Equals Blu-ray Review

"Equals" on Blu-ray, presented by Lionsgate Films, features an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The video quality analysis becomes complex due to director Drake Doremus and cinematographer John Guleserian's highly stylized visual approach. Digitally shot with the Arri Alexa XT, the film is excessively color-graded, often resulting in ice cool blue to violet hues, which can impart a purplish tint to flesh tones. This extensive color manipulation can deplete the overall detail levels, especially during low light or low contrast scenes, leading to abundant banding that creates a painterly effect reminiscent of dreamlike ambiences seen in films like "Waking Life."

When viewed in well-lit conditions or close-up shots, the transfer showcases excellent detail levels. However, the attempt to pull focus on the fly introduces unintended softness in some frame sections. While the transfer maintains stable images with no noise, even in darker scenes, these low-light sequences often descend into digital murk, where blacks become oppressive and some scenes obscure essential details due to blown contrasts and edge halos.

In essence, the creative decisions behind "Equals" result in an inconsistent video presentation. The over-processing and intense color grading strip away finer details, making characters and environments seem flat and lifeless at times. However, when the narrative transitions away from the dystopian society, it reveals vivid colors, better detail, and solid black levels—a stark contrast to its more stylized segments. This amalgamation of technical and artistic choices leads to a transfer that may not meet modern expectations for Blu-ray quality but remains a testament to the film's distinct visual identity.

The audio presentation of "Equals" utilizes a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which aligns well with the film's general atmosphere of restrained silence and subtle interactions. The sound design excels during the minimalist score moments by Sascha Ring and Dustin O'Halloran, revealing its capacity for clean and detailed rendering of music. Ambient effects are sparse, primarily involving discrete channel sounds like the sliding noises of apartment units, creating an immersive albeit minimalistic soundscape. Dialogue is consistently clear and front-centered, maintaining high fidelity throughout the presentation, though the dynamic range remains largely static due to the film's emotionally numbed tone.

Silence plays a crucial role in this film's DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio mix, effectively bringing to life the cinematic experience. During scenes lacking dialogue or notable action, the absence of music or background noise mimics an almost library-like quiet. This natural silence allows for minute details—footsteps, pages turning, chairs scraping—to emerge with lifelike clarity. The dialogue-focused nature of the film ensures that spoken words are isolated to the front and center channels without distraction, affording a listening experience where even hushed conversations require no volume adjustments. Overall, the audio mix is a testament to the understated yet highly effective sound design that complements the film's atmospheric subtleties.

The Blu-ray extras for "Equals" enrich the viewing experience with a balanced mix of commentary and behind-the-scenes content. The Audio Commentary from Director Drake Doremus, Cinematographer John Guleserian, and Editor Jonathan Alberts stands out for its insightful discussion on the creative choices and production techniques that bring the film's futuristic concept to life. "Switched On" offers a standard Electronic Press Kit (EPK) experience with brief interviews and film clips, while "The Collective" delves deeper into character analysis through interviews with Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult. The most extensive feature, "Utopia," provides a comprehensive look into the film's production design and backstory, elements not fully explored within the movie itself.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: In-depth discussions by Director Drake Doremus, Cinematographer John Guleserian, and Editor Jonathan Alberts.
• Switched On: Cast and crew interviews, with film clips.
• The Collective: Interviews with Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult discussing their roles.
• Utopia: Detailed exploration of production design and story background.

"Equals," directed by Drake Doremus with a screenplay by Nathan Parker, ambitiously explores themes of love and emotion suppression in a dystopian future. While the film’s world-building is commendable, with a sleek, antiseptic setting reminiscent of Gattaca and Orwell's 1984, it follows a familiar trajectory, echoing classics like Equilibrium and Logan's Run. The plot centers on Silas (Nicholas Hoult) and Nia (Kristen Stewart) who are afflicted with "Switched On Syndrome" (SOS), a condition causing them to feel emotions in a society that has eradicated them. Their forbidden romance unfolds predictably, hitting familiar beats of the genre.

The film intriguingly hints at past apocalyptic events that led to this emotionless society but leaves many details unexplored, relying on ambient storytelling through touchscreen news reports and casual dialogue. The SOS progression from manageability to fatality is conveyed effectively, adding a layer of tension. Yet, despite this promising setup and strong performances by Hoult and Stewart, their characters lack depth, making it challenging for the audience to form a meaningful connection.

The cinematography capitalizes on its ultra-hygienic, sterile set design to reflect the characters' internal conflicts, albeit at the cost of emotional engagement. Some of the few moments of visceral human experience include Silas and Nia's clandestine interactions and the depiction of pervasive societal control. Although "Equals" presents an aesthetically compelling vision of a dystopian future, its derivative narrative and underdeveloped protagonists blunt its potential impact. It is a film that might appeal more to viewers new to dystopian dramas rather than seasoned sci-fi aficionados.

"Equals" presents a visually compelling yet somewhat derivative take on dystopian science fiction. Despite its echoes of classics like "1984," the film maintains a distinctive allure through its sleek, all-white production design and intriguing world-building. The movie benefits from the performances of its leads, particularly Kristen Stewart, whose typically muted emotional range aligns well with the film’s narrative context. The Blu-ray presentation by Lionsgate offers an immersive audio experience that enhances the atmospheric score and soundscape, although the video quality is less consistent and leaves some room for debate among viewers.

Technically, the Blu-ray consists of stellar audio, accentuating every whisper and musical cue with precision. The video quality, however, has been characterized by some as lacking – an intentional stylistic choice or a misstep in transfer quality remains unclear. Bonus features add value by offering insightful behind-the-scenes content, though they may not completely make up for the film's shortcomings in originality and execution.

Is "Equals" derivative? Undeniably. Does that mean it doesn't warrant any attention? That's a bit trickier; a certain slack has to be cut for this feature to resonate more forcefully than as a distant echo of "1984." There are interesting elements here, and Stewart's genetic incapacity to emote works for her character. The sleek and very white production design provides a unique visual allure to the film. With caveats duly noted and a recognition of the odd video quality (intentional or not), "Equals" comes Recommended.