Lost Souls Blu-ray Review
Score: 67
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
Lost Souls on Blu-ray offers a solid transfer and carries over decent extras, but the film remains largely forgettable, suited mostly for devoted fans.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 75
The Blu-ray release of 'Lost Souls' by Scream Factory, using an MPEG-4 AVC-encoded BD-50 sourced from a new 2K scan, captures the film's intended grainy texture and muted colors with superior contrast and clarity, staying true to its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio and visual style.
Audio: 75
Lost Souls' Blu-ray delivers a highly immersive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround track, with effective use of surrounds and a haunting score by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek, while dialog remains clear and crisp. Both 5.1 and 2.0 stereo mixes provide superb audio quality, closely aligning with the theatrical experience.
Extra: 41
The "Lost Souls" Blu-ray maintains valuable extras from the DVD, featuring Kaminski and Fiore's insightful commentary on industry themes, although technical discussions may not captivate all viewers. Deleted scenes and a grainy trailer are presented in upconverted 1080p but lack restoration, emphasizing pacing and repetition issues.
Movie: 66
Lost Souls, Janusz Kaminski’s visually compelling directorial debut, combines a monochromatic atmospheric style with a strong leading performance from Ben Chaplin. Despite delays, it delivers a supernatural thriller that genre fans may appreciate, even as critics viewed it less favorably. Winona Ryder's engaging role and eerie sequences contribute to its appeal.
Video: 75
The Blu-ray release of "Lost Souls" by Scream Factory marks its first global presentation on this format, leveraging an MPEG-4 AVC-encoded BD-50 disc with a data size of 36.20 GB. This version is notably sourced from a new 2K scan of the interpositive, maintaining the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.39:1. The visual narrative, crafted through the expert lens of cinematographers Janusz Kaminski and Mauro Fiore, is characterized by a distinct aesthetic achieved via the bleach bypass process with silver retention on Fujifilm stock. This technique results in consistent grainy textures and deep blacks throughout the film. Viewers will notice enhanced contrast and precise color delineation as compared to past releases, such as the New Line DVD from the early 2000s, making character details like lips and facial expressions more pronounced.
Scream Factory's commitment to quality is evident in the meticulous digital mastering, which showcases a mean video bitrate of 34000 kbps over the film's 97-minute runtime, divided into twelve chapters. While the visual style embraces a muted palette, void of deep reds or lush greens, this intentional choice supports the film's atmospheric tone. The grainy appearance and subdued colors may initially appear unconventional, yet they adhere to the filmmakers’ artistic vision. This Blu-ray presentation succeeds in providing an upgraded viewing experience through expertly balanced contrast and detailed imagery, reaffirming Shout! Factory’s reputation for delivering high-quality home video transfers.
Audio: 75
The Blu-ray edition of "Lost Souls" features a meticulously crafted DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround track at 2555 kbps, 24-bit, alongside a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo downmix at 1702 kbps, 24-bit. The 5.1 surround mix stands out with its highly immersive soundscape that effectively engages all speakers. Notably, when compared to the DTS track from the New Line DVD, the Blu-ray mix is likely more aligned with the original theatrical experience, enhancing certain sound effects for greater impact. Critically acclaimed audio mastering professionals Brent Biles and Robert Margouleff contributed to the DVD encoding, yet their absence from the original sound design means some variances in sound prominence exist between formats.
The spoken dialogue maintains a high level of clarity throughout the film, ensuring a seamless auditory experience. Complementing the vocals is Jan A.P. Kaczmarek's remarkable score, whose haunting strings and elegant piano pieces are beautifully rendered within the surround mix. The Blu-ray also caters to preference versatility by including a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo option and offers optional English SDH for accessibility.
The audio presentation, though conventional in its approach, effectively utilizes subtle audio cues that often favor understated execution over overt effects. This results in an immersive auditory environment characterized by a rich musical score that makes full use of the surrounds. Across both provided tracks, the dialog maintains a crisp and clean presentation, upholding consistent audio quality from start to finish. Whether opting for the 5.1 surround or the 2.0 stereo downmix, this release offers two exemplary audio options that cater to diverse listening preferences.
Extras: 41
The Blu-ray release of "Lost Souls" maintains the bulk of extras from the original New Line DVD, providing valuable insights into the film's creative process, albeit with a few omissions such as cast/crew filmographies and the interactive Script to Screen feature. The comprehensive audio commentary with director Janusz Kaminski and cinematographer Mauro Fiore is a highlight, exploring not just the themes and cinematic techniques but also offering a candid look at Hollywood’s industrial intricacies. The deleted scenes, thoughtfully accompanied by optional commentary, reveal interesting yet ultimately unnecessary components excised from the final cut. Despite some graininess, the upconverted theatrical trailer retains its initial impact. The technical presentation across extras remains notable, though English subtitles are absent.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary With Director Janusz Kaminski and Cinematographer Mauro Fiore: In-depth discussion on themes, cinematography, and Hollywood politics.
- Deleted Scenes With Optional Commentary: Approximately eleven omitted scenes analyzed for their narrative context.
- Theatrical Trailer: Original New Line trailer upconverted to 1080p.
Movie: 66
"Lost Souls," directed by Janusz Kaminski, presents a visually arresting cinematic experience, characterized by its monochromatic, atmospheric visuals that engender an eerie yet captivating ambiance. The film navigates the compelling yet oft-traversed landscape of supernatural thrillers with its intriguing premise involving demon possession and Biblical codes. The narrative follows Maya Larkin (Winona Ryder), a resilient exorcism assistant, as she aids in identifying Peter Kelson (Ben Chaplin) as a potential vessel for Satan. Although ostensibly derivative, the film's unique narrative twist and brooding tone set it apart from peers such as "The Ninth Gate" and "Stigmata."
