2:22 Blu-ray Review

Magnolia Home Entertainment's 1080p, AVC-encoded Blu-ray release of "2:22" offers a consistently sharp, detailed, and colorful image that enhances the film's distinctly glossy "big city" aesthetic. Shot by acclaimed cinematographer David Eggby, the Blu-ray presents New York City in stunning detail, bringing the bustling streets and iconic locales like Grand Central Station to vivid life with an array of gold inlay and bronze tones. The color grading features a neutral profile with a slight blue tinge, ensuring primary colors are both sharp and distinct. Fine details are exceptional, allowing viewers to discern individual elements like the hairs on Dylan’s face or intricate detritus on his floor.

Despite the overall high quality, there are minor issues such as occasional banding in darker scenes and a few soft shots. However, these are fleeting and do not significantly detract from the viewing experience. The encode, mastered at an average bitrate of 20.99 Mbps, is reliable, free from artifacts, aliasing, and distortion. This Blu-ray successfully leverages various cinematic techniques to capture Dylan's increasingly complex perceptions, offering a visual treat even when the narrative may falter, making it a commendable addition for fans and collectors alike.

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA lossless audio mix in "2:22" is a well-executed component that adeptly complements the visual presentation. It offers an engaging and spacious auditory experience that capitalizes on the New York City setting. The opening airport scenes leverage throbbing LFE to immerse viewers with planes roaring dynamically through the surround channels. These channels remain actively engaged throughout the film, particularly during sequences featuring urban soundscapes—screeching tires, rumbling subways, and overhead planes create an enveloping audio environment. Although dialogue remains the primary focus, locked firmly and clearly in the center, the mix transitions effectively between quieter moments and more action-packed sequences, ensuring a balanced yet dynamic auditory profile.

This 5.1 soundtrack, encoded in lossless DTS-HD MA, aligns impressively with the film’s narrative demands, particularly in its ability to reflect the protagonist's subjective experiences. Surround placements are thoughtfully applied to support key events, such as the high-stakes near-miss airline incident, providing punch and a broad dynamic range. The foreboding score by Lisa Gerrard and James Orr enriches the overall soundscape, adding layers of tension and atmosphere to pivotal scenes. While the audio mix tends to skew front-heavy at times, overall it teeters on the brink of a truly fantastic auditory experience.

The Blu-ray extras of "2:22" are primarily focused on insights from director Paul Currie, offering a deep dive into aspects such as story development, working dynamics with the cast, and the intricate recreation of New York’s iconic Grand Central Terminal. While the features are informative, they are somewhat diluted by extensive film clips. Notably, the cast contributes intermittently to these featurettes. The inclusion of non-functional BD-Live content seems outdated and unnecessary. However, the provided trailers for other titles and the promotional content offer additional entertainment avenues.

Extras included in this disc:

• Time with the Story and Characters: Exploration of narrative and character development.
• Working with the Director and Cast: Discussion of directorial approaches and cast interactions.
• Recreating New York and Grand Central: Behind-the-scenes look at set design and location recreation.
• Theatrical Trailer: Official movie trailer.

"2:22," directed by Paul Currie, attempts to weave a tapestry of mystery, sci-fi, and supernatural romance but seems to falter under the weight of its own ambition. What starts as an intriguing investigation into the life of Dylan Branson (Michiel Huisman), a New York City air traffic controller whose sudden hallucinations almost cause a mid-air collision, quickly diverges into a different narrative path. The disruption begins when Dylan meets Sarah (Teresa Palmer), with their connection exponentially increasing the déjà vu moments. Initially, the film captivates with its portrayal of patterns and repetitions reminiscent of Dylan's ominous experiences at Grand Central Station, but it then sharply transitions into a love triangle intertwined with themes of reincarnation. This mid-film shift feels abrupt and jarring, as if the audience is thrust into a completely different genre without sufficient narrative scaffolding.

Despite commendable performances from Huisman and Palmer, who exhibit palpable on-screen chemistry, the film’s cohesion suffers from an overreliance on CGI and an underdeveloped script that strains credulity. The production successfully recreates iconic New York City landmarks while filming in Sydney, a testament to its stellar production design and digital effects team. Yet, this visual triumph is undermined by plot contrivances and unresolved narrative threads. For instance, Dylan's obsessive pattern-logging and his eventual discovery of historic letters stashed in his attic seem forced rather than naturally integrated into the story. Additionally, the film oscillates between being a sci-fi tale, a ghost story, and a thriller about reincarnated lovers, causing it to lose narrative focus and momentum.

Ultimately, instead of seamlessly blending its disparate elements, "2:22" ends up feeling disjointed. The filmmakers' attempt to encapsulate grander themes of love and destiny culminates in a cliched resolution that glosses over practical inconsistencies and plot holes, leaving viewers with an unsatisfying sense of closure. The film has potential but doesn't quite deliver on its initial promise, making for an uneven viewing experience that could have benefited from a more coherent narrative structure.

"2:22" is a romantic thriller that blends elements of love and reincarnation into its narrative. Directed by Paul Currie and starring Teresa Palmer, Michiel Huisman, and Sam Reid, the film follows an intriguing plot marred by predictable twists. The video presentation in 2.35:1 AVC format is immaculate, showcasing the intricate visual effects with clarity and richness. The audio is delivered through DTS-HD MA 5.1, ensuring a dynamic and engaging auditory experience.

While the plot's midsection may seem like a derailment to some viewers, it becomes more palatable once you understand the film’s thematic underpinnings. A second viewing enriches the experience by allowing audiences to appreciate the film’s nuanced motifs and character arcs better. The extras included in the Blu-ray are standard for new releases, providing adequate extra content for enthusiasts interested in behind-the-scenes insights.

In conclusion, I actually ended up liking "2:22" a lot more than some of the reviews I’ve seen out there recently. It’s not a perfect film by any means, but if you know that the film is really a love story that blends in some elements of reincarnation, then it’s much easier to take the second half derailment than if you went in blind like myself. A second viewing helped a lot for me, and I really liked it a good bit better than the first time I did thanks to knowing the “shocker” (which really shouldn’t have been there to begin with). Audio and video are very impressive, and the extras are about on par with most new releases. Recommended as a cute watch.

Recommendation: Fun Watch