Kill Me Three Times Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Kill Me Three Times" is served well by a 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio, delivering an impressive, vivid image with meticulous detail. The film's brightly colorful, gleefully naughty aesthetic translates seamlessly to the screen, making every scene visually engaging. From the tiny details like the hairs in Charlie Wolfe's mustache to the scars on Jack Taylor's face, the transfer captures the finer points with precision. Wide aerial shots of the ocean and beach locales are striking, while the waters shimmer enticingly off the screen. The color palette with its richly saturated primaries ensures that reds, blues, and greens pop vibrantly, although some contrast issues lead to a slightly washed-out look in brighter whites. Nonetheless, deep and inky blacks prevent any significant crushing.

Technically proficient, the transfer maintains exceptional clarity throughout, allowing fine details and textures to be thoroughly appreciated. The average bitrate stands at 24.99 Mbps, suitable for digitally processed material, reinforcing the source file's clean and crisp nature without noticeable noise. While mostly artifact-free, there are minor instances of aliasing and contouring. Additionally, the disc includes a redundant copy of the video file without audio or subtitle tracks for undetermined reasons. Despite this minor mystery, "Kill Me Three Times" shines on Blu-ray with excellent black levels, contrast, and densities that enhance the film's visually engaging, faintly cartoonish style.

"Kill Me Three Times" presents a dynamic and playful 5.1 sound mix in lossless DTS-HD MA, capturing the film's frequent shifts in perspective and point of view with finesse. Particularly notable is the sound design's ability to adapt and enhance the narrative’s changing focal points, such as the impressive scene where a car plummets off a cliff and explodes mid-air, with the explosion's sound muted by distance due to a long shot. Each character's auditory environment feels meticulously crafted; cars, a staple in the film, are given distinctive sound profiles—Charlie's Toronado growling deeply while Alice's VW Beetle hums quietly.

Dialogue clarity is outstanding, always well-placed and perfectly balanced within the mix. The guitar-infused soundtrack by Johnny Klimek provides an engaging aural backdrop that complements the film’s whimsical tone. The mix, though it may not qualify as demo material, adds a substantial kick and liveliness to "Kill Me Three Times," featuring crisp and distortion-free dynamic range. Ambient sounds such as chirping birds, crashing waves, and blowing wind contribute to an immersive beach town atmosphere. Directionality stands out with proficient panning effects that follow characters and cars, seamlessly connecting the onscreen action to the speakers' spatial execution. The soundstage effectively captures the livelier moments, delivering gunshots and explosions with satisfying impact.

Overall, given the film's lower budget, the DTS-HD MA 5.1 track markedly enhances "Kill Me Three Times," showcasing a robust audio experience. The sound design, while not as enveloping as higher-budget productions, holds its ground with effective use of surround sound and musical fidelity. This ensures a solid auditory accompaniment to the engaging visual narrative.

The Blu-ray of "Kill Me Three Times" offers a comprehensive suite of extras that enrich the viewer's understanding of the film's production and creative process. The various commentaries provide detailed insights into the complex shooting logistics and the challenges posed by external factors, such as the cast's availability and weather conditions in Western Australia. Additionally, the "Making of" featurette offers interviews with key cast members, allowing them to expound on their characters and the film's development. The single deleted scene, while brief, adds additional depth to the narrative. The supplementary material is appropriately presented in 1080p with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound, ensuring a pristine viewing experience.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary with Director Kriv Stenders and Cinematographer Geoffrey Simpson: Details on shots, visual style, and production trivia.
• Commentary with Director Kriv Stenders and Producers Larry Malkin, Tania Chambers, and Share Stallings: Expands on topics from the first commentary.
• The Making of Kill Me Three Times: Cast and crew interviews covering various production aspects.
• Deleted Scene: Jack forces Alice to sing at a bar.
• Q&A: Panel discussion at BFI London Film Festival featuring Simon Pegg and producers.
• Storyboards: Slideshow of selected storyboards set to music.
• Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery: Collection of on-set photos.
• Poster Gallery: Seven character-centric posters.
• Also from Magnolia Home Entertainment: Trailers for other films and promos for Chideo web service and AXS TV.
• BD-Live: Placeholder message for future updates.

"Kill Me Three Times" (KM3T), directed by Kriv Stenders, ambitiously attempts to blend the atmospheric tension of classic film noir with the stylized narrative of '90s Hollywood crime dramas. Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of Western Australia, the film's visually appealing landscape starkly contrasts its dark and twisted storyline. Simon Pegg's portrayal of Charlie Wolfe, a heartless assassin with sardonic wit, serves as the fascinating pivot around which multiple interconnected stories revolve. The script's non-linear structure, jumping back and forth in time, adds layers to the storytelling, though it starkly calls to mind Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction."

The casting of Pegg is a stroke of genius, leveraging his existing audience goodwill to sustain engagement even when Charlie's actions deviate into moral ambiguity. Elsewhere in the cast, Alice Braga and Callan Mulvey's tumultuous marriage introduces the central assassination plot, which soon spirals into a web of betrayal and greed involving various characters like Teresa Palmer's conniving Lucy and Sullivan Stapleton's desperate dentist, Nathan Webb. The intertwining narratives reveal a plethora of sordid activities – from fraud and blackmail to serial adultery – all against a richly depicted Australian locale that visually underpins the film's themes of moral decay.

While KM3T thrives on its brisk pacing and dark humor, where bumbling criminals and bloody escapades offer a mix of thrills and laughs, it remains hampered by its reliance on genre clichés. Characters are notably underdeveloped and plot twists occasionally fall into predictable territory. Despite the stylish cinematography and some splashy visual flourishes, including dramatic slow-motion shots and striking aerial views, the film lacks the inventiveness found in the works it emulates. Stenders delivers an entertaining, if not entirely groundbreaking, exercise in genre filmmaking that is as polished as it is derivative.

"Kill Me Three Times" is an entertaining yet fundamentally flawed thriller that showcases a blend of dark comedy and pulpy crime elements. Directed by Kriv Stenders, the film spins a twisty narrative of deceit and misfortune, where ineptitude often becomes the most deadly adversary. Despite the noteworthy performances and a compelling setup, each character's fate feels largely self-inflicted due to their recklessness and overconfidence. This results in a lack of emotional engagement as viewers may find it hard to sympathize with the characters' plights. Nonetheless, Stenders crafts a 90-minute diversion that, while not groundbreaking, offers enough entertainment to warrant a viewing.

Technically, the Blu Ray presentation is solid. The video quality is commendable, delivering clear and vibrant visuals that capture the film’s Australian landscape effectively. The audio track complements the visuals well, providing an immersive experience through crisp sound design and a fitting score. Magnolia’s Blu Ray package also impresses with its supplemental content, offering two insightful commentaries and a behind-the-scenes featurette that provide additional layers of engagement for home viewers. These features enhance the overall value of the disc, making it a comprehensive purchase for enthusiasts of the genre.

In conclusion, "Kill Me Three Times" may not leave a lasting impression, primarily due to its characters’ inherent flaws and the predictable nature of its narrative. However, it succeeds as a noir popcorn movie that doesn't demand too much from its audience. It’s recommended for those looking for a light-hearted crime thriller filled with dark humor and entertaining twists. If viewed with tempered expectations, it proves to be an enjoyable rental that fans of pulp crime thrillers will appreciate.