Wish Upon Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "Wish Upon" on Blu-ray is commendable, showcasing a well-executed adherence to the film’s intended visual style. The resolution is consistently excellent, delivering clearly rendered images with refined levels of detail, particularly in close-ups and wide-angle shots. The decision to employ a chromatic range consisting of muted primary colors and softer secondary hues works to the film's thematic advantage, enhancing its drab lighting schemes and dark cinematography. This results in a visually subdued yet effective ambiance. Skin tones vary across the cast from rosy to pale, appearing textural and lifelike. The presentation excels in black levels and shadow detail, ensuring deep blacks and excellent contrast without any noticeable video artifacts.

Shot digitally, "Wish Upon" showcases its glossy texture in a restrained manner, maintaining a stable and sturdy image free from excessive smoothness. Detailing is impressively high, noticeable in facial close-ups, clothing fabrics, and finer elements such as the old wood structures, attic objects, school walls, lockers, and particularly the ornate box with its textured Chinese lettering. Despite the predominantly muted palette, colors manage to be vividly bold and punchy without signs of over-saturation or dullness. However, black levels occasionally appear a bit too bright in certain scenes—a nighttime shot around the 21-minute mark being a notable example. Skin tones remain flush and accurate throughout. Minimal light noise is present but remains unobtrusive, contributing to an all-around agreeable and stable visual experience on Blu-ray.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack of "Wish Upon" showcases an impressive depth and clarity that enhances the film’s immersive experience. Dialogue remains firmly anchored in the center channel, delivering a precise and balanced presence within the front soundstage. Notably, subtle background noises, off-camera cues, and spatial dimensions are meticulously rendered, enriching the room's acoustic ambiance. The use of surround channels and subwoofer is sparing but impactful, offering dynamic range and authority to low-frequency effects when utilized.

This audio presentation intensifies throughout the film, particularly during action-packed and scare sequences. The soundtrack delivers substantial movement and placement of elements; for instance, cars racing past characters offer prominent, stage-saturating low-end depth. Moreover, the haunting melody emanating from the box punctuates the narrative with its melodious yet eerie tones. Thunderous cracks filter smoothly across the stage, and an explosive crash at the 62-minute mark stands as the film's most potent auditory event, perfectly aligning with the visual impact. The environmental soundscape, especially in busy school hallways and exteriors, remains consistently engaging. Overall, dialogue is crystal clear and perfectly prioritized, ensuring it is always intelligible amidst the complex sound design.

The Blu Ray extras of "Wish Upon" present a comprehensive and engaging look into the film's creation, featuring insightful content for avid viewers and fans of the genre. Highlights include three featurettes and two motion comics that provide detailed behind-the-scenes access and expanded storytelling elements. These extras are presented in 1080p quality, ensuring a visually clear experience. Additionally, a DVD copy of the film is included. The extras range from cast interviews recapping the plot and sharing personal wishes, to an exclusive tour of one of the film’s key sets, and an exploration of John Leonetti's directing approach. The motion comics delve into backstories of the film’s characters, adding depth to the primary narrative.

Extras included in this disc:

• I Wish: The cast share their personal wishes.
• Attic Tour with Joey King: A tour of one of the film’s visually interesting sets.
• Directing Darkness: Insights into John R. Leonetti's direction with cast reactions.
• Motion Comics: Stories about previous owners of the box, Lu Mei’s Curse and Arthur Sands.
• Bonus DVD: Additional copy of the film.

"Wish Upon" is a formulaic horror film that adheres to the familiar premise of wish fulfillment with dire consequences. Directed by John R. Leonetti, the film tracks high schooler Clare Shannon (Joey King) who, still reeling from her mother's suicide, receives a Chinese music box from her dumpster-diving father (Ryan Phillippe). The box grants her wishes, leading to her tormentors' downfall and an upgrade in her social standing, yet each fulfilled wish comes at a steep price. The narrative, echoing themes from "Final Destination," slowly unveils the sinister history of the box, escalating into a series of grisly outcomes. As Clare’s wishes materialize, the catastrophic toll on her world intensifies, making it challenging to balance personal gain with the horrific side effects.

Technically, the script is unoriginal, piecing together well-trodden horror tropes without infusing fresh ideas. While Joey King's portrayal of Clare exhibits a range of emotions from excitement to terror, her performance alongside the supporting cast remains strictly serviceable. King evolves her character adequately within the confines of the plot, but does not elevate the material. The supporting cast members, including Clare's friends and antagonists, deliver performances that support the narrative without bringing any standout moments. Consequently, the film lacks the depth and innovative elements required to captivate audiences fully.

Overall, "Wish Upon" offers a predictable yet mildly entertaining horror experience. Despite a reasonably engaging start and intriguing premise, it falters with a slow-moving middle and a predictably structured conclusion. The movie can serve as a one-time watch for fans of supernatural thrillers but falls short of being memorable or worthy of repeated viewings. It remains an amalgamation of recycled ideas presented in a technically competent but ultimately pedestrian package.

“Wish Upon” delivers a modest but effective horror experience, combining familiar fantasy elements with visceral mayhem. While the plot treads on predictable territory and lacks substantial creativity, the direction maintains a brisk pace along with occasional noteworthy kill and near-miss sequences that keep the viewer engaged. This horror film doesn't deviate from genre norms, but it does offer a passable, if unremarkable, viewing experience.

Technically, Broad Green's Blu-ray presentation of “Wish Upon” is commendable. The video quality, delivered in high definition, exhibits strong detail and accurate color reproduction, ensuring an immersive visual experience. The audio quality complements the visuals, providing clear dialogue and well-balanced sound effects that enhance the overall atmosphere. The disc includes a few brief extras that offer some additional insights into the film’s production process.

In conclusion, “Wish Upon” may not break new ground in the horror genre, but it succeeds as an enjoyable watch-for-the-night film. Its Blu-ray release ensures high-quality presentation in both video and audio departments. For viewers seeking a straightforward horror flick with decent production values, “Wish Upon” is worth a rental.