Playback Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Playback" reveals its origins as a lower-budget horror film, but Magnolia Home Entertainment has managed to deliver a generally solid 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer. While the cinematography may leave something to be desired in terms of cinematic appeal, the image quality is clean and fairly sharp, maintaining decent gradations and color saturation. The high-definition detail is pronounced in close-ups, allowing viewers to see intricate features such as Christian Slater's scruffy five o'clock shadow and Toby Hemingway's heavily made-up face. The color palette is processed to achieve a punchy realism, with good contrast and relatively solid black levels.

However, there are occasional technical imperfections. Highlights can sometimes appear overexposed and washed out, though this is not a persistent issue. More noticeable are the recurring instances of source noise and very mild banding, particularly evident in darker scenes. Additionally, the film's un-cinematic, "shot-on-video" aesthetic—despite being shot with a Red One MX—can be off-putting, and the flat blacks often obscure gore effects and fine shadow details. Compression issues aside, while the picture quality may not be sought after for its visual excellence, considering the low budget, it certainly exceeds expectations for a z-grade straight-to-video horror flick.

Overall, "Playback’s" video presentation on Blu-ray is commendable for what it is. Despite its inherent limitations, it manages to provide a reasonably clear and detailed viewing experience. The Blu-ray format does well to highlight the available fine details, even if some elements fall flat due to the film’s production constraints and technical artifacts. Although not groundbreaking, this transfer ensures the movie is presented in its best possible light within its given parameters.

The Blu-ray of "Playback" presents its audio via a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that exhibits a well-meaning but ultimately lackluster sound design. While the attempt to create an immersive sonic environment is appreciated, the use of classic horror audio tropes, particularly the overused "glitchy static" effect, comes across as dated and uninspired. The sound mix endeavors to make robust use of the rear channels for ambiance and cross-channel effects, but these efforts feel undercooked. Unfortunately, cheap scare tactics dominate the mix, with the soundtrack escalating predictably before each supposed fright, focusing more on volume than innovation.

Furthermore, the musical elements significantly detract from the overall audio experience. The score fluctuates wildly—in one moment, angsty whines, in another, pseudo-dubstep beats, and cheesy metal riffs—all often crammed together unsettlingly in a single track. The particularly grating soundtrack disrupts the atmosphere rather than enhancing it. Notably, specific tracks resemble subpar imitations of more polished works, such as a track that attempts but fails to emulate LCD Soundsystem's style. Nonetheless, dialogue remains clear and easily intelligible throughout the film, aided by the optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles available on the disc.

Ultimately, "Playback's" DTS-HD Master Audio track fails to capitalize on its potential, providing an uninspired and occasionally irritating audio experience. While clarity in dialogue is maintained—a positive aspect—the reliance on outdated horror sound effects and a poorly chosen soundtrack significantly reduces the overall impact and enjoyment.

The Blu Ray extras for "Playback" offer a standard selection of behind-the-scenes material, promotional content, and additional media. The "Behind the Scenes" feature provides a typical glimpse into the filming process with on-set footage and brief interviews, though it tends toward promotional fluff. The "Photo Gallery" includes an extensive collection of over 70 stills, providing a thorough visual documentation of the film's production. The HDNet promo offers a concise video on demand commercial, including director interviews and film clips. Additionally, viewers can expect the official trailer and a preview of other releases from Magnolia Home Entertainment.

Extras included in this disc:

• Behind the Scenes: Standard on-set interviews and behind-the-scenes filming footage.
• Photo Gallery: User-directed gallery with 70-plus still photos of the filming.
• HDNet: A Look at Playback: An HDNet commercial featuring film clips and director interviews.
• Trailer: The official film trailer.
• Also from Magnolia Home Entertainment Blu-ray: Previews other releases from Magnolia.

In "Playback," audiences are subjected to yet another uninspired teen horror flick centered around a haunted videotape. The premise is derivative—reminiscent of movies like "The Ring" but without any semblance of tension or originality. It opens with a seemingly important but overly stylized flashback to a 1994 family murder, setting the scene for the rest of the film but ultimately failing to engage. The protagonist, Julian, is an aspiring filmmaker fascinated by the crime, and his friends' project inadvertently unleashes an evil force linked to a mysterious videotape.

Christian Slater's presence as a perverted cop buying underage footage is perhaps the most eyebrow-raising aspect, yet it adds little to the story. The antagonist, Quinn, undergoes a transformation into a gaunt, malevolent figure after watching the cursed footage. This transformation is linked to a far-fetched backstory involving early cinema pioneer Louis Le Prince, who is dubiously portrayed as a literal devil using his camera to steal souls. The film strives for a mix of supernatural horror and teen slasher elements but fails miserably, offering neither scares nor coherence in its narrative or character development.

Director Michael A. Nickles attempts to build his horror story from old genre clichés and uninspired dialogue, resulting in a tedious viewing experience. There's a laughable lack of suspense and logical consistency. Even the gore—limited to scenes like CDs to the eyeball and bullet wounds—is unimpressive for horror enthusiasts. Moreover, the subplots only serve as weak excuses to fit in nudity and exploitative themes. Overall, "Playback" is an exercise in frustration for viewers, squandering any potential intrigue in favor of mind-numbing triviality.

The Blu-ray release of "Playback" fails to capture the essence of a compelling horror film, falling short in almost every department. Despite decent technical production values, including reasonably good picture quality and sound, the film itself is plagued by a lackluster narrative and uninspired performances. Christian Slater's role as a seedy character with distasteful inclinations only adds to the movie’s already numerous flaws. The plot is convoluted and lacks coherence, making it difficult for viewers to stay engaged or even care about the unfolding events.

Watching "Playback" is a frustrating experience. The film suffers from an overreliance on tired horror clichés and fails to introduce any original or intriguing elements. Its runtime feels unnecessarily lengthy given the lack of substantial content. The character development is practically nonexistent, and the scares are ineffective, leaving audiences disappointed and bored. Questions like why such a movie was made or why capable actors participated in it will undoubtedly cross the viewer's mind.

In conclusion, "Playback" might be remembered as one of the worst horror films of 2012. Its inability to scare, coupled with a nonsensical story and unappealing character roles, makes it hard to recommend. Though the Blu-ray presentation is technically competent, no technical prowess can redeem this cinematic misfire. Avoid "Playback" at all costs if you value your time and sanity.