Red Riding Hood Blu-ray Review

"Red Riding Hood" on Blu-ray offers a visually captivating yet somewhat inconsistent 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer. Presented in the original 2.40:1 aspect ratio, the video quality accentuates the film’s alternative fairytale stylization with an array of sumptuous candle-wick oranges, amber hues, and striking reds. While the encoding ensures rich blacks and crisp whites, darkness often drapes the environment heavily, impacting skintones and adding an enchanting, albeit occasionally murky, aesthetic. Detail is generally impressive, especially in closeups and well-lit scenes, but intentionally murky areas and firelit interiors exhibit some softness and occasional banding. However, digital nuisances like artifacting, aliasing, and DNR are notably absent, marking the encode as commendable.

The color palette is both a highlight and a challenge, with muted secondary colors contributing to the film’s stark visual aesthetic and vivid reds providing a striking contrast. Blacks can be respectable but swing between deep and grayish depending on the scene, which sometimes flattens the image and affects depth. Delineation in shadows is above average but can obscure background details during poorly lit sequences. Despite these limitations, the overall high definition resolution is satisfying with refined textures, clean object definition, and reasonable sharpness in long-range visuals.

While not the pinnacle of Blu-ray visual presentations, "Red Riding Hood" benefits from its charming transfer that offers more visual hits than misses. The rich, dream-like quality of the video serves the film well despite some inconsistencies in contrast and occasional softness. Excusing these drawbacks as intended elements of Mandy Walker’s photography, the video rendition remains a laudable effort that enhances the immersive experience of this fantasy tale.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track for "Red Riding Hood" offers an engaging and technically proficient aural experience, which significantly enhances the film’s suspense and atmospheric intensity. Dialogue clarity is consistently high, well-positioned at the front, ensuring every word is audible and coherent. This front-dominant track is complemented by a gothic score from Alex Heffes and Brian Reitzell, characterized by modern beats and Twilight-esque overtones that widen the soundstage. The effects detail is superb, encapsulating creepy forest sounds, snarling wolves, crackling torches, and whizzing arrows with precision. These elements create a palpable sense of presence, though the rear channels lack consistent, notable contributions, save for scattered atmospheric enhancements.

The track’s dynamics are potent, successfully leveraging sound effects to augment the film’s eerie ambiance and punctuate jump scares with effective low-frequency extensions. The low bass packs a substantial punch, delivering room-filling depth that resonates authoritatively, especially during action scenes involving Daggerhorn’s resident werewolf. Though movement between channels is often smooth and convincing, enabling a satisfying immersive effect, the overall soundscape sometimes retreats to front-centric during quieter moments. Nonetheless, this lossless track supports high-level detail, ensuring an immersive auditory experience and maintaining suspense through strategic directionality and dynamic range.

Although some may shrug at the film itself, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track should not be dismissed. It effectively keeps listeners engaged from beginning to end, integrating vigorous LFE and rear speaker activity during key sequences to ground the fairy tale in a semblance of reality. The score and effects collectively strike a balance between medieval enchantment and modern sensibilities, heightening the film’s emotional and psychological impact.

The Blu-ray edition of "Red Riding Hood" presents an array of extras, mostly high-definition content that ranges from a slightly altered alternate cut to a decidedly uncomfortable Picture-in-Picture commentary. Catherine Hardwicke’s video commentary, joined by the lead cast, lacks technical depth and is marked by tension, particularly due to Amanda Seyfried’s outspoken nature and strong views, which often clash with others. Featurettes explore various aspects like adapting the classic tale, casting, and creating the film’s score and CGI elements. While some additional segments, such as deleted scenes and a brief gag reel, fail to stand out, others like the music videos and digital copy enhance the overall package, despite some underwhelming inclusions.

