6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.6 |
In a seaside Irish town, a teacher raising his two kids alone begins to believe that his house is haunted.
Starring: Ciarán Hinds, Iben Hjejle, Aidan QuinnSupernatural | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Horror | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.00:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Not to be confused with Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1962 film, L’eclisse (The Eclipse), or that other, more recent Eclipse film—you know, the one with sexy, emoting vampires and hunky werewolves—The Eclipse is an Irish horror/drama hybrid, directed by noted playwright Conor McPherson and starring somber-faced character actor Ciarán Hinds, most recently seen in There Will Be Blood. With no gore, no gratuitous nudity, and not a teenager in sight, it belongs to an ever-narrowing sub-genre: the mature, intelligent ghost story for adults. McPherson strikes a fine balance between spectral apparitions, grief, and lovelorn pining, but this also puts The Eclipse in a strange cinematic place, perhaps too slight on pants-soiling jump scares for the hardcore horror crowd, and a bit bleak for chest-heaving romantics.
Shot on very filmic-looking high definition video and given a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer in the slightly unusual 2.00:1 aspect ration, The Eclipse generally looks excellent on Blu-ray. Appropriately for its subject matter and setting, the film has a bleak tone that won't necessarily send colors popping off your screen, but everything does look nicely saturated, with many of the scenes sporting a cool bluish cast that adds to the plot's spectral chilliness. The long landscape shots of Cork County's coastline, in particular, are beautifully shot. Contrast is strong, and though shadow detail is routinely and thoroughly crushed by deep inky blacks, this a stylistic decision as well. Where the image really impresses is in its overall sense of clarity. The picture is sharp without looking overly edgy, and there's plenty of fine detail to be found close-ups. Skin textures are keenly resolved, individual hairs and eyelashes are apparent, and you can make out every stitch in Lena's knit wool cap. There are precious few blemishes. Noisiness occasionally spikes, and I noticed two instances of very distinct aliasing—check out the handles of the cabinets in Lena's cabin—but other than that, this is a strong high definition presentation.
Not every audio track has to burst with non-stop cross-channel movements and explosive dynamics to be effective. The Eclipse's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround mix uses silence exceedingly well, letting the tension mount unbearably before unleashing a cacophony of creepy sound design. The things that go bump in the night here—a scratching in the wardrobe, an apparition in the passenger seat—bump indeed, usually accompanied by potent subwoofer output. Sure, you could classify these as "jump scares," but you will jump and/or throw your hands over your mouth to stifle a scream. I did, anyway, and I almost never get spooked anymore. Elsewhere, the surround channels are used quietly but successfully to conjure environmental ambience; rain pours all around and thunderclaps rip through the rears, seagulls squawk, crows caw, and wind blows through the soundscape. Ronan Hill's score fills out the remainder with plinked piano keys, foreboding orchestration, and choral chanting. Dialogue throughout is unmuffled and easy to understand.
The Making of The Eclipse (SD, 27:32)
A dry but decent making of documentary that allows director Conor McPherson, writer Billy Roche, and
the actors to discuss the film's themes and production. A good mix of interviews and on-set, behind-
the-scenes footage.
HDNet: A Look at The Eclipse (1080i, 4:38)
A typical HDNet promo, featuring actor Ciaran Hinds discussing his character and the film's
synopsis.
Also From Magnolia Home Entertainment Blu-ray (1080p, 8:30)
Includes trailers for The Warlords, Mother, Survival of the Dead, and Red
Cliff, plus a promo for HDNet.
The Eclipse falls into a category that's nearly empty these days: the horror film for adults. There are no screaming teenagers, no gratuitous boob-flashes, no stock characters getting picked off one by one, just a good, old-fashioned ghost story draped like a white sheet over a drama about love and loss. More atmospheric than outright terrifying, there are still more than enough scares for those looking to get spooked. Recommended.
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