6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
A unique, intimate and honest portrayal of a girl grieving for the loss of her best friend. That just happens to take place on the day the world ends as we know it.
Starring: Virginia Gardner, Christina Masterson, Eric Beecroft, Natalie Mitchell, Roberto DavideHorror | 100% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.34:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 CD)
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Writer/director A.T. White attempts to craft a low-budget brain-bleeder with “Starfish,” his take on a creature feature where the odyssey of monsterdom is contained within. There are wild visions presented here, but as freak-out cinema goes, it’s not a picture for those with limited patience. White moves forward carefully with his psychological free dive, keeping up with trends in digital cinema that deliver more visual detail than dramatic lure, working to disturb the traditional viewing experience with concentration on imagery and mental distortion, keeping common storytelling away from the endeavor. White certainly knows how to put together a sharp-looking movie, and “Starfish” is ideal for those who enjoy meditative missions into the interpretive unknown. Dramatically, it’s intermittently compelling, but after about 30 minutes of this ambling effort, this very well may White’s intention with his feature-length helming debut.
The AVC encoded image (2.34:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers a detailed examination of frame particulars in "Starfish," which often lingers on Gardner's face. Close-ups are exact, protecting emotive acting, and town tours are dimensional, offering a clear view of empty roads and distant horizons. Interiors preserve decoration, and costuming is fibrous, most notably with Aubrey's furry animal covering and sweaters. Colors are precise, offering bright whites for snowbound activities and more oaky rooms. Gardner's blue eyes pop, along with her blonde hair, and cassette hues are varied, adding some primary power to the viewing experience. Delineation is satisfactory, often dealing with limited lighting and shadow play. Grain for certain sequences is heavy but film-like.
Being such a sonic experience, the 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix supports the layered design of "Starfish" with a crisp track that's quite evocative at times. Dialogue exchanges are sharply defined, managing emotional efforts and more directly threatened reactions, while cassette recordings are appropriately aged. Scoring is distinct, presenting acoustic moods with pleasing balance, and soundtrack selections offer more power, providing low-end throb. Surrounds are active with compelling moments of separation and some panning effects to contribute to the cosmic push of the film. Atmospherics with cold weather travel and room tone handle superbly. Sound effects are exact.
White clearly has talent and an obsessive way with shooting "Starfish" (collaborating with gifted cinematographer Alberto Banares), almost collecting images instead of using them. Still, striking areas of personal ache remain, watching Aubrey deal with grief from multiple areas of her life, using the power of the cassettes to confront unfinished business, coming to terms with her shortcomings and missed opportunities. "Starfish" simulates a cathartic experience, but it doesn't quite become one, though Gardner does commit to everything White throws at her. This is specialized work, and for some, it might spark an engrossing trek into the challenges of maturation and introspection, but it's seldom consistent, almost becoming a picture just for White alone.
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