Slow West Blu-ray Review
Score: 63
from 3 reviewers
Review Date:
Slow West skillfully blends eccentricity with classic western elements, boasting impressive technical merits and solid Blu-ray video and audio quality.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 73
Slow West's Blu-ray presentation is a stunning audiovisual experience, featuring an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.66:1 aspect ratio. Shot digitally with the Arri Alexa, it delivers exquisite detail, rich colors, and picturesque imagery, albeit with minor issues in nighttime scenes' shadow details.
Audio: 73
Slow West's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track excels with its clear dialogue, impressive dynamic range, and effective ambient noise representation, delivering a lifelike and immersive audio experience.
Extra: 20
The Blu-ray extras for 'Slow West' offer a standard EPK with decent interviews and two deleted scenes, providing brief but unremarkable insight into the film’s creation.
Movie: 77
Slow West blends European sensibilities with classic Western tropes, delivering an engaging, darkly humorous, and violent journey of love and survival, highlighted by standout performances from Kodi Smit-McPhee and Michael Fassbender, insightful storytelling, and inventive cinematography, despite minor inconsistencies.
Video: 73
"Slow West" is presented on Blu-ray by Lionsgate Films, boasting an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.66:1 aspect ratio. Digitally shot with the Arri Alexa, the film's presentation is remarkably vivid and sharp, especially appreciated in its ability to convey the vast, open vistas of the New Zealand landscapes, serving as a stand-in for the American West. The narrower aspect ratio enhances the panoramic views without fencing them in. Landscapes are richly detailed, providing a postcard-like quality that reveals every intricate detail—from individual hairs to buzzing gnats. The fine textures of costumes and environmental details are clearly visible, contributing to an immersive viewing experience.
The color grading of "Slow West" draws attention, particularly in its vibrant reproduction of natural hues. Although some scenes exhibit a slight yellow tint, this does not detract from the overall clarity and fine detail. The film benefits from a rich and varied palette; greens appear lush and lively, enhancing the realism of the setting. Flesh tones are accurate and finely detailed, emphasizing the texture of skin and facial features.
However, there are minor issues with contrast during nighttime sequences and occasional slight crush and lack of shadow detail, though these are few and far between. Black levels are generally deep and inky, ensuring a robust contrast in most scenes. It is noteworthy that despite being on a 25-gig Blu-ray disc, there is an absence of noise, artifacts, or aliasing, demonstrating an exceptional level of technical precision in the Blu-ray transfer. Overall, "Slow West" offers an impressive high-definition presentation that beautifully captures its cinematic essence.
Audio: 73
The audio presentation of "Slow West" on Blu-ray showcases a highly commendable lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Dialogue clarity is impeccable, ensuring every spoken word by Fassbender and Smit-McPhee is rendered with brilliant fidelity. The mix maintains a natural range level and strategically places off-screen voices in the appropriate surround channels, enhancing the immersive experience. There is no distortion, and the nuanced layers of the characters' voices add authenticity to their portrayal.
Dynamic range excels, particularly during action sequences where gunfire and other bursts of activity challenge the system. The environmental sound effects are expertly represented in the surround channels, providing lifelike ambient noise, whether it be rustling leaves, distant wildlife, or the subtle sounds of footsteps. The low-frequency extension is adequately employed, adding depth to these dynamic moments without overwhelming the overall mix.
Jed Kurzel's nuanced score is masterfully integrated into the audio experience, complementing the film’s tone with a balanced and dynamic presence. Although understated, the score effectively fills the aural space without competing with dialogue or effects. Overall, this audio track provides a rich, focused experience that supports the film’s atmospheric storytelling flawlessly.
Extras: 20
The Extras on the Blu-ray edition of "Slow West" are relatively limited, though they offer some interesting insights into the film's production. The primary feature, a short making-of documentary, covers the film's concepts, characters, and cast through brief but engaging interviews. The additional deleted scenes provide a little more depth to some of the character interactions and narrative but don't significantly enhance the overall viewing experience. While more comprehensive behind-the-scenes content would have been appreciated for a film with such unique creative direction, what's provided is worth a watch for fans.
Extras included in this disc:
- On Strange Land: Making Slow West: A concise look at the film's creation with interviews and conceptual breakdowns.
- Deleted Scenes: Includes two scenes - one featuring additional character moments and another with multiple takes of a traditional Scottish song performance.
Movie: 77
John Maclean's Slow West is a striking contribution to contemporary western cinema, blending classic genre elements with distinctly European sensibilities. Kodi Smit-McPhee stars as Jay Cavendish, a naive Scottish lad driven by unrequited love to traverse the perilous American frontier. Accompanying him is Silas Selleck, portrayed by Michael Fassbender, an enigmatic bounty hunter whose true motives remain shrouded in mystery. The dynamic between the young lover and the taciturn protector forms the emotional backbone of this meticulously crafted narrative.
Maclean's script deftly navigates between poignant flashbacks detailing Jay's and Rose's pasts and their hazardous present journey. The film is replete with moments that juxtapose dark comedy against the stark realism of frontier life, creating a tension that's both unsettling and compelling. The cinematography captures evocative landscapes, from smoke-swathed terrains to vibrant, sun-drenched vistas, underscoring Jay's transition from idealistic romantic to hardened survivor. Alongside this atmospheric story, a subplot involving other bounty hunters, most notably Ben Mendelsohn's Payne, adds layers of intrigue and danger.
