Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

Strangerland Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 26, 2015

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.

A family of four -- mother Catherine (Nicole Kidman), father Matthew (Joseph Fiennes), daughter Lily (Maddison Brown), and son Tom (Nicholas Hamilton) -- is trying to settle into a new life in a small Australian town where the only escape for Lily is the local skating hangout. Tom is prone to wandering off at night, and both are enough to keep the parents concerned. But the children disappear when a severe dust storm overwhelms the town. The parents enlist the help of a local detective named David Rae (Hugo Weaving) in the search, but the case seems to be leading nowhere. As the grieving parents struggle to come to terms with the very real possibility that their children may never return, they begin to break down -- physically and emotionally -- as the reality of the situation overwhelms them.

Strangerland oozes atmosphere and unsettling drama yet never quite connects. The film explores dark themes set against a rugged terrain and an unmistakable air of doubt and fear but cannot quite distinguish itself, either by way of its character arcs or story specifics. The film plays with a deeply procedural feel, maneuvering through all of the expected -- and, admittedly, a few unexpected -- physical and emotional angles that do engender a sense of uncertainty and discomfort in the audience as well as, obviously, the characters, but they're emotions audiences and characters have felt before, and more deeply, in similar, superior fare. Strangerland plays with a constant sense of "been there, done that." That's not to diminish in any way the raw impact such a scenario would engender in real people suffering through it, but as a form of "entertainment" the movie fails to resonate, even as the picture becomes a vessel for tangible pain that the actors do, commendably, display with all the authenticity they can muster.

Indeed, the collected cast gives an honest, heartfelt effort that elevates the movie further than its otherwise tedious script should allow. That's a plus considering that the film is less about the actual case and more about the anguish it creates within the family. Nicole Kidman and Joseph Fiennes explore the deepest, darkest depths of their souls, channeling a very tangible sense of deeply rooted and inescapable anguish that builds quickly and increases exponentially as the story evolves or, perhaps better said, their response to the scenario evolves and their personal lives crumble, both inside and out. Their performances absolutely save the movie and, if the audience is in the mood to settle in with them, make it worth a watch for their standout depiction of pain evident in every scene and only increasing for the duration.

Strangerland Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Strangerland contains two featurettes.

• The Cast Featurette (1080p, 8:23): Cast and crew discuss the performances, intertwined with various clips from the film.
• The Story Featurette (1080p, 5:36): A look at the core story details, the Australian landscape as a character and integral part of the movie, and Director Kim Farrant's work.
• Previews: Strangerland (1080p), Kidnapping Mr. Heineken (480i), The World Made Straight (480i), Good People (480i), and The Iceman (480i).

Strangerland Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

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.