7 | / 10 |
Users | 2.8 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.2 |
Hunter, a newly pregnant housewife, finds herself increasingly compelled to consume dangerous objects. As her husband and his family tighten their control over her life, she must confront the dark secret behind her new obsession.
Starring: Haley Bennett, Austin Stowell, Denis O'Hare, Elizabeth Marvel, David RascheHorror | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
“Swallow” appears intended to be a major showcase for the acting skills of Haley Bennett, who takes a producing role on the picture, gifting herself a little more control over the final product. It’s been a rocky road for the talent, who failed to breakout in efforts such as “The Girl on the Train” and “The Magnificent Seven,” with “Swallow” delivering a juicy leading part that’s completely focused on her abilities, offering a tonal challenge with strange material that deals uncomfortably with obsessive compulsive disorder and depression. The good news about the movie is that it truly makes the most of Bennett’s screen appeal, and she delivers refreshingly alert work for director Carlo Mirabella-Davis, skillfully reaching some interesting psychological spaces as the feature conjures plenty of compelling darkness.
"Swallow" is a film of extreme close-ups and textures, taking viewers on a tour of pained looks and dangerous items the lead character consumes. The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation preserves all sorts of textures when exploring this particular world, protecting the sharpness of the imagery, which often carries a glistening wetness or high polish, and pointiness remains menacing as sharper objects are placed inside Hunter's mouth. Facial surfaces are exact, picking up on fine hairs and worry lines. Interior decoration is also pristine, with fibrous furniture. Exteriors offers true depth, offering dimensional looks into the woodland and river surroundings. Colors come through with power, delivering heavy use of primaries, with reds and greens common in Hunter's home. Object hues are vivid, adding to the beauty of unease the production is aiming for. Greenery is precise. Skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Some mild banding is periodically detected.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix explores the dramatic stillness of the feature, with "Swallow" often spending time with Hunter in her illness. Dialogue exchanges are commanding, with a sharp understanding of different performances and accents, and argumentative behavior doesn't trigger any distortion. Scoring cues aren't a priority for the endeavor, but orchestral moods register as intended, and some electropop on the soundtrack gives the track some synth-y bounce. Surrounds carry atmospherics with care, exploring room tone, party guest bustle, and a few open-air events. Sound effects are crisp. Low-end isn't challenged.
Bennett is marvelous in "Swallow," communicating burning emotion locked behind a barrier of compliance, giving Hunter relatability while exploring her unusual obsessions. The character is fascinating, as is the feature overall, which builds with the addition of Luay and carries on to a conclusion that remains ghastly, but also weirdly positive in the grand scheme of things. Mirabella-Davis shows remarkable control over "Swallow," exploring illness and experience with directorial confidence, easing viewers into a claustrophobic world that initially threatens to become a circus sideshow, only to provide a more involving understanding of despondency.
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