Slow West distinguishes itself through its offbeat, almost whimsical touch amidst sequences of unabashed violence and gritty realism. The film deftly employs eccentric characters and unexpected plot twists to keep the narrative slightly off-kilter, drawing the viewer into its peculiar blend of stoic tension and occasional absurdity. This balance of hyperbolic lunacy and authentic grit underlines Maclean's adept directorial control. It all combines to offer a fresh yet respectful nod to the western genre’s traditions, making Slow West a uniquely engaging watch.
Total: 63
"Slow West" on Blu-ray is an impressive cinematic experience that lives up to the buzz generated at the Sundance Film Festival. The film navigates the Western genre with a refreshing blend of uniqueness and familiarity. Michael Fassbender’s performance affirms his versatility, while Kodi Smit-McPhee seamlessly transitions from a child actor to a compelling lead. John Maclean, in his directorial debut, masterfully maintains a consistent tone and delivers striking imagery, proving his potential as an exciting new talent in the industry.
The technical merits of this Blu-ray are outstanding. The video quality is pristine, capturing the vast, poetic landscapes essential to the film's tone. The audio quality complements this visual excellence, providing an immersive soundscape that enhances the viewing experience. However, the special features are somewhat lacking, with only a couple of short extras included. Despite this minor shortcoming, the overall Blu-ray package is a delight for genre enthusiasts and casual viewers alike.
Even those who typically shy away from Westerns might find themselves captivated by "Slow West." The film's eccentricity and avoidance of self-parody make it engaging and unique. Director John Maclean brings an innovative, nearly iconoclastic approach to Western tropes, reminiscent of a solo Coen Brother. With its impressive technical qualities and distinctive style, "Slow West" comes highly recommended.
Blu-ray.com review by Jeffrey KauffmanRead review here
Video: 90
There are occasional very slight issues with crush and lack of shadow detail in some of the nighttime sequences, but this is by and large a ravishing high definition presentation which should delight the...
Audio: 90
Slow West features an at times subtle but very effective lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track which offers excellent support for the film's dialogue, while also offering a very lifelike recreation of...
Extras: 30
On Strange Land: Making Slow West (1080p; 7:19) is the requisite EPK, albeit with decent interviews....
Movie: 80
If Maclean's reach slightly exceeds his grasp here, with a couple of logical inconsistencies, the storytelling in and of itself is quite compelling and manages to simultaneously provide enough context...
Total: 80
Maclean, a musician (part of the late, lamented Beta Band) who didn't shirk from combining odd elements in his tunesmithing, turns out to be an extremely exciting scenarist and director, a kind of one...
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
You'll notice the vibrant green sprouts of grass in certain settings, as if the land was just washed over with rain and the tiny blades are spending the few following days above ground before turning brown....
Audio: 80
Beginning with a voice-over that occassionally pops up throughout the film, the vocal track is the first element to stand out....
Extras: 20
On the Strange Land: Making 'Slow West' (HD, 7:19) - Although short, this making-of is a decent little look at how 'Slow West' came to be....
Movie: 80
Going back to the "European sensibilities," it also doesn't feel the restraint of a movie that has to play by the rules of the established genre - meaning, at times, it does whatever it wants to do, be...
Total: 80
Not only does it work as a standard western, but it also contains more than enough unique attributes to keep it from feeling like a cookie-cutter genre flick....
Why So Blu? review by Aaron NeuwirthRead review here
Video: 90
Characters look great in this film, as there is a lot of fine detail to be found in the factial textures....
Audio: 90
Surround Sound Presentation: The nature of the environment allows for ambient noise, which is well represented in the balance of the sound on this track....
Extras: 20
...
Movie: 80
Total: 80
I wish there was more to say about the extras, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from checking out this film....
Director: John Maclean
Actors: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Caren Pistorius, Aorere Paki
PlotIn the Old West, a young Scotsman named Jay Cavendish embarks on a perilous journey across America in search of Rose Ross, the woman he loves and lost. Accompanied by her father, Rose fled from Scotland to escape a violent incident, prompting Jay to follow them across the ocean. His naivety and lack of survival skills quickly make him a target in the harsh landscape. Enter Silas Selleck, a mysterious and hardened bounty hunter, who offers to protect Jay - for a fee. Unbeknownst to Jay, Silas has his own hidden motives and knowledge that complicate their journey.
As they traverse the unforgiving terrain, the pair encounters various dangers, both human and environmental. They face ruthless bounty hunters, treacherous Native Americans, and lawless frontiersmen who pose constant threats to their lives. Jay's romantic vision of the American West clashes with its brutal reality, testing his resolve and ideals. Each step brings them closer to Rose, but also deeper into a web of violence and betrayal. The journey becomes more about survival than romance, with Jay forced to confront the true cost of following his heart in a land where dreams often die violently.
Writers: John Maclean
Release Date: 16 Apr 2015
Runtime: 84 min
Rating: R
Country: United Kingdom, New Zealand
Language: English, French