Supremacy Blu-ray Review

"Supremacy" is presented on Blu-ray with a 1080p AVC encoded transfer in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, reflective of its Super 16 film origins. Viewers expecting impeccable sharpness might find themselves slightly offset, as the film's predominant shadowed environments challenge the film stock's ability to capture a full tonal range. This results in murky shadow detail and, at times, general detail being partially obscured by pervasive darkness. The film does exhibit a more natural and detailed palette during interstitial dream sequences, particularly those featuring Tully in the car.

Daylight scenes deliver striking results with excellent detail and appealing color saturation. The vibrant yellows stand out, and the primaries, especially blues, are rendered with impressive brilliance. However, the night sequences reveal thick black levels with occasional crush and deliberately dark color grading, which diminishes detail and skews colors. Flesh tones appear grey, and colors seem drained even in adequately lit scenes. The deliberate color grading choices exacerbate these issues, making some scenes reminiscent of less polished Blu-ray transfers, such as the 1990 "Night of the Living Dead" remake.

While the presentation remains stable and organic overall, it suffers from inconsistencies that hinder its visual appeal. When properly lit, “Supremacy” showcases a lush, detailed experience, but these moments are overshadowed by problematic night scenes and questionable color grading choices.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix of "Supremacy" offers a robust auditory experience that compliments the film's tension-filled atmosphere. While the overall soundscape tends to be on the subdued side, this choice effectively enhances the movie’s claustrophobic ambiance. Dialogue, ranging from hushed tones to intense screams, is presented with exceptional clarity. The fidelity remains commendable across the board, and while the dynamic range isn’t as extreme as seen in high-octane action films, it remains sufficiently broad to support the film’s dramatic narrative.

Impressively, this audio track excels in its imaging, allowing voices to naturally carry and echo around the environment. The sound design ensures that music occupies the side channels, leaving ample space for sound effects to integrate seamlessly into the scenes. This balance ensures that the overall loudness of the film is maintained without feeling overly amplified or artificial. Despite the film’s frequent bouts of loud, angry yelling—complete with numerous racial epithets—the levels are harmoniously managed, ensuring a rock-solid auditory experience that does not intrude excessively, even in more sensitive listening environments like apartments.

The Blu-ray release of "Supremacy" offers an insightful array of extras that effectively complement the main feature. The disc includes a behind-the-scenes feature that provides up-close perspectives on key scenes like the police officer shooting and home invasion sequences, giving fans a glimpse into the filmmaking process. Additionally, the theatrical trailer is included, offering a concise preview that aligns with the marketing seen ahead of other Well Go USA releases. These extras, though limited in number, are valuable for enthusiasts seeking a deeper understanding of the film's production and promotional strategies.

Extras included in this disc:

Behind The Scenes: Onset video showcasing the shooting of significant sequences.

Trailer: Official movie trailer as shown in theaters and other Well Go USA promotions.

"Supremacy" on Blu-ray presents a drama that's both ambitious and flawed, rooted in the ever-pertinent topic of race relations in America. The film details the harrowing events following the release of Garrett Tully (Joe Anderson), a member of the Aryan Brotherhood. A mere hour out of prison, Tully commits armed robbery and shoots a black police officer, subsequently taking a black family hostage. Unfortunately, while striving to offer a tense narrative, the film falters into tawdry exploitation rather than providing a nuanced examination of racial prejudice. Despite an incongruent storyline and character actions that often strain credulity, the performances of Joe Anderson and Danny Glover lend some gravitas to the screenplay.

Notably, "Supremacy" struggles with its character development and plot execution. Glover’s portrayal of Walker, an ex-con dealing with the violent, unhinged Tully, remains one of the few highlights. The movie’s attempt to humanize Tully through late-stage flashbacks undermines its impact, making his arc disjointed and uncompelling. The screenplay's bid to extract empathy from the audience comes off as forced, overshadowed by Tully's initial portrayal as irredeemably vile. Furthermore, the film leans too heavily into thriller tropes at the expense of meaningful commentary on racial conflicts, leading to missed opportunities for a more profound exploration of its themes.

Director Deon Taylor and writer Eric J. Adams aim high but ultimately fall short in crafting a compelling narrative. The film's execution feels derivative, striving to echo past successes like "American History X" but lacking the necessary finesse and editing that could have made it a standout. Despite these shortcomings, "Supremacy" shows ambition and serves as a halfway decent showcase for its lead actors. The commitment from Anderson and Glover is evident and commendable, but the movie's uneven storytelling and lack of subtlety diminish their efforts in the end.

"Supremacy" delivers a compelling premise marred by a presentation that often feels more focused on shock value than a nuanced exploration of its themes. The film attempts to navigate complex, sometimes disturbing human emotions but stumbles into sensationalism, undermining the potential depth of its narrative. The performances, particularly from Danny Glover and Joe Anderson, are consistently strong and serve as the film's saving grace, providing some merit to an otherwise inconsistent execution.

Expectations for "Supremacy" may have been tempered based on its marketing, which undersold its potential. Ultimately, the film attempts to transcend its genre constraints but falls short due to loose editing and an overemphasis on sensational elements. While the movie offers better-than-anticipated moments and showcases the talents of its leads, it is not enough to elevate the film into a must-watch category. The craftsmanship in direction and screenplay fails to align seamlessly, resulting in an experience that feels disjointed at times.

In conclusion, "Supremacy" certainly has a provocative enough premise, but it wastes it with a tawdry, exploitative presentation that plays everything for scares rather than really investigating honest (if sometimes despicable) human emotions. Performances are generally strong, though, and Glover fans may find enough here to warrant a rental.