4.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A surrogate mother harbors a deadly secret desire for a family of her own with the husband who is expecting to raise her child.
Starring: Morris Chestnut, Regina Hall, Romany Malco, Michael Kenneth Williams, Glenn MorshowerHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 10% |
Romance | 1% |
Psychological thriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Russian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Thai: Dolby Digital 5.1
Russian VO
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Danish, Estonian, Finnish, Korean, Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Russian, Swedish, Thai
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
There are a lot out there that can say the same, but add another to the list. When the Bough Breaks falls squarely into the crowded middle-of-the-pack field where many go to flounder amongst the flood of forgotten flicks. From Director Jon Cassar (Forsaken), Writer Jack Olsen, and Actor Morris Chestnut (The Perfect Guy), When the Bough Breaks recycles content without any pretenses or plot twists, plowing through a perfectly planned, and patently dull, premise that's been seen in other movies before that focus on a family that's threatened to be torn apart by good intentions gone terribly wrong. The movie has nothing constructive to say or explore, simply churning out a flat and linear narrative that plays out as predicted after reading a sentence-long summary. But the film plays with a grounded, levelheaded approach, never trying to make itself into something bigger or better than it is or needs to be. Kudos for staying at its level and making the best of its lot in life, which only begs the question, does a movie like this really need to be made in the first place?
When the Bough Breaks features an attractive 1080p transfer sourced from a digital shoot. The image epitomizes the qualities modern digital brings to the table. It's super clean but never glossy or flat. Details are precise and complex, notably the very fine intimate pores and scars on Morris Chestnut's face and the high-dollar clothes he wears. Suits reveal extremely fine stitching and fabric qualities and his neckties are plush and tactile. Environments, mostly around John's and Laura's home, are clear and complex, showcasing the fine appointments for all they're worth. Colors are brilliant. Red dresses, differently colored neckties, home furnishings, everything in the movie is vibrant yet impeccably balanced. Nighttime and shadowy black levels hold beautifully deep and flesh tones appear true. The image shows no source or encode flaws, not even a hint of banding or a trace of noise. This is a top-tier 1080p presentation from Sony.
Not much is required of When the Bough Breaks' DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack, but Sony's presentation is proficient in delivering the movie's modest sonic needs. It's both musically and atmospherically front-heavy to begin, but it finds its way through the rears as the film progresses. Musical richness and fidelity are excellent. Much of the score is simple and without much use of a penetrating low end pronouncement; the more airy notes float through the stage's width and, a bit later on, depth with fluid, natural ease. Atmospherics are largely limited to rain and thunder. Driving rain is appreciably spiky and soaks the stage with a bit more emphasis in the front than the back, while thunder booms with robust definition and rolls through the entire stage with effortlessly imaging. Dialogue drives the majority of the film, and it's clear and detailed with consistent prioritization and lifelike definition.
When the Bough Breaks contains a commentary, deleted scenes, and a featurette. A UV digital copy code is included with purchase.
When the Bough Breaks is a basic cut-and-paste Domestic Thriller that brings nothing at all new to the table, and its watered-down PG-13 rating further leaves it largely incapable of playing out the crude assembly line pieces in its arsenal with as much rawness and emotion as they demand. Still, for a movie that practically epitomizes "generic," it's well made and strongly acted from all four primaries. It's not a terrible watch but certainly not an earth shaking one or something that will rewrite what one thinks of modern cinema. It's simply modest and well made entertainment that's more passable than a lot of the competing garbage on the market. Sony's Blu-ray is fine, a little thin on supplements (but, really, what more is there to say about a movie like this?) but boasting fantastic video and strong audio. Worth a rental on a slow weekend.
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