The Covenant Blu-ray Review

Despite its low budget and less-than-stellar reputation, "The Covenant" receives an unexpectedly high-quality Blu-ray transfer from Sony. Using the MPEG-2 codec, the film presents a surprisingly sharp and detailed picture with a 2.35:1 widescreen and 1080p resolution. This transfer demonstrates that MPEG-2 is more than capable of delivering an exceptional high-definition image. The depth of field is notably impressive for a film shot on HD video, featuring an extensive use of blue filters that contribute to its unique visual style. Fine details and sharpness are both remarkable, with solid black levels and plenty of fine shadow detail, creating a video presentation that is exceptional and visually stunning.

However, the film’s persistent use of a blue/cyan color palette does not hinder the overall quality of the video transfer. Flesh tones are as accurate as possible within the film’s stylized visual scheme, maintaining authenticity without compromising the artistic intent. The level of detail and depth in both stylized and naturally-hued scenes are exceptional, offering a near three-dimensional viewing experience that surpasses expectations. Moreover, the film’s presentation appears pristine and glossy, likely a result of a digital-to-digital telecine process, although this is not officially confirmed by Sony.

One minor discrepancy in the video quality occurs during a scene where the character Caleb drives to a country house, initially appearing to suffer from video noise which later reveals itself to be rain—an inconsistency within the scene that notably does not detract from the overall excellence of the video transfer. Despite its singular flaw, "The Covenant's" Blu-ray video presentation rightly earns top marks for its flawless execution, demonstrating Sony’s commitment to delivering superior video quality even for films with a less commendable cinematic standing.

The audio presentation of "The Covenant" on Blu-ray is a tour de force, showcasing an uncompressed PCM 5.1 surround soundtrack that elevates the cinematic experience to new heights. Reference quality in every sense, the clarity, depth, and dynamic range of this soundtrack are nothing short of exemplary. Dialogue is delivered with sharpness and precision, ensuring every whisper and shout is heard in crystal clarity. The use of the surround channels is aggressive and immersive, drawing the listener into the heart of the action with a weighty sense of three-dimensionality.

The sonic landscape of this Blu-ray is marked by its vibrant dynamics and expansive frequency response. Both mid- and high-range frequencies are rendered with exceptional cleanliness and force, while the low bass is aggressively strong, lending a visceral impact to the film's numerous action sequences. Effects such as the witch powers and car crashes demonstrate superior fidelity in the rear channels, creating a truly enveloping sound experience. The extended climactic fight scene between Chase and Caleb exemplifies the power and precision of the discrete effects, illustrating the soundtrack's capability to deliver bombastic, room-shaking audio.

Despite its inclination towards loudness and a somewhat reduced subtlety, "The Covenant" stands as a sterling example of how a great audio mix can enhance the visual spectacle. Its PCM soundtrack achieves an impressive balance between raw power and nuanced detail, ensuring a riveting auditory experience. While it might shy away from subtlety, this aggressive approach pays dividends, making it a must-hear for fans of high-quality home cinema audio. This Blu-ray audio presentation is a clear demonstration of how to do movie soundtracks right, particularly when played at high volumes for full effect.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Covenant" straddle the line between earnest craftsmanship and unintentional comedy, offering a sparse but intriguing behind-the-scenes glimpse into a film that failed to make waves upon release. Director Renny Harlin's audio commentary stands out as the highlight, providing an enthusiastic if somewhat oblivious overview of the film's production, from casting to visual style, despite the movie's lackluster reception and flawed premise. Accompanying this is the documentary "Breaking The Silence: Exposing The Covenant," which, despite its grandiose title, delivers a standard assembly of interviews and on-set footage that fails to delve deep into the film’s making or impact, echoing the movie's superficial approach to storytelling. Despite their limitations, these features offer a fascinating look into the optimism and effort behind a film that struggled to find its footing, serving as a testament to the unyielded enthusiasm of its creators.

Extras included in this disc:

• Breaking The Silence: Exposing The Covenant: A documentary featuring behind-the-scenes footage and cast interviews.

• Scene Specific Director's Commentary with Renny Harlin: Audio commentary offering insights into the film’s production.

"The Covenant," helmed by Renny Harlin whose cinematic journey has been marked by ups and dramatically perceived downs, finds itself at the center of scrutiny in its Blu Ray presentation. The narrative unfolds within the hallowed halls and ancient legacy of an Ivy League institution, where four young descendants of witchcraft's most potent lineages command the campus both in allure and arcane power. However, their untroubled dominion is challenged by the arrival of a fifth element, a newcomer with devastating ambitions and a nefarious plot that could spell disaster not just for our protagonists but for the world at large. This sets the stage for an occult battle royale, imbued with all the trappings of youth angst and dark magic.

Critically, "The Covenant" straddles a precarious line; its ambition marred by execution that some might generously term as uneven. The dialogues often traverse from attempting gravitas to inadvertently comical, burdened further by performances from a cast seemingly in the nascent stages of their careers. Notably, phrases such as "I'm going to make you my wee-yotch!" emblemize the script's struggle with tone, leaving much to be desired in the realms of both plausibility and engagement. Despite the earnest efforts of its actors, their struggle to infuse depth into the material is palpable.

Yet, for all its perceived shortcomings, there's an undeniable allure to "The Covenant's" audacity. It unabashedly caters to its generational predilections - a concoction of supernatural fantasy meets teen drama, laden with an air of homoerotic aesthetics that could very well position it as a cult classic within certain circles. Its production, while criticized, effectively channels a certain MTV-era zeitgeist, with rapid editing and special effects that toe the line between ambitious and amusing. In essence, while it may not ascend to the pantheon of cinematic masterpieces, "The Covenant" serves as a fascinating artifact of its time - an epitome of style over substance, a guilty pleasure for those who revel in the campiness of genre cinema at its most unapologetic.

Upon reviewing "The Covenant" on Blu-ray, it's apparent that it divides opinions sharply, particularly between its content and technical presentation. Despite being widely criticized for its lackluster storyline and somewhat laughable execution, akin to an over-zealous MTV music video, there's no denying the film has been given a sterling treatment in its home video format. The transfer and soundtrack are both outstanding, elevating what many agree is a sub-par film into a showcase piece for the capabilities of Blu-ray technology. It seems that whether one appreciates the movie itself may be secondary to appreciating how well it demonstrates the technical prowess of their home cinema setup.

This dichotomy extends to the film's reception among different audiences. For those with a keen interest in home theater technology, "The Covenant" serves as a near-perfect demo disc, with its impeccable picture quality and dynamic audio presentation. The visuals and sound are so enhanced that they arguably become the main draw of this release, offering an almost unparalleled example of what the Blu-ray format can achieve. However, for viewers seeking engaging content or cinematic artistry, the film falls significantly short. The consensus suggests that even the most jaw-dropping visual and audio quality can't fully compensate for a fundamentally uninteresting or poorly executed narrative.

In conclusion, "The Covenant" on Blu-ray presents an intriguing proposition: it is a masterpiece of audiovisual quality that unfortunately houses a less-than-stellar movie. This makes it best suited for enthusiasts of home cinema technology who value technical excellence over storytelling or for diehard genre fans looking for every high-definition release of their favorite niche. In essence, it's a prime example of how extraordinary presentation can breathe life into even the most critically panned content, though it remains a niche acquisition, unlikely to appeal to the broader market seeking compelling film narratives along with high technical quality.