7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Crime reporter, John Moore, meets with psychologist, Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, to investigate a serial killer in New York during the late 19th century.
Starring: Daniel Brühl, Dakota Fanning, Luke Evans, Matt Lintz, Martin McCreadiePsychological thriller | Insignificant |
Period | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Not DTS-HD MA 5.1
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Based on the first of several novels by Caleb Carr, TNT's The Alienist is a sumptuously produced but slightly uneven series that examines crime and punishment in New York City, 1896. Well, crime at least: like so many shows before it -- going as far back as David Lynch's landmark Twin Peaks -- it leads off with a horrific crime revealing a tangled web of dirty secrets. Said crime is the gruesome murder of young male prostitute Giorgio Santorelli, who often wore women's clothes and went by "Gloria". The resulting investigation calls in criminal psychologist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler (Daniel Brühl) and New York Times illustrator John Moore (Luke Evans), who dig deeper when the police department, led by Captain Connor (David Wilmot), is more interested in covering it up. Joining them is Sara Howard (Dakota Fanning), secretary of police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (Brian Geraghty) and the department's first female employee.
Episode summaries are included below. All 10 are included on Warner Bros.' Blu-ray edition, which also features a solid A/V presentation and a few lightweight but appreciated bonus features. A follow-up series, subtitled Angel of Darkness and based on the second Carr novel, has recently been announced for a March Blu-ray release. Running a modest eight episodes in total, possibly for reasons related to the then-new COVID-19 pandemic, it focuses intently on the exploits of Sara Howard in a male-dominated world. (Considering she's easily the show's least compelling main character, I'll keep my expectations in check.) Until then, newcomers can quickly get caught up with these ten episodes:
Disc 1
Disc 2
The Alienist was shot digitally... but unlike, say, Michael Mann's Public Enemies, the format doesn't work against it. This is tricky material too, with endless fog and hazy interiors that, in the wrong hands, would crumble under the weight of banding and compression artifacts, both of which Blu-rays aren't immune to. And while the former flaw does creep in on more than a few occasions, it's mostly kept at bay and rarely distracts from The Alienist's otherwise terrific visuals. Colors are predominantly muted with plenty of bold blues and oranges, with period-specific signage, costume designs, and the soft glow of ambient lights looking particularly nice. Skin tones appear accurate as well depending on lighting conditions, while textures and fine details are limited but pop nicely during daytime scenes. The entire production has something of a very smooth and balanced appearance -- not necessarily waxy or flat, but more of a best-case scenario for the recreation of a year when "digital" wasn't even a word yet. Overall, it's a great-looking release.
The lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix is decidedly front-heavy but does achieve regular moments of immersion, mostly by way of bustling outdoor scenes, crowded halls, cavernous interiors, diegetic music, and the original score by Rupert Gregson-Williams. Dialogue is typically given top priority and sounds crystal clear with good placement and depth, and it's mixed well enough so as not to warrant frequent volume adjustments even during the series' most violent mood swings. Discrete panning and other effects are rare and usually reserved for (hose-drawn) traffic and occasional action sequences, as well as a few jump scares and hallucinatory moments, such as the drugging of John Moore during a late-night investigation. Since most of The Alienist is relatively quiet and subdued, the majority of these 10 episodes rely more on subtle atmosphere than bombastic heft; to that end, what's here is certainly good enough.
Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during all episodes and applicable bonus features.
This two-disc release arrives in a dual-hubbed keepcase with surprisingly bright artwork with a very glossy slipcover. A brief episode guide and Digital Copy slip are also tucked inside. Extras are divided between both discs.
Disc 1 - Don't watch these featurettes until later! Spoilers for Disc 2's episodes are given away.
Discs 1 & 2
TNT's ongoing series The Alienist doesn't break much ground in the ever-expanding world of forensic crime dramas, but its late 19th Century setting, aided by outstanding production design, manages to create a rich and convincing sandbox for the main and supporting characters. Its unfolding story doesn't always feel quite as satisfying but has merit, which makes this ten-episode first season definitely worth a run-through before the second one's Blu-ray release next month. Warner Bros.' two-disc Blu-ray package serves up a very solid A/V presentation and a small collection of decent extras. It's recommended to newcomers interested in the subject matter, or to fans who haven't picked it up yet.
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Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
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