Lights Out Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Lights Out" delivers a highly commendable visual experience that perfectly complements the film’s intense atmosphere. Shot digitally with the Arri Alexa, the 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer boasts strong resolution and detail, enhancing the ominous and dark visual style conceived by cinematographer Mark Spicer. Despite a color palette limited to muted primary colors and softer secondary hues, the transfer excels in rendering images with refined levels of detail, particularly in close-ups, and a discernible depth of field during wide-angle shots. Blacks are deep and dynamic, crucial for a film rife with shadowy scenes, and shadow detail remains excellent without any evidence of crushing issues.

The film benefits from a high average bitrate of 32.81 Mbps, ensuring a clean, artifact-free image quality. Warner's encoding successfully captures the varying black levels and light dynamics that are integral to the film’s scares, managing an impressive balance between light and dark. Moreover, key scenes utilize varied light sources—neon signs, UV lamps, candlelight—effectively, adding layers of visual complexity. For instance, Rebecca’s apartment is visually punctuated by a blinking red tattoo sign, while a blacklight sequence in the film's climax introduces a rich, vivid blue that stands out against the otherwise dark backdrop.

Additionally, "Lights Out" maintains a sense of depth and dimensionality despite its prevalent darkness. Background imagery remains discernible even when out of focus, keeping viewers on edge as they anticipate lurking threats. Skin tones across the cast are natural and lifelike, presenting detailed textural nuances such as makeup, stubble, and wrinkles. Overall, this high-definition presentation is sharp, demands attention to its subtle patterns and textures, and sustains its thematic integrity exceptionally well without suffering from any notable video noise or artifacts.

The lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack for "Lights Out" offers an immersive, detail-rich auditory experience that significantly enhances the film’s thematic elements. Dialog is firmly rooted in the center channel, delivering clear and well-balanced vocal and sound effects within the front soundstage. The detection of subtle background sounds, off-camera cues, and spatial dimensions within the room's acoustic environment is notable, providing an engaging sense of presence. The dynamic range is solid, enriching the authority of low-frequency effects and providing depth to the film's suspenseful moments. Although the surround channels and subwoofer are not constantly engaged, when utilized, they effectively elevate the overall tension and atmosphere of the film.

Especially noteworthy is the soundtrack’s capacity to create an unsettling environment through its use of rear channel effects. "Lights Out" excels in delivering realistic rustlings and stirrings in the left or right rear speakers, drawing viewers into the film's eerie setting. These effects are so compelling that they might prompt viewers to check their surroundings for intruders. Big effects—like screams, crashes, and pounding on doors—are rendered with force and clarity, contributing to the overall impact without overshadowing dialogue or quieter scenes. The score by Benjamin Wallfisch remains subdued yet suspenseful, aligning perfectly with the film's scare tactics that rely on creepy, ambient noises.

Overall, the DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix provides an incredibly immersive experience. The sound design balances silence and sudden bursts of noise perfectly, creating a tangible atmosphere that keeps viewers on edge. Dialogues remain clear throughout, irrespective of the intensity of scenes, ensuring verbal elements are never lost. The low-frequency extension is substantial, delivering rumbling bass during key moments that heighten tension. This meticulous attention to audio detail makes "Lights Out" a standout in horror film sound design.

The extras on the Blu-ray of "Lights Out" offer a mixed bag, primarily highlighted by the inclusion of nearly 14 minutes of deleted scenes. These scenes provide an intriguing look into how the film could have ended, with a pivotal coda initially making the movie approximately ten minutes longer. Although the extended ending significantly detracts from the film's impactful conclusion, its inclusion allows viewers to appreciate the decisions made during post-production. One downside is the absence of an interview with director David Sandberg or a commentary track, which could have provided deeper insight into his transition from Sweden to Hollywood. Moreover, Sandberg's original short film that inspired "Lights Out" is notably missing but is easily accessible online.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Nearly 14 minutes of additional footage, including an alternate extended ending.
• Digital HD Copy: Digital version of the film.

David F. Sandberg's feature-length expansion of the viral short film "Lights Out," produced by James Wan, cleverly employs its central device of a supernatural presence that vanishes in light yet reappears in darkness. With a script by Eric Heisserer, the film intricately blends horror with family drama, featuring compelling performances from Teresa Palmer and Maria Bello. Sandberg masterfully orchestrates spine-chilling sequences by manipulating light and sound, creating a high-tension atmosphere that keeps the audience on edge throughout its lean 81-minute runtime. The scares are impeccably timed and effective, making inventive use of space and shadows to bolster the film’s unsettling allure.

The plot centers on Rebecca (Palmer) who returns home to protect her brother Martin (Gabriel Bateman) from the same terrifying entity that once haunted her childhood. This malevolent specter, Diana (Alicia Vela-Bailey), has a mysterious bond with their mentally troubled mother, Sophie (Bello). Sandberg unpacks the family's dark history, carefully balancing revelations with moments of sheer terror. The minimalist approach to character development and setting amplifies the tension, and the actors’ performances lend credibility to this deeply unnerving tale. Despite its PG-13 rating, "Lights Out" effectively delivers high-intensity scares without gratuitous gore, focusing instead on psychological impact.

Technically, "Lights Out" excels with its lighting schemes and sound design, which are pivotal in conveying the presence of Diana. The film’s ability to maintain suspense through repeated jump-scare techniques showcases Sandberg's adeptness at horror filmmaking. By embracing a straightforward yet innovative approach to its supernatural premise, "Lights Out" stands out as a formidable entry in modern horror, inviting audiences to re-experience the innate fear of darkness while exploring the underlying familial themes that drive its narrative.

"Lights Out," directed by David F. Sandberg and produced by horror maestro James Wan, emerges as an effective throwback to traditional-style horror, deftly leveraging supernatural lore, lighting, and sound effects to elevate its creep factor. While the plot may be straightforward, the film's lean and economical approach underscores the effectiveness of restrained storytelling. The Blu-ray presentation by Warner Bros. is exemplary, offering stunning audiovisual quality. The video transfer is pristine, and the 5.1 audio mix significantly enhances the immersive experience, making it a perfect choice for a thrilling movie night.

Despite some minor deficiencies in bonus features—limited to just three deleted scenes—the Blu-ray release remains compelling. Though an audio commentary would have added further value, the technical excellence of the release compensates well for this shortfall. Each jump scare and eerie sequence is rendered with crystal-clear fidelity that showcases Sandberg's directorial prowess and attention to detail. This release finds itself perfectly timed for the Halloween season, making it an apt addition to any horror aficionado's collection.

In conclusion, "Lights Out" succeeds both as a chilling horror experience and as a technically impressive Blu-ray release. Warner Bros.' top-tier presentation ensures the film's jumps and frights translate seamlessly from the theater to your home screen. While the lack of extensive special features might be a slight disappointment for some, the overall quality of the film and its execution on Blu-ray make "Lights Out" highly recommended. This blend of storytelling precision and technical brilliance certainly warrants a spot on your shelf, especially for those who enjoy a spine-tingling cinematic experience.