5.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A single father with a recently transplanted heart goes on a frantic search to find his donor's killer before a similar fate befalls him.
Starring: Josh Lucas, Lena Headey, Brian Cox, Bea Miller, Pablo SchreiberThriller | 100% |
Horror | 89% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The cinematic trope of donor organs taking over their host bodies, often to nefarious ends, has been a staple since at least the days of good old Igor taking that damnable “criminal brain” and handing it to Dr. Frankenstein, who installed it in his monster. Tell Tale’s title obviously harkens back to the iconic story of Edgar Allan Poe, and so concerns a heart rather than a brain, but what really sets it apart is that this transplanted organ is out for some semblance of justice, rather than simply routine mayhem. Director Michael Cuesta is no stranger to death and destruction, having helmed several episodes of both Six Feet Under and Dexter, and he mounts a mostly gripping drama here that makes the most of screenwriter Dave Callaham’s update of a heart that has a lot on its mind, so to speak. If some of the film is overly treacly, with a few too many clichés for its own good, that tendency is somewhat ameliorated by a fun premise and a killer (no pun intended) final second or two that ties up a couple of loose ends with a nice, blood soaked bow.
One big happy family. Except for the big and happy parts.
Tell Tale's AVC encoded 1080p image (with a 2.40:1 aspect ratio) is grainy, grimy and gritty, perfectly in tune with the dark psychological undertones of its drama. Contrast is frequently just slightly blown out, rendering some of the darker scenes murky. None of this is a problem, per se, and most probably accurately represents director Cuesta's vision for the film, which sports a "lo-fi" ethos in most departments. Colors are good, if sometimes muted, but that very subtly plays to the film's strengths, especially in the ice blue, desaturated look of the film's horrifying climax. While the grain may give the overall film a slightly soft look in the wide and medium shots, close-ups reveal a wealth of detail like every hair on Lucas' body (and he's filmed shirtless virtually as much as he is clothed). It's hard with a film this purposefully processed, which was relatively low budget to begin with, to really properly assess a high definition image as a standalone property. I'm quite positive this Blu-ray recreates the theatrical experience excellently. I'm just as sure persnickety videophiles will find it too soft and lacking in contrast, despite that being the wish of its creator.
Tell Tale's audio mix offers one true superlative in its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track--the relentless thump, thump of Terry's transplanted heart which overwhelms the subwoofer and surround channels with air pressure changing intensity. There are moments of really good immersion here, especially in some of the city scenes, and in two of the murder segments, one in a parking structure and the other in a subway tunnel, where the claustrophobic acoustics are perfectly rendered. Otherwise this is a pretty talky picture without a lot of opportunity for knock your socks of sonic effects. Dialogue is clean and crisp and easy to understand, and the brooding underscore is well mixed into the overall soundfield. But it's that incessant, overpowering thump, thump that's likely to stay with you long after the film has ended.
No supplements are offered.
Tell Tale harkens back to those great B-movie thrillers that Val Lewton used to crank out for RKO. There's nothing really brilliant here, but the film has a good, uneasy ambience and an interesting enough premise to see it through its clichéd rough spots. Dallas Roberts steals the film in a late cameo, which finally elevates the proceedings to that giddy area where you don't know whether to laugh or scream. Those of you who like thrillers with a slightly gruesome twist could do a lot worse than to rent this for an evening's scare.
2017
Unrated Edition
2006
Unrated Edition
2005
Uncut Edition
2009
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Uncut
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Unrated Director's Cut
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