7 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.8 |
The peculiarly named Odd Thomas is a young man who spends his days as an unassuming short-order cook in a local dinner. The thing that makes Odd’s name so fitting is that he possesses a clairvoyance that allows him to spot demons and communicate with spirits wandering in our dimension.
Starring: Anton Yelchin, Willem Dafoe, Addison Timlin, Shuler Hensley, Gugu Mbatha-RawSupernatural | 100% |
Thriller | 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 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Odd Thomas is an independent fantasy film with big budget aspirations. It is based on the first of a successful series of books by horror and sci-fi author Dean Koontz, who told attendees at 2008's Comic-Con that he was delighted with the script by writer/director Stephen Sommers (the Mummy trilogy and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra). Unfortunately, the film fell victim to the uncertainties of independent financing. Production was delayed for lack of funds, and the release date had to be pushed back due to litigation among the financing partners over costs of prints and advertising. When Odd Thomas finally saw U.S. theater screens on February 28, 2014, the release was limited and the advertising was nil. Critical reaction was poor, but in today's market the critics' opinion of a fantasy film hardly matters. Availability and fan awareness are enough to draw an audience, especially with an established brand, but Odd Thomas' distribution was so weak that Box Office Mojo doesn't even list it. The fans will have to experience it on this first-rate, though featureless, Blu-ray from RLJ/Image Entertainment.
For Odd Thomas, director Sommers re-teamed with Mitchell Amundsen, his director of photography on G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Amundsen shot the film with Red cameras outfitted with anamorphic lenses, which softened the digital image for a more film-like texture. Post-production was completed on a digital intermediate, which no doubt facilitated the integration of the many digital effects. RLJ/Image's 1080p, AVC-encoded Blu-ray was probably sourced from digital files. The Blu-ray image is clean, noiseless and detailed, with a precisely calibrated color palette that carefully distinguishes Odd's warmly natural world from the synthetic tones of the mall and nearby bowling alley where much of Pico Mundo's social life is conducted. The ice cream parlor where Stormy works is especially notable for its artificial pastels, which may be intended to suggest the artificial flavorings of its product. The festering interiors of Fungus Bob's house are various shades of brown and gray, and the shadow detail is so good that you can make out everything you wish you couldn't (this guy never cleans). Sommers has enough experience with digital effects to know how to shoot so that the CGI integrates smoothly, and Yelchin is skillful at playing against entities that weren't there when he filmed his scenes. At an average bitrate of 24.98, Odd Thomas falls within the range that major studios find acceptable for big action films, which is certainly consistent with the demands of Sommers' CGI-laden set pieces. Red footage compresses well, and artifacts were not in evidence.
Odd Thomas's 5.1 soundtrack is aggressive, immersive and powerful, but it is also difficult to describe in detail without revealing important story points. A recurring element is the ever-present bodachs, who threaten and swirl throughout the town of Pico Mundo, unheard and unseen by everyone except Odd (and, of course, us). Several scenes in which hordes of them go rushing in or out of what appears to be a gateway to hell are particularly impressive. An aggressive pursuit of Odd and Stormy by Fungus Bob, during which the couple takes refuge in a church and Fungus Bob pounds, hammers and throws himself against doors and windows trying to get in, has sharp impact and powerful reverberations. Gunshots, both in dreams and real life, register forcefully, and a pair of Rottweilers bark and growl just as forcefully. Odd's voiceover narration floats just above and in front of the center channel, while the dialogue remains firmly centered. The score by John Swihart (For a Good Time, Call...) captures the right mixture of thriller urgency and youthful romance.
The disc has no extras. At startup, the disc plays trailers for The Numbers Station and The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box, which can be skipped with the chapter forward button and are not otherwise available once the disc loads. Although this is not technically an extra, it is worth noting that the original pressing of Odd Thomas comes with a lenticular slip cover that alternately depicts Odd alone and surrounded by bodachs. Collectors, take note.
The conclusion of Odd Thomas leaves an obvious opening for a sequel, but it seems unlikely that one will be made, given the film's weak reception. That is all the more reason for fans of the series, or just those who are curious, to experience the film now while it is still fresh. The performances are lively, the effects are professional, and the Blu-ray's image and sound are superior. Despite the lack of extras, recommended.
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