6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.2 |
Newcomers to the remote Australian desert town of Nathgari, Catherine and Matthew Parker's lives are flung into crisis when they discover their two teenage kids, Tommy and Lily, have mysteriously disappeared just before a massive dust storm hits. With Nathgari eerily smothered in red dust and darkness, the townsfolk join the search led by local cop, David Rae. It soon becomes apparent that something terrible may have happened to Tommy and Lily. Suspicions run riot, rumours spread and public opinion turns savagely against the Parkers. With temperatures rising and the chances of survival plummeting with each passing day, Catherine and Matthew find themselves pushed to the brink as they struggle to survive the mystery of their children's fate.
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving, Joseph Fiennes, Maddison Brown, Nicholas HamiltonThriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192 kbps)
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
There's a finality to death that's missing in the open-ended cases involving missing persons, be they runaways, kidnapping victims, or soldiers missing in action. The coping mechanism that comes with death allows for an instant release of pain and a gradual fall away from it. It lingers forever but loses its immediacy with the passage of time. But it's that knotted-up feeling of doubt and the endless anguish that comes with a missing person's case that would seem to hurt more. It gnaws, steadily, at every fiber of one's being, unrelenting in pain delivery and pushing one ever farther away from their own reality as they sink into the unbearable clutches of uncertainty, built on wave after wave of conflicting emotions and the knowledge that the resolution may bring good or bad news or, perhaps worse still, no news at all. Strangerland examines a family in crisis when two children go missing in the dusty Australian outback where personal histories, obvious suspects, and mother nature converge to cloud a terrible life-and-death scenario for a family living in unspeakable anguish.
Hurting.
Strangerland's 1080p transfer is quite impressive, even considering its fairly flat, glossy, and smooth digital veneer. Details are usually impeccably sharp, revealing both rugged Australian terrain -- even in rather long-distance overhead vistas which appear quite frequently throughout the film -- and intimate human details with ease. Both are beautifully complex and sharp, with the terrain showing off an assortment of leafy shrubs, rocks, and sand and the faces plenty of lines, hairs, pores, and other intimate details. Broader elements like building façades look great, too, particularly considering their somewhat more rugged texturing. Colors push a bit warm, and understandably so, considering both the scorching Australian sun and the dense red dust that covers much of the landscape, particularly after the storm. Even still, primaries are pleasant and flesh tones aren't too warm. Black levels struggle with both crush and a mild purple push in spots. Banding can be seen across a few backgrounds throughout, and mild noise creeps in from time to time. Still, this transfer should please most viewers.
Strangerland features a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Music enjoys strong definition throughout the range, supported by light surround support and a positive low end heft. The track presents plenty of small, but mood-critical, environmental details throughout, utilizing the entire stage but never overwhelming any one speaker or location. Smaller support details like footfalls on a wooden surface or brooms sweeping away dust enter the stage with a realistic flavor that helps add to the sense of basic immersion into the environment. The track's signature moment comes when the dust storm hits, sending a heavy rush of frightening energy throughout the stage, with the effect spilling out of every speaker. Dialogue, however, is the primary element, and the spoken word plays with positive clarity and natural center-front placement.
Strangerland contains two featurettes.
Strangerland feels more like a copycat "missing persons" movie and less like an original film. While it's home to strong acting -- the cast nails it, particularly Kidman and Fiennes as the struggling and grieving parents -- the movie feels like a regurgitation of so many others, even considering the strength of its moody, somber tone. The film does engender a strong sense of legitimate mystery and ends on a curious note that opens up several interesting avenues of possible interpretation. It's worth a watch provided the audience is prepared for the emotionally charged performances and dark subject matter. Just don't expect the next great missing person's genre movie. Alchemy's Blu-ray release of Strangerland delivers rock-solid video and audio. A couple of filler supplements are included. Worth a rental.
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Tom à la ferme / English packaging / Version française
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