The Poison Rose Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "The Poison Rose" presents an AVC encoded image with a 2.38:1 aspect ratio. The video quality attempts to recreate the 1970s era through its softer and warmer palette, capturing the period's subtle ambiance. The primary hues remain secure throughout, effectively capturing the drab and fairly neutral color grading often found in scenes depicting browns, grays, and more vivacious pinks and reds. Outdoor shots in direct sunlight, such as the golf course scenes with Morgan Freeman and John Travolta, demonstrate good color fidelity and detail, presenting a significant contrast to other parts of the film.

However, while some moments exhibit excellent clarity and detail—especially highlighting textures on facial features and various locations—the presentation often falls into inconsistency. Black levels can seem washed out, and digital noise is apparent, swarming notably during darker scenes. Furthermore, sporadic compression issues manifest as banding and posterization, slightly detracting from the viewing experience in certain segments. This makes the overall visual experience somewhat uneven. The finished 4K digital master appears to struggle translating consistently to the Blu-ray format, fluctuating between sharp and murky imagery.

The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track for "The Poison Rose" is competently executed, especially considering its status as a low-budget thriller. Dialogue is clean, well-centered, and never overshadows the surround sound elements. The track navigates the film's dialogue-heavy scenes seamlessly, ensuring clarity and consistency throughout. Surround sound fields are utilized modestly but effectively, offering ambient environmental noises and sporadic gunshot effects that provide good spatial awareness.

The atmospheric detailing captures coastal activities and hospital dynamics quite well, although it’s not excessively immersive. Scenes set in more bustling environments, such as clubs, exhibit well-defined room interactions. The score is balanced evenly across channels, with low-end elements subtly punctuating tense moments and enhancing suspense without overshadowing the primary audio elements. Despite being somewhat front-loaded due to its dialogue-centric nature, the mix does incorporate strategic uses of the background and ambient sounds to maintain an engaging audio experience.

Overall, the audio presentation of "The Poison Rose" in DTS-HD MA 5.1 handles its requirements with professionalism and technical finesse, effectively supporting the cinematic experience without pushing any boundaries. The score's weight, underscored by occasional low-end synth, and the clear dialogue delivery ensure the film's narrative and emotional tones are well-preserved.

The extras on the Blu-ray of "The Poison Rose" present a robust array of supplementary content for enthusiasts. The Audio Commentary by director George Gallo and writer-producer Richard Salvatore provides profound insights into the creative process and production anecdotes, adding depth to the viewing experience. The commentary is engaging and informative, making it a valuable resource for both fans and filmmakers. Additionally, the Theatrical Trailer offers a crisp, high-definition preview of the film, encapsulating its essence in just over two minutes.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary with Director George Gallo and Writer-Producer Richard Salvatore: In-depth discussion on creative processes.
• Theatrical Trailer: High-definition preview.

"The Poison Rose" aims to rekindle the allure of classic noir, yet stumbles under the weight of its ambitious but convoluted narrative. Set in 1978, the film follows private detective Carson Philips (John Travolta), who is coaxed back to his hometown in Galveston, Texas. Laden with personal vices and a checkered past, Carson's search for a missing elderly woman in a psychiatric hospital spirals into a tangled web of deceit involving old flames, shady characters, and unsolved mysteries. While the premise is intriguing and boasts a cast of notable actors from yesteryears—including Morgan Freeman and a surprisingly flabby Brendan Fraser—director George Gallo’s execution is largely uninspired. The film's over-reliance on expository dialogue detracts from building genuine suspense, turning what should be a tightly wound thriller into a laborious watch.

Travolta, though still exuding charisma, cannot save the film from its biggest flaw: an incoherent script ridden with clichés and overwrought tropes. Writer Francesco Cinquemani attempts to pay homage to the noir genre through heavy-handed references—like naming a cat “Raymond” and having Carson reside above a theater screening "The Maltese Falcon"—yet fails to inject fresh life into these nods. The plot unfolds with an excessive exposition dump as Carson races against time and adversaries but becomes bogged down by too many subplots that never quite coalesce. While performances from supporting actors such as Robert Patrick's sleazy cop and Famke Janssen’s concerned mother add some depth, they are undermined by a script that abruptly resolves conflicts and leaves critical narrative threads dangling.

Ultimately, "The Poison Rose" struggles to revive the seductive charm of its noir inspirations. Despite competent performances and a promising setup, the film is hindered by its convoluted storytelling and lackluster suspense, making it more of a missed opportunity than a compelling throwback. Rated R for some violence and language, this noir revival may hold minor allure for die-hard fans but falls short of its potential in delivering an enthralling mystery.

"The Poison Rose" brings together a star-studded cast including John Travolta, Morgan Freeman, and Brendan Fraser, amidst a convoluted narrative set against the backdrop of Texas oil and football. Directors Francesco Cinquemani and George Gallo attempt to energize the film with sporadic action sequences, including a noteworthy shoot-out in an empty football stadium. However, the film ultimately languishes in its efforts to create a compelling "whodunit" mystery. The storyline is plagued by predictability and an overarching simplicity that fails to engage the audience emotionally or intellectually.

On a technical level, the Blu-ray release from Lionsgate offers an aspect ratio of 2.39:1 AVC, delivering decent but not standout video quality. The audio is presented in English DTS-HD MA 5.1, providing a robust auditory experience that surpasses the visual fidelity. The addition of English SDH and Spanish subtitles is a welcome inclusion for accessibility. Unfortunately, the supplementary materials are underwhelming, rounding out an overall unimpressive package.

In summary, "The Poison Rose" struggles to rise above its direct-to-video status despite notable performances, particularly from John Travolta. The film suffers from subpar scriptwriting and a lack of engaging twists crucial to the mystery genre. While it is enjoyable to see Brendan Fraser back on screen, even in a lesser role, the film is largely forgettable. Given the mediocre video and audio quality of the Blu-ray and lackluster extras, this release is best skipped.