Redeemer Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of the "Redeemer" Blu-Ray is a visually stimulating experience, showcasing the meticulous craft of cinematographer Nicolás Ibieta Alemparte and the deliberate post-production choices. The 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer from MPI Media stands out with its unique artificial palette that emphasizes a heavy cyan shading. This deliberate coloring gives the film a graphic novel-like appearance, with blues being so pronounced that even some shadows carry a blue tint. Contrasting colors, notably reds and yellows, pop vividly within this cyan-dominated world, enhancing the film's dramatic impact. Detail is consistently high, with solid black levels adding depth and clarity to the image. The average bitrate of 26.74 Mbps ensures minimal noise and distortion, which is crucial given the fast-paced action sequences the film frequently showcases.

However, the video presentation does have its inconsistencies. The 1.78:1 1080p transfer, while often rich and vibrant in colors, particularly blues and yellows, sometimes wavers in terms of detail during action scenes. Whereas quieter moments in the narrative or interactions between characters display sharp and flawless imagery, action scenes occasionally appear soft and smeary, beyond typical motion blur. This variance creates a somewhat distracting effect that might detract from the otherwise immersive video quality. Nonetheless, the overall impression is one of a well-executed transfer that aligns with the film's artistic vision, despite these occasional inconsistencies.

The audio presentation of "Redeemer" on Blu-ray stands out with its multifaceted approach, anchored primarily by a lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 track. This aggressive, bass-heavy mix captures the dynamic range of gunshots, explosions, and intense fight scenes with impressive fidelity. While the setting lacks nuanced environmental sounds like wind and water, the focus on the kinetic energy of battle compensates substantially. The action score by Claudio Rocco adds a vigorous layer to the soundscape, further elevating the viewing experience.

One must, however, carefully navigate the audio options available. The 5.1 track is presented in both English/Spanish, with the primary dialogue in Spanish except for Noah Segan's character and translator. For purists, the Spanish DTS-HD MA 5.1 track is a clear winner, offering a vibrant and thoroughly engaging audio experience. The use of surround channels is persistent and dynamic, with beautifully balanced levels requiring no manual adjustments. By contrast, the English Dolby Digital 2.0 dub suffers significantly from a hollow and lifeless reproduction, lacking in both fidelity and emotional impact.

Another alternative is the lossless PCM 2.0 track, also labeled English/Spanish, providing an additional layer of flexibility without compromising too much on quality. Optional subtitles in English SDH and Spanish SDH are well-synchronized, ensuring no loss of detail in translation. In summary, the Spanish DTS-HD MA 5.1 track offers an immersive and powerful audio experience that leverages both dynamic range and surround channel engagement effectively. The varied options cater to a wide range of preferences, making it essential to choose wisely for the best auditory experience of "Redeemer".

The extras on the "Redeemer" Blu-Ray disc provide a brief but informative look behind the scenes of the film and additional content. The "Making Of" featurette, despite its short runtime, manages to deliver insightful commentary from the director Espinoza and the principal cast, offering a dynamic mix of interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. The deleted scenes include three notable cuts, with an extended ending providing more closure. However, these scenes are not individually selectable. The theatrical trailer, while well-crafted, discloses too much of the Redeemer's origin story and is best avoided if you wish to maintain suspense. Additionally, the disc auto-plays trailers for other films at startup, which can be skipped.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making Of: Concise featurette with insightful commentary and behind-the-scenes footage.
• Deleted Scenes: Three scenes, including an extended ending for greater finality.
• Trailer: Spoiler-heavy trailer revealing too much of the plot.
• Additional Trailers: Trailers for other films played at startup.

Ernesto Díaz Espinoza's "Redeemer" is a compelling blend of stylized martial arts action and deep-seated themes of vengeance, guilt, and redemption. Set against the picturesque coastal backdrop of Chile's Choapa Province, the film pairs Espinoza with martial arts star Marko Zaror for their third collaboration. Zaror, who choreographed his own fight scenes, brings an exceptional level of physical prowess to his role. Espinoza’s direction echoes the visceral storytelling seen in early John Woo films but with a uniquely Chilean flair. The narrative, complemented by granular, jagged flashbacks, diverges from conventional structure to anchor emotional resonance in a series of intense fight sequences.

Zaror stars as the titular Redeemer, a mythic avenger who answers victims' prayers through brutal hand-to-hand combat. His methods are ritualistic, including a Russian roulette-style prayer to discern divine endorsement for his missions. This darkly spiritual rite underscores the movie’s exploration of fate and morality. Meanwhile, Noah Segan as Scott Bradock delivers a performance oscillating between menace and comedy, in what becomes a twisted cat-and-mouse with his adversaries. Although the plot adheres somewhat to a video game formula—each fight escalating in difficulty like level bosses—the characterization of the Redeemer and his nemesis, Scorpion (José Luís Mósca), adds textured depth.

Espinoza adeptly uses Zaror’s martial arts talents to craft varied, energetic combat scenes unencumbered by heavy CGI or wire-fu. However, the film's structure—a sequence of elaborate fights interspersed with backstory enlightenment—reveals the thinness of its plot. While the initial onslaughts are exhilarating, later segments can feel redundant and drawn out. Despite a lack of substantive narrative development after the midpoint, diehard martial arts enthusiasts will likely revel in "Redeemer’s" kinetic choreography and raw brutality. The Blu-ray presentation by Dark Sky Films ensures that fans receive high-quality visual and audio reproduction, making it an essential pick for aficionados of relentless action cinema.

"Redeemer" offers a robust yet mixed experience in the martial arts genre, delivering high-intensity action sequences that are visually arresting but somewhat marred by a lackluster narrative. The fight choreography is undeniably the film's highlight, combining technical precision with visceral energy, ensuring that each encounter is memorable. However, the thin story linking these scenes can feel repetitive, which may detract from the overall enjoyment for some viewers.

The Blu-ray release by Dark Sky Films presents the movie with commendable technical fidelity. While the image quality might not reach the pinnacle of Blu-ray potential, it is serviceable and provides a clear view of the meticulously crafted hand-to-hand combat. The audio, on the other hand, excels with a robust mix that places you at the heart of every punch and kick, enhancing the viewing experience significantly. The included extras, though limited, are engaging and add value to the Blu-ray package.

In conclusion, whether Espinoza continues building his reputation in Chile or is tapped by Hollywood to energize a franchise, he is someone to watch. In the credits to "Redeemer," his list of thanks includes David Lynch, Stanley Kubrick (one scene in "Redeemer" is an obvious reference to "A Clockwork Orange"), Sergio Leone, Sam Peckinpah, Alfred Hitchcock, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, and Takeshi Kitano, among others, which gives some idea of the scope of his ambition. Marko Zaror has already found work in Hollywood as a stunt double (e.g., in "The Rundown"), but if he has to stay home to be recognized for his camera presence, so be it. "The Redeemer" is a reminder of what genre films can be when they are freed from Hollywood bloat. Highly recommended.