6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 3.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.0 | |
Overall | 2.1 |
A young father takes his nine year old son, the family dog, and two of his son's friends backpacking in the mountains of Colorado only for all five of them to be struck by lightning.
Starring: Michael Cassidy (VI), Sarah Lancaster, Scott Christopher (I), Jacque Gray, Angella JoyFamily | 100% |
Drama | 21% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 2.0 |
The Stray is based on a true life story, but one can only imagine the real life inspirations being more impacting than what's presented on the screen. The film tells the story of its own director, Mitch Davis, whose workaholism and a couple of near miss tragedies drastically altered his perspective on life. There's compelling life drama and spirit-filled messaging at the film's core but there's also a near empty vessel movie that struggles to build more than cursory emotional attachment to its characters or to their stories. It's choppy and desperately wanting a more sure hand and a more capable craftsman, or maybe better said craftsmen, both at the helm and in nearly all facets of the production. Make no mistake; this is not a poor film, per se, it's just...choppy...sluggish...clearly missing a spark. This doesn't diminish the core message -- there's a touching story about family, fate, and sacrifice -- but as a cinematic venture the story deserves better.
Universal adopts The Stray onto Blu-ray with a midlevel 1080p transfer. In short: it's pretty standard stuff. The Stray was digitally photographed and yields a typical HD image for a lower budget film. The picture offers fundamentally sound clarity and color reproduction, though the latter is the lesser of these elements, often showing some flatness and less-than-vibrant tones, whether natural exteriors or cluttered interiors. Still, essential color output is fine; just don't expect to be dazzled by natural greenery or anything else the film has to offer. Likewise, don't expect the world of the textural output, either. Basic clarity satisfies. Close-ups reveal capable definition to faces, dog hair, and environmental backgrounds, such as trees and terrain which are prevalent through the film's second half during the camping trip exteriors. Skin tones are a little pasty and black level waver a bit, particularly inside the tent during the night. Noise can be fairly dense, particularly in even slightly lower light scenes. However, the picture is otherwise clean and clear and no other serious encode anomalies are present. The film looks fine in total but there's absolutely nothing here to excite the eyes.
Like the video quality, Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack delivers a capable if not underwhelming audio experience. The track offers fine foundational elements. Dialogue is clear and center focused. Music plays with commendable width and fidelity, though the latter never achieves lifelike transparency or seamless stage fill. Background ambience serves as some of the more interesting audio cues the film has on offer, particularly outdoor in the second half but also some flavorful fill elsewhere, like light traffic din in the film's early minutes, office space din, or playground sounds when Christian meets Pluto. The track certainly fills the movie's meager needs but does so without much flair, which is fine for a movie of this sort.
This Blu-ray release of The Stray includes no supplemental content. This edition does ship with a DVD copy of the film and a digital copy code. A non-embossed slipcover is also included with purchase.
In more capable hands, with a tweaked and tightened script, better technical know-how, and improved acting The Stray could have joined the ranks of faith-based superior fare, but various constraints keep it from reaching the level of dramatic interest and emotional investment the core material deserves. Universal's Blu-ray is completely absent extras (interviews with the real family on which the movie was based would have been welcome). Video is OK-ish and audio is likewise acceptable. For families looking for clean, wholesome content this is a viable option but there are plenty of superior alternatives.
2014
Warner Archive Collection
2015
1998
1995
2006
Warner Archive Collection
2016
2005
2005
1995
2018
MVD Marquee Collection
2003
25th Anniversary Edition
1993
2006
2015
2010
1960-1968
1997
30th Anniversary Edition
1989
2013
2012