Amusement Blu-ray

New Line Cinema | 2008 | 85 mins | Rated R | Jan 20, 2009

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Video Video codec: VC-1 Video resolution: 1080p Aspect ratio: 2.40:1 Audio English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 English: Dolby Digital 5.1 English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (less) Subtitles English, Spanish English, Spanish (less) Disc 25GB Blu-ray Disc Digital copy

Price List price: $35.99  Amazon: $9.99 (Save 72%) Third party: $9.91 (Save 72%) Usually ships in 24 hours Blu-ray rating Users 1.8 Reviewer 2.5 Overall 2.5 Based on 3 user ratings Playback Region free

Amusement

At least Amusement features an impressive 1080p/VC-1 transfer. Even though Wall and Simpson set the majority of the film at night and wrangle most of their characters into dimly lit interior spaces, colors are vibrant, primaries are bold (particularly reds), fleshtones are natural, and contrast is stable and strong. There are several occasions in which the darkest portions of the screen aren't as perfectly resolved as they should be, but blacks are generally deep, shadow delineation is noteworthy, and the image boasts a convincing level of depth. Even so, the transfer's best attribute is its revealing fine details. Textures are crisp, edges are nicely defined, and exterior shots are brimming with sharp foreground and background objects. Scenes filmed during the day are even more stunning, leaving very little to the imagination. A few soft shots pop up here and there, but they seem to be the result of the original print rather than an encoding error. Thankfully, the picture is also very clean -- I didn't detect any significant artifacting, noise, banding, or crush. A visible veneer of grain is present at all times, but it never spikes, fluctuates, or becomes a distraction.

As it stands, Amusement actually has something to be proud of: a striking video presentation. Horror fans may lament Simpson's aesthetic choices, but the BD's technical transfer is worthy of some legitimate praise.

Amusement Blu-ray, Audio Quality

Amusement's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track also adds some substantial value to an otherwise worthless release. Sure, the film's sound design isn't as sophisticated as the most discerning audiophiles may prefer, but its direct-to-video sonics are actually on par with other low-budget theatrical releases. Dialogue is crystal clear and well prioritized in the mix, reliable LFE support adds punch to horror beats and chase sequences, and the rear speakers create an immersive soundfield, deliver realistic interior acoustics, and enhance many scenes with subtle ambience. Moreover, pans are smooth, treble tones are clean and stable, and solid dynamics allow the film's score to become an active participant in the proceedings. If I have any major complaint, it's that directionality is a bit inaccurate and overdone. For the uninitiated, it's a common genre shortcoming -- horror filmmakers are constantly working to make a viewer jump and, to increase the effectiveness of a scare, their sound techs often flood every channel with sound, regardless of which speaker the sound should originate from. Simply put, the track's imprecision is most likely the result of the director's intention.

It's nice to see Warner/New Line finally delivering lossless audio on every Blu-ray release. Amusement may be a low-budget, direct-to-video fiasco, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be given the chance to sound as good as it possibly can. Kudos, Warner. Continue giving BD enthusiasts what they deserve and you'll patch up your high-def reputation in no time.

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