As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support!
×
Did you know that Blu-ray.com also is available for United Kingdom? Simply select the
flag icon to the right of the quick search at the top-middle.
[hide this message]
Luz Blu-ray delivers truly amazing video and audio in this excellent Blu-ray release
Luz, a young cabdriver, drags herself into the brightly lit entrance of a run-down police station. A demonic entity follows her, determined to finally be close to the woman it loves.
For more about Luz and the Luz Blu-ray release, see Luz Blu-ray Review published by Brian Orndorf on March 2, 2020 where this Blu-ray release scored 4.0 out of 5.
It doesn't come as a tremendous surprise to learn that "Luz" is actually a thesis film from writer/director Tilman Singer. The German production
doesn't aim to go big with its tale of possession and obsession, preferring to play everything with a slow-burn study of performance as tensions rise in
small rooms. It's largely inexplicable, with Singer playing homage to Euro cinema brain-bleeders of the 1980s with the picture trying to reach a
specific audience with its avant-garde antics. It's all a great big question mark of behavior, history, and domination, and while "Luz" has something, it
visibly struggles to fill a scant 65-minute-long run time, with Singer clearly trying to taffy-pull a minor idea into something major, leaning into the
stillness of the effort instead of developing its level of dread.
Long takes and staring contests define the "Luz" viewing experience, but something is happening during the feature, which details strange encounters
surrounding the titular young woman. Tilman doesn't desire a ripping pace for the picture, instead focusing on idiosyncratic performances from the
cast, who try to give their all to the helmer, inhabiting confused and distorted people. There's something of a puzzle when it comes to motivations and
personal histories, but Tilman likes to keep things just out of reach, preferring to hold attention through cinematographic muscle. "Luz" looks very nice
for small production, making a clear move to worship at the altar of John Carpenter, offering a steely look at the gradual breakdown of patience that
occurs in the effort, while scoring from Simon Waskow supplies a synth-laden sound to best amplify the production's love of a special decade in genre
filmmaking.
The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation supplies a distinctly film-like viewing experience for "Luz," which was shot on 16mm,
delivering heavy grain throughout. Also included is the "Grindhouse" treatment, with Tilman trying to transform his feature into a secret discovery with
the addition of speckling, scratches, and print damage. Detail is satisfacotry with limited environments, surveying the cold brick realm of the bar, and
the width of the interrogation room. Facial particulars are present, with subtle sweat and fine hairs, and costuming is fibrous. Colors are deep,
particularly strong with extreme lighting and skintones, which remain natural. Grain is heavy but film-like. Delineation is communicative.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix does well with room tone, with the low-budget movie not swinging for the fences when it comes to providing an
explosive genre track. Surrounds are active, and they feel around the different buildings in play, also exploring the translation elements of the plot.
Dialogue exchanges are crisp, managing strange performances and emotional outbursts. Music carries with a sharp synth, adding mood and emphasis.
Low-end is good, better with soundtrack throb.
"Luz" has vibrations of illness that keep it mildly interesting, entering a realm of unreality that provides ample opportunity for disturbing imagery and
quaking performances. It's a small picture and often feels like it, with Tilman trying to generate a memory-tearing adventure through time with nothing
more than an active sound design, a few rooms, and actors devouring every morsel of darkness the screenplay offers them. There is and will be an
audience for the feature, which plays directly to cult film appreciation, becoming a secret password movie for those innately drawn to this type of
experience. I certainly respect what Tilman is trying to do with "Luz," but I'm not convinced he was ready to do it, as there's a good 30 minutes of
dramatic pressure that's trying to reach a feature-length run time, often caught struggling to do so. There's atmosphere and an idea, but it's hard to
shake the feeling that all this was meant to be a supremely taught short at one point in its development.
Use the thumbs up and thumbs down icons to agree or disagree that the title is similar to Luz. You can also suggest completely new similar titles to Luz in the search box below.
Blu-ray.com is offering five members the opportunity to win a Blu-ray copy of director Tilman
Singer's Luz. The film stars Luana Velis, Julia Riedler, and Johannes Benecke. The Altered Innocence release will be available on March 10th.
Altered Innocence will bring to Blu-ray director Tilman Singer's Luz, starring Singer, Johannes
Benecke, and Jan Bluthardt. The release will be available for purchase
on March 10th.
All countries
Argentina
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Chile
China
Colombia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Denmark
Finland
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
India
Latvia
Lithuania
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
flag icon to the right of the quick search at the top-middle.
[hide this message]
Use the thumbs up and thumbs down icons to agree or disagree that the title is similar to Luz. You can also suggest completely new similar titles to Luz in the search box below.
