Single White Female Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Single White Female" by Scream Factory demonstrates an impressive video transfer that maintains the film's original aesthetic while substantially enhancing its visual fidelity. The disc utilizes an MPEG-4 AVC encode on a BD-50 and retains the proper 1.85:1 aspect ratio, contributing to a cinematic and immersive viewing experience. The transfer, reportedly carried over from a 2K scan for European releases, ensures a high level of clarity and detail, with a consistent and balanced grain structure. While the opening scene reveals some inherent grunge and grain, these visual elements clean up significantly post that initial flashback, showcasing a beautifully detailed image devoid of major print damage or speckles. The colors are slightly cool with rustic earth tones, robust blues, and light reds, preserving the cinematographic intentions of Luciano Tovoli.

Depth of field in the presentation is noteworthy, with character movements and spatial relations creating a palpable sense of immersion. Black levels are deep and impressively consistent, avoiding major issues of crush or banding especially in shadow-heavy scenes, which are critical to the film's atmosphere. Although there is occasional noise in darker interior shots, this minor flaw does not detract from the overall visual integrity. Skin tones vary naturally between warm and occasionally pink or amber-hued due to lighting schemes, and intricate facial details, such as lines and textures, are revealed clearly.

Overall, this Blu-ray edition excels in delivering a sharp, crisp image with robust color reproduction. While the disc does not offer a maxed-out bitrate, the average bitrate of 30,999 kbps still ensures high-quality playback. The naturalistic image quality showcases delicate details and vibrant primaries, making it a remarkably faithful representation of the film's visual narrative. This release stands as a notable improvement from previous editions and serves as a strong testament to Scream Factory's commitment to quality.

Scream Factory's release of "Single White Female" features a competent 2.0 DTS-HD MA audio track that complements the dialogue-driven narrative of the film effectively. The stereo mix adeptly replicates dialogue clearly and cleanly, capturing the nuanced conversations with precision. This clarity extends to ambient noises and Howard Shore's evocative score, which melds into the background without overwhelming the primary focus—dialogue. However, some reviewers noted a slight thinness at the high end of the track, though it remains free from distortion, even when pushed harder during tension-laden moments. Additionally, the audio presentation includes accurate English SDH subtitles, ensuring comprehensive dialogue transcription.

While the audio mix predominantly emphasizes vocals, it delivers a balanced experience with background noises smoothly integrated. Dialogue is distinct and easily comprehensible, although some reviewers found that in the expansive apartment settings of New York, clarity occasionally diminished slightly. Despite these minor issues, the mix avoids unwanted hiss and displays well-balanced dynamics. Special attention is given to Shore’s score, providing a brooding atmospheric layer that enhances the film’s dramatic tension and the development of character relationships. The somewhat understated low-frequency extension doesn't detract from the overall experience but does result in certain sound effects lacking notable impact.

Overall, despite being on a quieter side and occasionally needing volume adjustments for optimal ambient effect appreciation, "Single White Female" boasts a solid stereo audio track. It may not exhibit extensive separation or deep, thundering impacts, but it successfully creates an engaging auditory environment that faithfully supports the film's intent, ensuring vocals take center stage while allowing other elements to blend harmoniously into the mix.

Shout! Factory's Blu-ray release of "Single White Female" boasts a compelling array of extras that enrich the viewing experience significantly. Chief among these is the new audio commentary featuring Director Barbet Schroeder, Editor Lee Percy, and Associate Producer Susan Hoffman. This commentary presents an insightful dialogue covering the film's production details and various on-set anecdotes, though it tends to become more observational in the latter half. Supplementing this are several interviews: Barbet Schroeder provides an engaging reflection on the film's origins and production dynamics; Peter Friedman shares personal challenges, including dealing with cat allergies during shooting; Steven Weber offers detailed accounts of his character development and experiences working on set; and Screenwriter Don Roos covers the adaptation process and his thoughts on the screenplay's evolution. The package is rounded out with the original theatrical trailer.

