The Devil's Candy Blu-ray Review

Shout! Factory’s Blu-ray release of “The Devil’s Candy” presents the film with an AVC-encoded 2.39:1 aspect ratio, capturing the visual style meticulously crafted by director Sean Byrne and cinematographer Simon Chapman. The presentation is characterized by a rich, stark color palette that enhances the film's eerie tone. The bronze glow that pervades much of the film, reminiscent of a Rob Zombie aesthetic, is effectively captured, providing a consistent amber hue to facial tones and backgrounds. This minimalistic yet striking approach is maintained with deep blacks that uphold shadow detail without succumbing to significant crushing, although some banding becomes noticeable during darker scenes towards the climax.

The transfer benefits from a video bitrate of 29990 kbps and a total disc bitrate of 38.45 Mbps, ensuring that the intricate details of Chapman’s high-contrast, night-heavy photography are not compromised. Chroma noise is discernible in several spots but does not significantly detract from overall quality. Noteworthy are the scenes featuring protagonist Jessie painting; these segments uniquely merge bold and saturated colors with notable dimensionality, where characters seem to leap off the backdrop to eerie effect.

Despite its low-budget origins, “The Devil’s Candy” maintains a robust visual presentation. The film’s intended “grunge” aesthetic and use of stylized lighting—from midnight blues to hot reds—translate well on this disc. These artistic choices inherently limit the perceived sharpness and detail, yet they effectively bolster the film's menacing atmosphere. The occasional CGI fire effects exhibit a cheap glow, contributing to the devilish ambiance intended by the filmmakers. Overall, this Blu-ray iteration stands as a testament to how independent films can achieve a competent, engaging visual representation through thoughtful cinematography and skilled encoding practices.

Shout! Factory's audio presentation of "The Devil's Candy" on Blu-ray is impressive, offering both a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround (2669 kbps, 24-bit) mix and a DTS-HD Master 2.0 Stereo downsample (1610 kbps, 24-bit). The DTS-HD MA 5.1 track delivers a robust audio experience, making the heavy metal score stand out with excellent clarity and depth. The surround sound implementation is particularly notable, giving substantial energy to the music and environmental audio cues. Dialogue is clear and well-regulated, although it could benefit from slightly higher recording levels as it necessitates an increased volume setting throughout.

The low-frequency effects (LFE) are well-balanced, providing considerable impact during critical scenes and enhancing the overall atmosphere. The heavy metal tracks resonate powerfully, causing walls to rumble and contributing significantly to the film’s intense ambiance. Sound effects are distributed effectively across the channels, creating a fully immersive sound field. Additionally, English SDH and Spanish subtitles are available, ensuring accessibility for a broader audience.

In summary, the DTS-HD MA 5.1 track on "The Devil's Candy" Blu-ray delivers a dynamic and engaging audio experience that capitalizes on its rock-driven soundtrack and intense sequences, making it an essential feature for viewers looking to get the most out of this film's auditory dimensions.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Devil's Candy" provide a captivating dive into the film's production and creative process. Sean Byrne's audio commentary stands out, offering a deep narrative on shaping the story, characters, and soundtrack, though its unscripted nature leads to occasional pauses. The Behind-the-Scenes segment delivers a compact yet informative look at the visual effects, especially the climactic fire sequences, highlighting the blend of practical effects and post-production enhancements. Byrne's 2007 short film "Advantage Satan" adds valuable context to his evolving directorial skills. Complementary features like the Music Video and Art Gallery enrich the visual and thematic appreciation of the movie, while the theatrical and bonus trailers round off the package effectively.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary with Director Sean Byrne: Insights into the story, characters, and soundtrack.
• Behind the Scenes: Visual Effects: Detailed look at creating the film’s fire effects.
• Advantage Satan Short Film: Early Byrne work showcasing his talent.
• Music Video: Montage of movie clips with a metal soundtrack.
• Art Gallery: Slide show of sketches and paintings used in the film.
• Theatrical Trailer: IFC’s promotional trailer.
• Bonus Trailers: Previews for other films.

Review of "The Devil's Candy" Movie: Blu-ray Edition

"The Devil's Candy," directed by Sean Byrne, is a horror film that adheres to traditional themes of satanic influence while infusing a distinctive heavy metal ambiance. The narrative centers around Jessie Hellman (Ethan Embry), a dedicated metalhead and artist, his pragmatic wife Astrid (Shiri Appleby), and their daughter Zooey (Kiara Glasco). They relocate to a house with a sinister past involving Ray Smilie (Pruitt Taylor Vince), a mentally disturbed man linked to previous murders. As Jessie spends more time in his studio, driven by whispers and strange inspirations, his artwork becomes increasingly macabre—a transformation that mirrors the house’s dark history.

Byrne's approach involves heavy integration of metal music and album art, which not only saturates the film's aesthetic but also shapes its oppressive atmosphere. The film’s score, crafted by Mads Heldtberg and Michael Yezerski, features relentless heavy metal riffs that occasionally feel overemphasized but synergize well with the film's gritty tone. There are subtle artistic cues—the name of the art gallery, Belial, and the secretary’s seductively infernal appearance—that enhance the film's menacing environment without becoming blatant plot devices. However, Byrne's emphasis on style sometimes overshadows deeper character development and introduces inconsistencies in the narrative.

The family dynamics between Jessie, Astrid, and Zooey are convincingly portrayed, with Embry delivering a compelling performance despite some direction flaws. While Pruitt Taylor Vince portrays Ray Smilie with a chilling yet simplistic demeanor, the character could benefit from more nuanced backstory exploration. The steady build-up of tension throughout the film culminates in a final act laden with gore and horror. Despite some unresolved plot elements that leave lingering questions, "The Devil's Candy" offers an engaging if familiar horror experience, elevated by its unique blend of satanic horror and metal culture.

Paced at 80 minutes, the film generally maintains a steady rhythm, focusing on psychological horror rather than outright bloodshed until its explosive climax. Though parts of the plot may feel formulaic, the film’s rock-and-roll flair adds a refreshing twist to the genre.

"The Devil’s Candy" offers a compelling horror experience that lingers in the mind with its unsettling atmosphere. Directed and written by Sean Byrne, this film benefits from strong performances by Ethan Embry, Shiri Appleby, and Pruitt Taylor Vince. While the narrative leans into familiar horror tropes, such as a haunted house that influences its inhabitants, Byrne infuses the material with a fresh, bold approach. This creates an environment that evokes a pervasive sense of dread, pushing the boundaries of the genre's usual expectations.

Technically, the Blu-ray presentation is commendable for a lower-budget release. The visuals, framed in a 2.39:1 AVC aspect ratio, maintain a decent level of clarity despite minor compression issues that result in occasional blockiness. The audio tracks are particularly noteworthy, with DTS-HD MA 5.1 and DTS-HD MA 2.0 options that deliver robust soundscapes—especially appreciated by fans of heavy metal bands like Metallica and Slayer. Although the extras are somewhat minimal and lack comprehensive cast and crew interviews, the included bonus content adds value to the Blu-ray package.

In conclusion, "The Devil’s Candy" may not be groundbreaking but remains a worthwhile entry from IFC Midnight. Despite some narrative inconsistencies and a final act that could have been more impactful, the film succeeds in creating a disturbing visual experience. The combined efforts of Scream Factory in distributing this release add to its appeal with competent audio-visual quality and supplementary content. It's undoubtedly a solid choice for any horror enthusiast looking for a fun and creepy watch.