Extras included in this disc:

• Alternate Cut: Slight changes including a marginally different ending.
• Secrets Behind the Red Cloak: PiP commentary with director Hardwicke and the cast, plus storyboards and behind-the-scenes insights.
• The Reinvention of Red Riding Hood: Contemporary adaptation of the folk tale.
• Red's Men: Focus on the male cast with audition tape highlights.
• Making of the Score: Deep dive into the film’s music.
• Before the Fur: Brief exploration of creating the CGI werewolf.
• Casting Tapes: Audition segments.
• Rehearsals: Behind-the-scenes rehearsals with the cast.
• Red Riding Hood in 73 Seconds: A rapid summary of the film.
• Deleted Scenes: Four additional sequences.
• Gag Reel: A 3-minute segment that may fail to amuse.
• Music Videos: Featuring Fever Ray’s "The Wolf" and Anthony Gonzalez & Brian Reitzell’s "Just a Fragment of You."
• Easter Egg: A hidden, insignificant clip.

"Red Riding Hood," directed by Catherine Hardwicke, attempts to revitalize the classic fairytale with a dark, fantastical twist, yet it struggles to find its footing. The film transports us to the medieval village of Daggerhorn, perpetually terrorized by a werewolf, where the young and brave Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) finds herself ensnared in a dangerous love triangle amidst escalating horror. With its convoluted plotlines and lackluster character arcs, the movie falls significantly short of its potential. While Amanda Seyfried's performance offers some respite, the rest of the cast is mired in either overblown theatrics or uninspired deliveries. Gary Oldman delivers his usual dynamic presence as the werewolf hunter, but even this is not enough to salvage the clumsy and over-embellished narrative.

Despite its captivating premise and lush visual style, bolstered by Mandy Walker's Grimmsian cinematography, "Red Riding Hood" suffers from weak storytelling and pacing. The script, penned by David Johnson, is laden with clichés and unnecessary complexities that lead to a tiresome viewing experience. Hardwicke's direction lacks the decisiveness needed to navigate the film's genre-bending ambitions, and the story's attempt to create suspense and romantic conflict falls flat. The constant suspect-switching and uninspired love triangle only add to the film's predictability and diluted impact. Even the werewolf’s telepathic connection with Valerie serves more to confuse than to enthrall.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu-Ray release features respectable video and audio quality, capturing the film's atmospheric set designs and blending them with a moody soundtrack by Alex Heffes and Brian Reitzell. However, these technical merits cannot mask the film’s numerous shortcomings. The movie's grandiose visuals clash awkwardly with its muddled plot, resulting in a viewing experience that feels as insipid as it is beautiful. Ultimately, "Red Riding Hood" is an example of style over substance—visually arresting but narratively hollow.

"Red Riding Hood," directed by Catherine Hardwicke, is a visually alluring yet ultimately disappointing adaptation of the classic Brothers Grimm tale. The film, which stars Amanda Seyfried and Gary Oldman, attempts to modernize the folklore with a sultry, horror-infused twist but falters in delivering compelling or coherent storytelling. Despite its narrative shortcomings, Warner's Blu-ray release redeems some value through its excellent audio-visual presentation. The video quality, while not outstanding, is decent, and the audio performance is robust and engaging—immersing viewers in the film’s atmospheric soundscape.

The Blu-ray edition comes with a rather limited supplemental package, primarily consisting of content exclusive to the high-definition format. Although the extras do not significantly enhance the overall experience, they provide some added value for dedicated fans of the film. The inclusion of these high-def exclusive features could sway ardent fans towards making a purchase, even if casual viewers might find better value in a rental.

In conclusion, "Red Riding Hood" on Blu-ray is a mixed bag. While the film itself struggles to captivate with its convoluted plot and lacklustre execution, the high-quality AV presentation offers some redemption. Audiophiles and visual purists will appreciate the careful attention to sound and picture detail, but most viewers might find the limited supplements and inherent flaws of the film better suited for a rental rather than a full purchase. Given these factors, this Blu-ray release is best recommended for genre enthusiasts or collectors seeking to complete their set.