The Crucible Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		2.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		2.5

The Crucible Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 15, 2017

“The Crucible” is one of the most important plays in American theatrical history, and Arthur Miller’s 1953’s work has justly earned a wealth of accolades and deep analysis over the decades, with particular emphasis on the material’s Red Scare inspiration. Constructed during a time of McCarthyism, where paranoia and fear ruled the land, Miller elected to have history comment on the destructive situation at hand, reviving the Salem Witch Trials for audiences craving a dissection of condemnation, building a bridge between unthinkable madness from a feral time and similar recklessness in a modern age. It’s brilliant work, and yet, multiple attempts to adapt Miller’s play for the screen have been hit or miss, often losing something in the translation. 1996’s “The Crucible” appears to have everything it needs to successfully launch a new take on the material, including top-tier actor Daniel Day-Lewis in a starring role, a screenplay by Miller himself, and direction by Nicolas Hytner, fresh off his international success with 1994’s “The Madness of King George.” And yet, the feature weirdly flatlines right off the bat, failing to stir up a level of frenzy and horror that should organically flow though a movie that explores the pure psychological and physical destruction of a village enslaved by religious fervor and legal lunacy.

In 1692, Salem, Massachusetts is home to a small community of God-fearing people, but rebellion is explored in secret, with the local teenagers committing to a game of witchcraft to help acquire their objects of desire. Taking the ceremony too far is Abigail (Winona Ryder), with her uncle, Reverend Samuel (Bruce Davidson), discovering the gathering, unsure how to process a vision of demonic force in his own backyard. When word spreads of the event, Abigail goes on the defense, leading a charge of witchcraft in the village, which she wields like a weapon with the other girls, targeting anyone who tries to discredit her testimony. Abigail’s focus remains on John (Daniel Day-Lewis), a farmer she once carried on an affair with, but a man who’s recommitted to his wife, Elizabeth (Joan Allen, who received an Academy Award Nomination for her performance), inspiring the spurned woman to turn her destructive influence on his spouse. Caught up in serious trouble as Abigail’s wrath winds out of her control, triggering the arrival of unforgiving Judge Danforth (Paul Scofield), John is caught in an impossible position of sanity as the locals turn on one another to protect themselves, feeding into satanic hysteria.

There’s nothing precisely wrong with Miller’s written adaptation, but he’s tasked with embellishing something that rightfully belongs on stage, where period dialogue and charged interplay is permitted room to take shape, keeping attention on performances and the slow build-up of community destruction. “The Crucible” as a movie doesn’t have the luxury of stillness, demanding a more cinematic examination of Salem’s meltdown that matches film artistry with Miller’s story arc of revenge. Hytner isn’t the man for the job, lacking a vision for the endeavor that goes beyond thespian achievement, constructing a very bland looking picture that only tends to the basics in character agitation. It’s a respectful helming job, and perhaps that’s the wrong tone for the effort, which cries out for a helmer capable of matching Miller’s intensity, not someone who merely underlines the highlights of the play.

Aiding “The Crucible” is a strong, sinister performance from Ryder, who commits completely to a deranged Abigail, a seemingly innocent girl playing wicked games with the death sentence of witchcraft. It’s not difficult to believe her ability to sweep up the other girls in her plans, with Ryder tending to aspects of gamesmanship with Abigail as she dodges accusations of demonic influence, and there’s her burning desire for John, ready to clear Elizabeth out of the way to return to his bed. There’s an enormous amount of miscasting in the feature (e.g. Davidson playing his umpteenth repressed white male, Jeffery Jones in ill-fitting period hair playing a community headache), but Ryder is spot-on, infusing the effort with the little panic it contains.

Day-Lewis is also dependable as John, delivering one of his customary method performances, but his take on John slowly evolves from emotional weariness to a deteriorating physical appearance, with Day-Lewis’s griminess (he reportedly refused to shower once cameras rolled, making John’s unraveling authentic) becoming more interesting than his monologues, allowing the conclusion of “The Crucible” to miss its intended gut-punch horror. Day-Lewis is best with Allen, with the subplot concerning John and Elizabeth’s troubled marriage the only element of the endeavor that comes through with natural emotionality, watching the pair struggle to make sense of their lives as Salem prepares to destroy them both.

The Crucible Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sadly, the AVC encoded image (1.84:1 aspect ratio) presentation is not a new scan of "The Crucible," which retains an older master for its arrival on Blu- ray. Age is apparent from the first scene, which delivers chunkier grain and bloomy whites. Filtering is present. Color isn't sharp, lacking a bit of energy with costuming and greenery, though hues aren't completely lost, and skintones are reasonably natural. Detail only really comes through in close-up, with plenty of grimy faces and set design achievements to study. However, unnatural softness tends to dominate the viewing experience, which looks tired throughout. Source is in decent shape, without pronounced points of damage.

The Crucible Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The DTS-HD MA sound mix doesn't contain any surprises, instead supplying a straightforward listening experience that accurately reflects the feature's spare mood and tight confines. Dialogue is prized, delivering crisp, clean dramatic exchanges that successfully balance hushed encounters with louder surges of emotion. Scoring isn't pronounced, but it appears without disruption, offering defined instrumentation and emphasis when needed. Atmospherics are varied, picking up on farm life and changes in weather, and group activity is detailed to satisfaction.

The Crucible Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Nicholas Hytner and writer Arthur Miller.

• "A Conversation with Daniel Day-Lewis and Arthur Miller" (5:21, SD) is a brief sit-down with the lead actor and writer of "The Crucible" in a junket-style setting, with the pair exploring depth of characterization, decoding motivation and fears. And there's an interpretational discussion, with Miller sharing memories of the world's hysteria when he originally wrote the play.

• "Making Of" (6:56, SD) returns to a dissection of personalities and behaviors found in the movie and the original play, and while some of the footage is repeated from the "Conversation" featurette, actresses Joan Allen and Winona Ryder join the conversation, describing their take on witch hunt panic.

• A Theatrical Trailer (1:01, SD) is included.

The Crucible Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Crucible" goes through the motions, working through Miller's highlights of accusation and manipulation, connecting characters and summoning the fury of herd mentality. And yet, the feature doesn't come alive, often resembling a particularly sluggish television movie, unable to conjure a fever pitch despite having a budget to create an entire world and lead actors ready to bleed for the camera, including a man considered by many to one of the greatest thespians of all time. Miller's play will always remain a powerful offering of allegory, open to a multitude of interpretations. But Hytner doesn't possess enough creative bravery to expand on themes and tighten tensions. He plays it straightforward, hitting expected dramatic beats and displays of madness, and it's all stunningly cold to the touch.