Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		2.5

The Postcard Killings Blu-ray Movie Review

Brotherly Love.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III June 2, 2020

Based on the 2010 novel The Postcard Killers by Liza Marklund and James Patterson, Danis Tanović's The Postcard Killings attempts to breathe new life into the tired "serial killer thriller" genre. Both variants represent a joint venture between Sweden and America, a notion that includes the original authors and the core story itself. It's told primarily from the perspective of Jacob Kanon (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a NYC detective whose daughter and son-in-law were murdered during their European honeymoon. This was no ordinary death, but a carefully staged scene in which the young lovers were disfigured and posed to resemble a famous work of art. After butting heads with local authorities -- save for his old friend Inspector Bublitz (Joachim Król) -- Kanon eventually recruits young Scandinavian journalist Dessie Lombard (Cush Jumbo) to help him investigate a series of murders with eerily similar details.

Neither co-author of the original novel is a stranger to crime fiction...especially James Patterson, whose massively popular Alex Cross series has spanned over two dozen books and several film adaptations including Kiss the Girls, Along Came a Spider, and Alex Cross. Yet their combined experience doesn't make the original story or this adaptation a worthier film than those other three, which almost begins and ends with its embarrassingly high amount of clichés and familiar elements. Gory, nauseating crime scenes? Check. Older, experienced detective working with attractive younger woman? Check. Wistful flashbacks? A few. "Enhanced" surveillance footage? Yep, that's still a thing.

It all adds up to a lukewarm and predictable experience that's at least somewhat strengthened by solid fundamentals. Director Danis Tanović keeps things moving nicely, smartly dividing the structure into halves that change direction as our two leads narrow their search dramatically. The lead performance by Jeffrey Dean Morgan is certainly a high point, and the picturesque European locales give the film a memorable backdrop. Yet a few other front-and-center elements represent two steps backward, from the awful slow-motion shots -- often used to indicate tension, sudden revelations, and close-up details -- to extraneous supporting characters that distract from the main plot. Jacob's estranged wife Valerie (played by Famke Janssen, who really should have stopped at least two plastic surgeries ago), for example, adds almost nothing to the case at first and feels hastily overwritten as our story slowly unfolds.

Although decent enough for a once-over (and obviously crafted with care, as a few early clues are put in place to at least give it some replay value), The Postcard Killings can't help but feel late to the party...and that goes for the source novel, too. Still, those who enjoyed the book -- and, of course, fans of the cast -- will find value in RLJ Entertainment's new Blu-ray, which serves up a very solid A/V presentation but is unfortunately light on bonus features.

The Postcard Killings Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Postcard Killings was shot on film instead of video, an important technical detail mentioned during a behind-the-scenes featurette included on this Blu-ray. While it doesn't go into specifics regarding stock or lenses used (or the digital intermediate), the end result is visually pleasing imagery that has been transferred nicely to 1080p -- and while a 4K option would have been interesting, what's here certainly gets the job done. Shot on location in northern and central Europe, The Postcard Killings runs the gamut for color but often features a slightly muted and even chilly palette that matches its frequently cold and detached atmosphere. Image detail and textures are well-rendered with modest depth at times, while some of the wide landscape shots and (presumably) drone aerial footage can be quite stunning. As a whole the image is very clean with no obvious signs of dirt or debris, and there are also no signs of noise reduction or heavy compression artifacts. Overall, a fine-looking effort that remains this disc's greatest strength.

The Postcard Killings Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio doesn't stand out quite as strongly, yet still seems to represent its source material perfectly well. This is very much a dialogue-driven movie that occasionally uses music and other sonic cues to expand the atmosphere but ultimately remains a very front-loaded experience. Space is used appropriately during crowded conversations, while any scenes shot in larger interiors or bustling urban scenes likewise seem much wider in direct comparison. LFE and discrete rear-channel effects are used very sparingly and most often within the original score or subtle echoes, such as the film's desolate and snowy climax. There are no obvious signs of damage or bad ADR, and this disc includes optional English (SDH) and Spanish subtitles that fit snugly within the 2.35: frame.

The Postcard Killings Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release arrives in a standard keepcase with a matte-finish slipcover and minimal bonus features.

• Featurette (7:01) - Director Danis Tanović, producer Miriam Segal, and members of the cast (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Famke Janssen, and Cush Jumbo, among others) briefly discuss the casting process, shooting in Europe, working with film instead of digital video, and the 2010 novel by James Patterson and Liza Marklund.

• Photo Gallery - Just under two dozen on-set stills presented in 1.78:1 with manual navigation.

The Postcard Killings Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Danis Tanović's The Postcard Killings is a respectable attempt to adapt its source material...but it also reminds us how crowded the "serial killer thriller" genre has gotten since The Silence of the Lambs. Although Jeffrey Dean Morgan's lead performance stands out, as well as a few supporting characters and picturesque European locales, The Postcard Killings' story lags behind. Too many clichés and familiar elements prevent it from being much more than a well-intentioned imitator, and not a wholly memorable one at that. The Blu-ray offers a fine A/V presentation, but the lack of real extras doesn't do it any favors. It's possibly recommended to fans of the book or cast; others should try before they buy.