Extras included in this disc:

• NEW Audio Commentary With Director Barbet Schroeder, Editor Lee Percy, and Associate Producer Susan Hoffman: Details and anecdotes about the film’s production.
• NEW Interview With Director Barbet Schroeder: Insights into project origins and production history.
• NEW Interview With Actor Peter Friedman: Discussion on character portrayal and filming challenges.
• NEW Interview With Actor Steven Weber: Reflections on character development and on-set experiences.
• NEW Interview With Screenwriter Don Roos: Covering adaptation process and screenplay evolution.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original promotion for the film.

Barbet Schroeder’s Single White Female (1992) is an erotic thriller that confronts the psychosexual dynamics of obsession and identity. The narrative centers on Allie Jones, a computer programmer portrayed by Bridget Fonda, who is navigating emotional turmoil after discovering her fiancé Sam’s infidelity. Seeking a roommate to share her New York City apartment, Allie meets Hedra Carlson, played with unsettling precision by Jennifer Jason Leigh. Initially demure and unassuming, Hedra quickly reveals a deeper, more ominous fixation, as her admiration for Allie escalates into a disturbing mimicry that includes adopting Allie’s appearance and erasing boundaries.

Lauded for its performances, Jennifer Jason Leigh excels in her role as the unhinged Hedra, bringing a chilling complexity to the character that effectively drives the film's suspense. Leigh’s portrayal is both compelling and terrifying, capturing the nuances of Hedra's split personality with an intensity that garnered critical acclaim. Bridget Fonda complements Leigh with a sympathetic performance as Allie, embodying vulnerability and determination with finesse. Notable supporting roles include Steven Weber as Sam and Peter Friedman as Allie’s neighbor Graham, both adding layers to the story’s intricate web of relationships.

Technically, Single White Female remains impactful, benefiting from Schroeder’s adept direction and Don Roos’ multifaceted script. The film does not shy away from depicting violence and sexual content, which was provocative for its time and contributed to its lasting impression. The Blu-ray release features a stellar video transfer that enhances the rich visual storytelling, highlighting the film's effective use of lighting and personal cinematography. Despite some pacing issues in the middle act, the film delivers a gripping third act that solidifies its reputation as a notable 90s thriller. With themes of paranoia and identity intertwining throughout, Single White Female is a stylish narrative that continues to resonate in the thriller genre.

"Single White Female," directed by Barbet Schroeder and starring Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh, remains an iconic thriller in the "creepy roommate" subgenre. The film showcases a tense cat-and-mouse dynamic, augmented by Leigh's unforgettable performance that arguably deserved higher accolades. Fonda, too, steps out of her typical roles to deliver a commendable portrayal. The movie’s thrilling sequences, especially its climactic final act, maintain their gripping impact even after a quarter-century.

Scream Factory has done a commendable job with the Blu-ray release from an audio-visual standpoint. The 1.85:1 AVC encoded transfer preserves the film’s original “filmy” aesthetic, although it’s noted that future releases could benefit from a 4K scan. The English DTS-HD MA 2.0 audio track ensures well-balanced sound, enhancing the suspenseful atmosphere integral to the thriller experience. Additionally, the Blu-ray offers substantial new bonus content, including insightful interviews and a commentary track, appealing to fans looking for deeper exploration.

Despite its early 90s feel, "Single White Female" remains compelling due to its solid script and well-developed characters, reflecting the seasoned craftsmanship of its director. The Blu-ray release is priced at a premium but delivers appreciable value with its quality presentation and extras. Overall, this release by Scream Factory breathes new life into a classic thriller that continues to captivate audiences.

In conclusion, "Single White Female" still holds up as a solid thriller some quarter of a century later in the “creepy roommate” genre. It was kind of shuffled to the side back in 1992 due to the fact that so many people thought it was a chick flick, but has garnered itself a decent cult following over the years. Jennifer Jason Leigh delivers a knockout performance as the creepy roommate, and Fonda’s typical lack of acting is not too shabby. The film has some really great sequences, with the final act acting as the single best part of the movie. Scream Factory has given the film a really REALLY nice looking encode, as well as packed in a decent amount of extras for a non “Collector’s Edition” film in their lineup. Definitely worth a watch if you love thrillers.