Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

Regression Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 22, 2016

Director Alejandro Amenábar's Regression comes to the screen "inspired by real events" that have been fleshed out for film by Amenábar's own hand. The film, which stars Ethan Hawke as a Minnesota detective and Emma Watson as an alleged victim of sexual abuse that may be attached to satanic rituals, tackles a dark subject with an appropriately noir-inspired façade. It's not particularly compelling or creative, but the movie proves adequately engaging as it slowly processes themes and maneuvers through challenging material that's visually bleak and emotionally traumatic.

Looking for answers.

Angela (Watson) has fled her home and, for the past few days, has been living in the sanctuary -- literal and figurative -- of a local church. She's accused her father John (David Dencik) of sexual abuse. She's provided the police a handwritten letter outlining her experiences. John has no recollection of the abuse, but he trusts his daughter's word and admits guilt. Detective Bruce Kenner (Hawke) works the case, and to retrieve John's lost or repressed memories he works with a psychiatrist named Kenneth Raines (David Thewlis) who performs aggressive and experimental "regression therapy" on John to help him remember the details. Those details lead to further suspects and a larger mystery that may involve Angela in the middle of a terrible demonic ritual.

Regression takes its time developing the story, maneuvering through its many permutations that evolve from the central core of sexual abuse. The suspect list grows as more truths -- or are they misdirections? -- are revealed, but so too does the suspicion that there's something more devious taking place behind the scenes. The film spends much of its time on the satanic cult phenomena and its probable connection to the case, as well as the "regression therapy," from which the movie takes its title, that allows for an almost supernatural pursuit of the truth beyond standard detective story motifs. It all works well enough together, maintaining a bleak, inhospitable atmosphere as it progresses towards the obligatory twisty conclusion that doesn't break new ground, or even bend the rules, but that does shine a brand new light on everything leading up to its reveal and how the movie slyly manipulates all of its noise along the way.

But the problem is that Regression never finds a true, separable identity from the pack. It's well done -- moody atmosphere, sharp direction, detailed performances, and a terrific complimentary soundtrack all elevate the film -- but it's not so creatively original to stand apart. The movie follows a basic and well-worn pattern of psychological manipulation, of red herrings galore that keep the audience involved and engaged, to an extent. But another, completely plausible and understandable reaction to the movie is to sit back and expect the unexpected, to drown out the noise because, chances are, not a whole lot of it will matter at the end. Genre-savvy audiences may not see the final resolution coming in all its detail, but to understand that the movie is in the business of misdirection is easy to see from the beginning. It's up to the viewer whether it's worth any serious emotional investment when, by all accounts, it doesn't appear to be.

The film does benefit from solid technical details and performances that don't necessarily mask its direction but rather compliment its story. It's effectively moody and bleak, favoring dimly lit interiors and precious little vibrance to clothing or other details. Even daytime exteriors are overcast and dreary. Alejandro Amenábar's direction is polished and perfectly effective at capturing the movie's mood and style, presenting it with a graceful flow yet an uncomfortable edge. None of the performances are particularly noteworthy, but Ethan Hawke does carry his character's evolution with a tangible sense of emotion. Support characters are likewise effective in furthering the movie's manipulative and mysterious agenda.

Regression Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Regression's 1080p transfer favors the movie's inherently dark façade. Colors are largely limited to shades of black, dark blue, and gray, with even brighter colors on clothes and natural greenery appearing rather dim under overcast conditions. The palette displays as well as can be expected under the movie's constraints. Details never suffer. Faces and clothes are crisply defined, revealing finer points with ease. Image clarity is stable and background sharpness is just as impressive as the foreground. Black levels, particularly in nighttime exteriors, enjoy positive depth and balance. Flesh tones are fine, though again under the movie's moody overlay. Compression anomalies and other maladies are infrequent and never an intrusion.

Regression Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Regression features a very active and immersive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Sound placement and stage manipulation are highlights. The movie's sound design makes excellent use of every channel at its disposal, placing static voices and maneuvering sounds of terror all over the listening area. Sounds literally swirl and discrete effects are plentiful, creating a detailed environment that helps add plenty of frights and tension to several key scenes. Sound movement is fluid and precise. Ambient effects are impressive. Driving rain saturates the listening area with ease. Office din is satisfyingly rich and detailed, which includes working equipment, footsteps, and chatter. Deep, rumbly bass supports several key scenes. Music enjoys excellent spacing, definition, and surround detail. Dialogue delivery is even, center placed, and the beneficiary of top-notch prioritization and clarity.

Regression Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Regression contains four featurettes. A UV digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Ethan Hawke -- Bruce's Obsession (1080p, 2:04): Cast sand crew discuss Hawke's character and performance, his casting, and the qualities he brought to the role.
• Emma Watson -- The Complexity of Angela (1080p, 2:30): A quick plot analysis followed by a look at Watson's character and her performance.
• The Cast of Regression (1080p, 2:26): The piece begins with material borrowed from the previous extras and moves on to briefly look at some of the secondary characters.
• The Vision of Regression (1080p, 2:43): A brief catch-all that looks at story, shooting details, and more.

Regression Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Regression isn't a bad film. It's not a great film. The movie is effectively atmospheric, expertly photographed and edited, and home to several good performances. But it's not particularly challenging. Even if its inevitable destination isn't clear, the road towards it proves all too familiar. The movie works well enough to warrant a watch, but it's not destined to be remembered as a classic in its genre. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Regression delivers solid video, engaging audio, and a few supplements. Definitely worth a rental and perhaps a purchase at an aggressively low price; there's just not a ton of replay value to the movie or the Blu-ray disc.