Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		2.5

The Quarry Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 6, 2020

Scott Teems (That Evening Sun) writes and directs The Quarry, a simple small-town murder story that does away with the whodunit angle and instead explores a killer who takes on the identity of his victim, a preacher, and shares the word of God with a Spanish speaking congregation. The movie is not one of redemption, though. At least not in a more traditional, overt sense. Teems crafts a story of slow and deliberate pacing that allows the actors room to breathe, to define character and shape narrative as much through unspoken exposition -- outward reflections of inward questions and crises -- as traditional story building beats.

En route to a new posting at the one and only church in the dusty small Texas town of Bevel, alcoholic preacher David Martin (Bruno Bichir) finds a man (Shea Whigham) lying on the side of the road. The man is hungry, disheveled, and it is not long until Martin realizes he’s picked up a wanted criminal. The man kills Martin in cold blood, buries the body in a quarry, and assumes his identity and all that goes with it, including the role of preacher. The man masquerading as Martin arrives in Bevel and is immediately robbed of his belongings. The local lawman, Chief Moore (Michael Shannon), pinpoints the suspects and believes them to be responsible for the murder of the still unidentified body recently found in the quarry. The criminal, playing Martin, slowly grows his flock, but will he grow a conscience as he necessarily begins to dig into the Bible?

At his first sermon, the criminal reads the words written by the apostle Paul to Timothy in which Paul shares the basics of his dark and violent history, certainly apropos to the character who shares with Paul at least a dubious and decidedly unChristlike background. Will there, for this man, be a “road to Damascus” miracle to convert his heart? In the film, Teems explores in sometimes frustratingly static ways the story of the man masquerading as a preacher and the process of revealing the truth about who he is. The film engages with a curios magnetism that slowly relents as the tale develops, not because it has nothing to say, but because it can never find a more appropriate way of saying it. There is some underlying excellence to the story and its third act and its final minutes in particular offer several thought-provoking scenes and revelations, but the audience never fully comes to understand where the characters stand by film’s end. And perhaps that’s part of the filmmaker’s approach and the film's anticipated allure. There’s certainly no spoon-feeding here, but at the same time the film all but throws the food away and loads the dishes into the dishwasher before it’s all said and done. It can’t quite find that balance between leaving the audience to decipher the characters and the film’s deeper meanings and completely ignoring essential exposition to help the process along.

Even if the film struggles to build a more thoroughly revealing narrative, it is exceptionally well performed. Shea Whigham is quite good as the criminal turned masquerading preacher. His character is built almost entirely on his ability to outwardly emote his internal state. He says little in the movie, and what is said is direct and to the point. It's a stoic performance that largely saves the movie, channeling the script's limited scope to its fullest potential. Whigham explores the character's position in the film and its evolution with quite the understated work that allows the audience to find his soul through his face and decide where the character goes through the film and where he ultimately lands at film's end. Shannon is equally good as the weary chief who slowly puts together the truth about the new man in town with the help of an unlikely source.

The Quarry Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Quarry's digital photography translates nicely to Blu-ray, offering a well-rounded picture that is mostly hindered only by some source noise, which does become extensive in several shots and is prominent through much of the movie, even in some more forgiving light. The picture introduces a handful of additional artifacts, too, notably severe macroblocking on near-frame wood paneling at the 49:30 mark. Otherwise, the picture is quite good. Textural clarity is largely excellent. The film is heavily reliant on character portraits to tell much of its story. Facial clarity is oftentimes exquisite, showcasing pores, hairs, lines, and, most critically, eyes with screen commanding detail and authority. Many of the small town components are richly rendered, too. Look around the church to find various examples of dust, wear, and decay in great clarity that gives the structure character and which is vital to the story as the church is revitalized under the auspices of an imposter. Textures around the quarry and throughout town are likewise impressively sharp and revealing, capturing that small town Texas vibe with intimate definition. Colors are favorable throughout, even as much of the movie is defined by earthy beiges and browns. Worn whites are a highlight, and some red blood and clothing accents stand out as nicely saturated and complimentary, too. Skin tones appear accurate and black levels are sufficiently deep. The image runs into a few issues here and there but is largely quite good in the aggregate.

The Quarry Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Quarry's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack proves fully capable though certainly nor particularly dynamic by its nature. The presentation is straightforward, offering music, atmosphere, and a few more intensive sound effects with good balance and concern for essential clarity and positioning. The track handles environmental supports nicely, with little details like singing birds off to the sides or through the rears helping to set the stage for several exterior scenes. A handful of gunshots ring out with positive depth and power. Music enjoys good fidelity and front side space while folding in modest surround and subwoofer content. Dialogue delivery is clear and accurate, presenting from a natural front-center location.

The Quarry Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Quarry contains two extras: a commentary track and the film's trailer. A digital copy is included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

• Audio Commentary: Director/Co-Writer Scott Teems opens with an interesting discussion about his "love/hate" relationship with commentaries and his perspective on them. He walks a fine line between exposing the film and allowing it to continue to speak for itself. He discusses his larger body of past and upcoming work, story details and plot construction, the production's history and shooting details, casting, and more. This is a very good and well spoken track that holds quite a bit of value.
• The Quarry Trailer (1080p, 2:13).
• Previews (1080p): Additional Lionsgate films.

The Quarry Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Quarry is teeming with potential, but Writer/Director Scott Teems can't quite come up with a movie as robust as its own ambitions and obvious possibilities. It's a character study that is crafted almost entirely within its character with little outward exposition. That's not a bad thing, and the performances are quite strong in support, but there's just too little meat on the bones to fully appreciate the finer points. Lionsgate's Blu-ray does deliver good, though not perfect, video and audio presentations. A commentary track and a trailer are the only extras included. Rental.