Murder on the Home Front” appears to be a pilot of some sort, establishing the daily activities of forensic scientist Lennox Collins (Patrick Kennedy) and his assistant, former journalist Molly Cooper (Tamzin Merchant). For this program, the pair work diligently to locate a serial killer stalking the single women of London during The Blitz, and while “Murder on the Home Front” is a 90-minute-long show, it could easily feed into a weekly series, following the duo as they carefully gather cues during the early years of scientific study, with the “C.S.I.” template happily pinched, refreshing the business of crime scene examination.

Directed by Geoffrey Sax (“White Noise”), “Murder on the Home Front” has no interest in being another stuffy procedural. The production exploits the jazz influence of the era, with creative editing and cinematography employed to energize the drama, while the violence of war is also present, with a steady stream of bombing raids keeping the community on edge. Also adding intensity is the realism of autopsy scenes, with scalpels digging into flesh and tongues removed for study. It’s all handled with some degree of humor, but the graphic nature of the profession is respected here, perhaps to compete with “C.S.I.”

Murder on the Home Front Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation doesn't take well to scenes with limited lighting, offering a slightly muddy appearance with unconvincing blacks and minor banding issues. The viewing experience is best served in brightly lit areas, where fine detail is accessible, bringing out fibrous textures on costuming and gruesome particulars on dead bodies. Colors are cranked to create the period vibe, with hot neon signage and blood red lips. Skintones are settled. Grain is somewhat inconsistent (some shots look very coarse), and HD brings out strange digital smoothing in a few scenes, but the overall presentation isn't too troublesome.

Murder on the Home Front Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is a basic collection of elements, with dialogue exchanges sounding crisp and true, preserving clarity on accents and argumentative behavior. Scoring is nicely balanced and supportive, while jazz performances showcase more active instrumentation that doesn't suffocate the performances. Bombing atmospherics are heavy and detailed, while outdoor events contain a sense of community bustle. No distortion was detected.

Murder on the Home Front Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interviews (6:01, HD) sit down with cast and crew, who share the BTS accomplishments of the show, from period detail to work put into the design of morgue props. There's a salesmanship tone to the featurette, but some creative insight is provided, with focus on the lively, jazz-infused atmosphere of the program.

Murder on the Home Front Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Merchant and Kennedy are absolutely wonderful in their respective roles, with a pleasing chemistry that could easily funnel into an extended exploration of mysteries and polite banter. "Murder on the Home Front" doesn't end satisfactorily, if only because the run time is a bit too much for the premise to manage. The investigative interests and murderous happenings are better suited for a shorter program, where the natural pleasures of a criminal hunt can avoid the fatigue of dramatic padding.