Spontaneous Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Spontaneous Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 21, 2022

Spontaneous is directed by Brian Duffield (writer, Love and Monsters), making his feature-film directorial debut. He also wrote the screenplay, adapted from the 2016 novel of the same name, written by Aaron Starmer. I cannot say if the book takes on the movie's tone, but as it is Duffield's picture is about as dark as they come, embracing a hopeless brand of fatalism that even some offsetting humor cannot hope to cover. It's a film about life, loss, grief, living in and for the moment, and throwing caution to the wind in the name of living life while living is still a thing. Bad things happen and they can happen to anyone at any time: that's the central theme. There is no human answer and there is no cosmic force capable of stopping it. One moment you're alive, and the next you're a blood splatter.

One day, during a random, boring precalculus class, Covington High student Katelyn Ogden explodes. Blood literally splatters all over the room. Why? She was not a bomber, nobody was hurt, and nobody can figure out why she suddenly popped like a balloon and doused the entire classroom in blood. Unfortunately, it was not a one-off incident. Covington students begin to spontaneously explode with some frequency, random as the event may be. In response, the students do what students do best: they party it up. Mara (Katherine Langford) turns to drugs and is more than open to the idea of being with her classmate Dylan (Charlie Plummer) who, with nothing to lose, professes his crush on her. The two bond in a world where the unexpected becomes the norm. As the students wait to see who will pop next, they are quarantined and their lives are turned upside down. Through it all, Mara and Dylan grow closer together, hoping the other will not be the next victim of “the Covington Curse.”

to The movie will likely resonate with audiences in 2022 emerging from the Covid pandemic and as they react and respond to and process various news stories of unexplainable tragedies that just happen out of nowhere, like the Miami condominium collapse. The film is unabashedly dark and nihilistic, loudly proclaiming the idea of living in the moment and rejecting the future, because the future is not guaranteed. However, it is hopeful -- at times even buoyant -- as the characters respond to tragedy and let loose just they are, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. The movie isn't in the business of explaining away how or why people are exploding. It's far more concerned with the reaction in the world around the event and making various statements about fate and living a full life. From that the audience can form its own opinions, but ultimately "why" is not the real question; it's really the most irrelevant in the movie as it tries to sort out the response to "why" instead.

One of the most important parts of the movie's sales job is to cast actors who can pitch the idea of growing nihilism but also find the joy in the moment and pondering the bigger picture without explicitly stating so. The film finds these actors in Katherine Langford and Charlie Plummer who not only share wonderful screen chemistry together but who make the most of their burgeoning relationship. Some physical intimacy is in order, but the film is much more interesting in how they approach their shared experiences, maneuvering through the physical gore, at times, but also the mental anguish and emotional stress and clouded future that hovers over them and their classmates. The actors find just the right approach to keep the movie simultaneously heavy and light, vital in that it doesn't lose its edge but also critical in that it doesn't grow so gloomy as to turn off an audience that wants to know that, at least for the moment, everything is going to be OK. Until it isn't. Again. And again.

Spontaneous Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Spontaneous was digitally photographed and the end result is a very attractive 1080p transfer. While there's nothing here that distinguishes this presentation from any other like it -- digitally shot, moderately budgeted big studio release -- that it is so solidly reliable is probably its best characteristic. The picture is strikingly clear. The picture reveals, of course, basics like skin, hair, and clothes with superb definition, particularly in well lit areas, like a classroom, medical tents and facilities, and daytime exteriors. Even at night, however, viewers will appreciate the firmness with which this presentation captures all of the necessary essentials. Colors are likewise solid, presenting with good neutral contrast and temperature adjustments. Everything is bright and healthy, particularly the red blood which is frequently seen splattered all over the frame. Beyond that, again it is clothing and classroom accents, as well as some splashes in Mara's bedroom and other key locations, that thrive here. Whites are very crisp, primarily seen midway through in the medical tents and facilities, standing as some of the punchiest and purest this side of the UHD format. Black levels are deep as well. The only downside is source noise, which is plainly in evidence during low light scenes, but it never raises to the level of "debilitating." There are no immediately obvious encode issues, either. This is a top-rate transfer from Paramount.

Spontaneous Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Spontaneous pops onto Blu-ray with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation is richly realized and very clear and detailed. Much like the video nothing stands apart from the pack, but neither is the track in any way less than the perfect companion for this film. The popping effects when students combust is clear, and the gory splattering soaks the stage on several occasions. Musical width and clarity are excellent and there's a modest sense of surround immersion at work every time score springs up as a main focus. Location din and environmental ambience are satisfying as well, whether light background at a dance or in a class or during a hysteric riot during a key sequence to end the second act. Dialogue is rich and clear as it plays with perfect prioritization from a natural front-center location.

Spontaneous Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of Spontaneous contains no extra content. The main menu screen does not even include a tab for chapter selections; all that is present are "Play" and "Subtitles" buttons. No DVD or digital copies are included with purchase. This release does not ship with a slipcover.

Spontaneous Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Though it is based on a novel, Spontaneous is quite the novel movie. It's an original idea, and while the dark humor and end goal -- embodied in the film's final line -- speak volumes to its nihilistic approach to life, it's both a thought provoking and entertaining bit of cinema. It's not for all tastes, but it at least thinks critically, whether rightly or wrongly, and isn't afraid to share its findings with the world. This Blu-ray is sadly featureless -- this sort of film is ripe for two or more commentary tracks, at least -- but at least the video and audio presentations are solid. Recommended.