Ticking Clock Blu-ray Review

"Ticking Clock's" Blu-ray video presentation is technically competent but visually underwhelming. The film exhibits a predominantly dull, amber hue that permeates its cinematography, occasionally diverging into gray and sepia tones. While the color grading contributes to a lifeless aesthetic, the transfer itself is proficient. Detailed textural elements, such as the stucco walls in the zoo and facial features of the actors, are rendered sharply with minimal noise and grain, hinting that the source was likely shot on digital video. However, the film suffers from inconsistent black levels, fluctuating from grayish to overly crushed, which can be distracting.

Despite these color and black level inconsistencies, the Blu-ray still manages to deliver moments of impressive clarity and detail. Close-up shots of faces and clothing reveal fine textures, bringing out the intricacies of the materials. Unfortunately, issues such as banding around light sources, occasional blocky backgrounds, and sporadic grain detract from an otherwise sharp image. Foreground and background elements often lack depth and sharpness, which can become frustrating over time. The skin tones are heavily influenced by the lighting, often skewing towards yellows and oranges due to the film's intentional but somewhat excessive visual scheme.

Overall, while the Blu-ray’s 1080p transfer accurately represents the film's cinematographic intentions and maintains a commendable level of detail in many scenes, it's let down by uneven quality that alternates between near-remarkable and subpar. This inconsistency is exacerbated by noise issues, artifacting, and motion blur, making this release a mixed bag that can oscillate from visually appealing to frustratingly lackluster.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "Ticking Clock" provides a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack that, while functional, reveals the limitations of its low-budget, direct-to-video origins. The mix strives for a moody atmospheric texture, utilizing low, foreboding notes and decent dynamics. However, it falls short of the superior definition found in more meticulously crafted tracks. Atmospherics, such as driving rain and direction-specific effects like ringing doorbells, are handled with a reasonable amount of realism and attention to detail. Bass lines, though evident, can be somewhat sloppy.

Dialogue clarity presents a notable inconsistency; it fluctuates between being adequately clear and needing more volume or additional clarity. Some scenes are marred by strange audio anomalies such as overly echoing sounds, random static during dialogue, and high-pitched scratching noises that detract from the experience. Despite these flaws, there is commendable separation in certain parts of the score, along with smart utilization of speaker changes that move with camera angles.

Overall, while the DTS-HD MA 5.1 track is not top-shelf or memorable, it sufficiently serves the film’s needs. It offers moments of immersive sound design but ultimately mirrors the movie’s modest production values. Consequently, those seeking an exemplary auditory experience may find this track lacking in several aspects.

The Blu-ray release of "Ticking Clock" is notably sparse on supplemental materials, offering minimal extras that provide little enhancement to the overall viewing experience. The disc's additional content is limited to BD-Live functionality and a selection of trailers for other Sony titles, which can be accessed via the main menu. While the inclusion of BD-Live offers potential connectivity benefits, the absence of substantial behind-the-scenes content or featurettes might disappoint viewers looking for a more in-depth exploration of the film's production.

Extras included in this disc:

• (HD) Trailers: Red Hill, Game Of Death, Sniper Reloaded, Faster, Takers
• BD Live enabled

"Ticking Clock" features Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Lewis Hicks, a crime journalist who stumbles upon his new girlfriend’s gruesomely murdered body. He discovers a detailed journal outlining the killer’s next victims, propelling him into a race against time to prevent more deaths. While the film presents a promising premise, it’s mired by inconsistent execution and lackluster performances. The narrative evolves with predictable mundanity until a surprisingly engaging third act, which delivers a unique twist reminiscent of "Silence of the Lambs" and "Se7en." However, this can’t completely salvage the film from its otherwise poor writing, sluggish pacing, and cliched characters, making it a frustrating watch.

Neal McDonough’s portrayal of the killer Keech stands out, juxtaposing sharply with Gooding's overacted and choppy performance as Hicks. The film falters under its own weight as key characters display painfully illogical behavior, magnifying the inadequacies of the screenplay. Directed by Ernie Barbarash, "Ticking Clock" attempts to weave a moody atmosphere, but often swings haplessly between subdued tension and blunt dramatics. Although the concept of time travel introduced late into the movie injects some freshness, it ultimately underscores the dissonance in genre blending, leading to a disjointed viewing experience.

The ambition to explore themes of fate and consequence is evident, yet undermined by half-hearted execution. The notable disparity in character development further accentuates the disparities in acting quality. Despite glimpses of potential and a compelling final act twist, "Ticking Clock" struggles to maintain coherence or keep the audience consistently engaged. It leaves one wondering what might have been had the film benefited from tighter direction and a more refined script. This direct-to-video thriller showcases fleeting moments of ingenuity but is bogged down by fundamental defects that prevent it from rising above mediocrity.

"Ticking Clock" arrives on Blu-ray, promising an intriguing mix of action, gore, and psychological depth, but unfortunately, it falls short on nearly all fronts. Conceptually admirable, the film's execution leaves much to be desired. Despite a captivating premise that suggests an engaging whodunit with a twist in the third act, poor writing and direction lead to a largely uninspiring experience. The final act attempts to redeem the sluggish pace that dominates the first two thirds, but it is too little, too late.

Visually, “Ticking Clock” provides a serviceable high-definition experience. The Blu-ray's video quality offers clear imagery, yet the unattractive color palette captured by high-definition cameras detracts from its appeal. Audio-wise, the production is competent but unremarkable, delivering the necessary clarity without impressing. Another key shortfall is the total absence of extras; Sony seems to have neglected adding any additional content, which speaks to a lack of investment in revitalizing interest in this release.

In conclusion, "Ticking Clock" was conceptually decent, but its execution failed. This one made decent actors terrible, HD cameras capture ugly color, and what could have been a success a failure. Sony didn't even care to add any extras here; it seems someone hoped to grab a few bucks back from a failed investment. Tread this territory at your own risk...I warned you.