Performance-wise, Ben Chaplin shines in his role as the conflicted author, bringing depth to a character burdened with existential dread. Meanwhile, Winona Ryder capably portrays Maya as a determined sleuth amidst a backdrop of skepticism and danger. However, Sarah Wynter’s underwhelming performance hints at a missed opportunity for character development, undermining critical emotional beats. Despite occasional lapses in narrative coherence, Kaminski’s maiden directorial effort successfully entices audiences with its haunting visuals and elaborate symbolism.
The film’s belated release in 2000 underscored the challenges of finding its place within the saturated realm of late-90s thrillers, overshadowed by powerhouse competitors such as "The Sixth Sense" and the re-release of "The Exorcist." While critics largely dismissed "Lost Souls," deeming it subpar relative to genre-defining classics, its atmospheric strength and engaging performances offer value for aficionados of supernatural cinema. Despite its flaws, the film’s blend of chilling sequences and potent imagery holds potential allure for those willing to temper expectations and embrace an exploratory viewing experience. Fans are encouraged to delve beyond consensus critiques and explore the evocative visual tapestry woven by Kaminski’s direction.
Total: 67
"Lost Souls" (2000) receives an upgraded Blu-Ray re-release from Scream Factory, which is a notable improvement over the original DVD version. This release presents an opportunity to re-evaluate an often overlooked supernatural thriller and religious drama. Directed by Janusz Kaminski, whose potential shines amidst some narrative shortcomings, the Blu-Ray's improved visual fidelity brings out the film’s atmospheric eeriness—a hallmark of Kaminski’s unique directorial style. However, the package falls short in providing fresh insights, as there are no new bonus features despite including two commendable existing supplements.
The film itself is a dichotomy; while it avoids being outright poor, it struggles to leave a lasting impression, earning it the "forgettable" label. This distinction stems primarily from a narrative that fails to meet the expectations set by its ambitious themes. Yet, it holds intrigue for fans of religious and psychological thrillers, offering a nuanced portrayal of themes that are rarely explored. Scream Factory deserves recognition for selecting such an undervalued title, giving fans of this genre a restored version to appreciate.
In conclusion, "Lost Souls" on Blu-Ray is a technically sound release that merits attention primarily from dedicated enthusiasts of the genre or Kaminski's work. While it won't be resonant for everyone, it presents a solid technical upgrade and serves as a platform to possibly reconsider Kaminski's ability as a director. For collectors and avid followers of niche supernatural thrillers, this release is a moderate recommendation.
Blu-ray.com review by Dr. Stephen LarsonRead review here
Video: 80
The camera negative went through the bleach bypass process with silver retention, which yielded different colors....
Audio: 90
The "audio [was] mastered specifically for DVD by Brent Biles and Robert Margouleff at Mi Casa Multimedia, Inc." Biles and Margouleff were not part of the movie's sound design team so the DTS and Dolby...
Extras: 40
The label hasn't retained cast/crew filmographies and New Line's "Script to Screen" feature, which used the InterActual Player (PC Friendly software) to watch the movie in a mini-window while simultaneously...
Movie: 70
John and Maya have been working on cracking a Biblical code through the Greek alphabet and determine that Peter Kelson fits the criteria for Satan's next victim as an anti-Christ....
Total: 70
...
Blu-ray Authority review by Matt Brighton and Fusion3600Read review here
Video: 80
This film has a visual presence unlike the normal transfers we see, so while there is some grain present and colors seem muted, it’s all good in this case....
Audio: 70
Extras: 50
The two discuss a lot of technical issues in this track, but also branch into other topics as well....
Movie: 0
She is of that opinion because in the man’s room, she finds a wealth of numbers written down and while at first glance they seem random, Maya feels there is a method to this madness....
Total: 60
I commend Shout!Factory on their release of an overlooked title, but this one is for the hard core fans only....
Director: Janusz Kaminski
Actors: Winona Ryder, Ben Chaplin, Sarah Wynter
PlotMaya Larkin is a former victim of demonic possession who is now devoted to religious work. She joins a team led by Father Lareaux that is dedicated to identifying individuals possessed by dark forces. As the group performs an exorcism on a troubled man named Henry Birdson, Maya unintentionally uncovers a mysterious plan involving religious texts and symbols. Her curiosity leads her to a prophecy indicating that a specific human will become the Antichrist on an imminent date. Convinced she must prevent this event, Maya zeroes in on Peter Kelson, a skeptical crime journalist who has unwittingly become part of the prophecy. Although unclear at first, Peter’s birth date and connections to the dark world hint strongly that he may be the vessel destined to bring about this catastrophe.
Determined to help Peter avoid his potentially dire fate, Maya initiates efforts to convince him of the unfolding threat. Peter, rooted in logic and his work as an author, dismisses her warnings and considers her beliefs absurd. Despite his reluctance, Peter gets drawn into a series of strange occurrences that chip away at his skepticism. Meanwhile, malevolent forces working behind the scenes become evident, intensifying tensions around Maya's quest for answers. As she delves deeper into Peter's life to find leads that could avert disaster, time becomes their enemy in a world where not everyone is as they seem. What started as a mission becomes a gripping exploration for both Maya and Peter—in which faith, destiny, and salvation collide.
Writers: Pierce Gardner, Betsy Stahl
Release Date: 13 Oct 2000
Runtime: 97 min
Rating: R
Country: United States
Language: English