Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Nightingale Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 8, 2020

Writer/director Jennifer Kent made a dynamic impression with her feature-length filmmaking debut, 2014’s “The Babadook.” It was a masterful picture, marrying the extremes of horror and parenthood into a suffocating, frightening viewing experience, presenting Kent as a major talent to watch. It’s unfair to pin expectations to Kent’s follow-up, but it’s impossible to escape the efficiency of “The Babadook” while watching “The Nightingale,” which retains the helmer’s fondness for suffering, but also remains an overlong, somewhat repetitive effort, trying to master period Australian ruin without tight editing.

Aisling Franciosi stars as Clare, an Irishwoman trapped in Australia during the early 1800s, who’s recently lost her baby and husband to the wrath of British officer Hawkins (Sam Claflin), soon seeking revenge on the man who took pleasure in destroying her life. She’s joined by an Aboriginal tracker, Billy (Baykali Ganambarr), who challenges her identity as he confronts his own bitter reality.

With such a plot, Kent tries to put her own stamp on the revenge drama, but she goes deeper with the material, endeavoring to perfect period details and time period anguish, with colonialization bringing hate and death to the land. Kent doesn’t shy away from the pure horror of Clare and Billy’s experience, highlighting multiple rapes, murders (including the loss of an infant), and injustice along the way. Such extremity isn’t a problem in “The Nightingale,” which makes specific points of cultural destruction and emotional cruelty, but Kent has, at best, 70 minutes worth of story here, stretching the run time to 136 minutes. Pace slows to a crawl, and while violence is potent, it becomes routine in the second half, losing its shock value as the screenplay abandons concentration on Clare’s mission.

The Nightingale Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.37:1 aspect ratio) presentation deals with a somewhat bleak look for "The Nightingale," which favors a darker palette, exploring earth tones and pale skintones, with greenery and some red military gear the only real bursts of life. Hues are where they should be, capturing misery and poverty. Detail is acceptable, securing sharp facial surfaces and fibrous costuming, securing the rigid feel of harsh fabrics. Forest excursions are dimensional, along with set tours. Delineation is adequate. Compression issues flare up during nightmare realm visits, showcasing heavy banding at times.

The Nightingale Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix creates an immersive understanding of the locations, with appealing atmospherics filling the surrounds with forest activity and changes in weather, also engaging with periodic channel separation and panning effects. Dialogue exchanges are precise, capturing differences in language and accents, also balancing dramatic escalation as screaming horrors visit the characters. Vocal performances are direct. Low- end isn't taxed, but registers some weight with violence.

The Nightingale Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "'The Nightingale' In Context" (27:58, HD) is an overview of the creative journey, using interviews with cast and crew (conducted on-set) to illuminate the picture's objectives. Casting stories are recalled, with many in the ensemble working hard to acquire their roles, marveling over Jennifer Kent's screenplay. The emotional content of the writing is assessed, and themes are dissected, along with story points. Characters are explored, with many laboring to play horrific people. Locations are identified, and work with Aboriginal actor Baykali Ganambarr is detailed, with the young man making his screen debut in "The Nightingale."

• "Making of 'The Nightingale'" (17:40, HD) returns to Kent, who strived to fill the movie with a sense of authenticity, helping to secure her dramatic intent and support the performances, allowing the actors to feel the period atmosphere. Several departments are highlighted, including costuming, hair and makeup, and location scouting, and the featurette endeavors to clarify just how much preparation went into the production. Language training is covered, and a celebration of Kent's command of the shoot and creation of the script is included.

• Image Gallery (6:02) presents character photos.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:16, HD) is included.

The Nightingale Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Performances are meaty and lived-in. Technical achievements create a distinct feel for the period. Kent's thematic interests are unique. And yet, "The Nightingale" feels somewhat deflated and unfocused, with Kent trying so hard to secure viciousness and agony, she loses the feature's significance along the way.