The Craft Blu-ray Review

"The Craft" makes its spellbinding Blu-ray debut with a presentation that largely impresses, showcasing solid high definition imagery framed in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The transfer highlights accurate, naturally rendered colors that lean toward a bit more saturation in primary hues, while secondary colors maintain a more reserved appearance. Flesh tones are natural and lifelike, adding a realistic touch to every scene. Detail in darker sequences and backgrounds is commendable, with excellent contrast and deep blacks enhancing the visual experience. However, fine details and textures vary in quality, appearing superb in close-ups but somewhat softer in broader shots and backgrounds, which can occasionally detract from the overall sharpness.

The video retains a filmic quality thanks to a layer of grain that ensures a texture-rich, detailed depth, preserving the movie's original cinematic essence. Despite some scenes exhibiting slightly muted colors and others showing inconsistencies in contrast and flesh tones, the general visual presentation remains vibrant and pleasing. Interior scenes and certain backgrounds sometimes suffer from haziness or a lack of sharp definition, but these issues are minor when considering the transfer's strengths in color fidelity and black levels.

On the auditory front, "The Craft" dazzles with a high-resolution DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack that wonderfully captures the film's eerie atmosphere. Dialogue is crisp and clear, allowing for nuanced vocal expressions to shine through. The surround mix is dynamic and engaging, with excellent range and an openness that fills the room. Ambient sounds, such as revolving voices, wind, and thunder, create an immersive experience, complemented by a powerful use of the LFE channel for music and lower bass frequencies. While some may have hoped for a more profound visual upgrade from its DVD counterpart, the Blu-ray's audio presentation significantly elevates the viewing experience, making it more impactful than expected.

The audio presentation of "The Craft" Blu-ray is notably immersive, thanks to its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack, offering an enveloping experience that leverages the full capabilities of a home theatre setup. From the opening scenes, the soundtrack establishes a rich atmosphere with dynamic wind, thunder, and a distinctive chant, smoothly transitioning into a robust rock song that fills the room. This level of immersion continues consistently throughout the film, with ambient effects and directional sound staging that skillfully places the audience at the heart of the action. Scenes filled with student chatter or the natural sounds of a thunderstorm showcase the mix's ability to create a convincing and engaging sound environment, further enhanced by sharp dialogue and a well-executed musical score.

The audio mix showcases an impressive dynamic range and clarity, allowing subtle nuances in the character's voices to shine through, ensuring that dialogues remain clear and centered, even amidst the bustling background activities that contribute to the film's enchanting atmosphere. The utilization of the surround channels is commendable, providing a seamless 360-degree audio experience that includes precisely placed effects like revolving voices and potent explosion sequences. These elements are complemented by an impactful LFE channel that brings depth to the film's music and atmospheric effects with palpable tactility.

Despite some minor issues such as occasional distortion at higher frequencies, the overall sound quality is impressive, with atmospheric effects significantly enhancing the viewer's immersion. The mix does well in spreading across the channels, creating a broad soundscape with good imaging and movement. Graeme Revell's original score is delivered with an engaging clarity that contributes to the film's mood, while well-balanced mid-ranges and strong bass presence add depth to the auditory experience. In summary, this audio presentation enhances "The Craft's" viewing experience by creating an audibly textured environment that complements its visual counterpart.

The "The Craft" Blu-ray extras offer a compact yet insightful collection catered to both fans and cinephiles. The highlight is the Director's commentary by Andrew Fleming, who, despite a somewhat monotonous delivery, provides valuable insights into the film's production, special effects, casting, and thematic elements. "Conjuring The Craft," a featurette running for about 24 minutes, delves deeper into the movie’s engagement with Wicca and paganism, shedding light on how elements and character roles play into the narrative's structure, enriched by crew interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. The Original Behind the Scenes is more surface-level, serving primarily as promotional content. Additionally, three deleted scenes are presented with optional director commentary, offering a glimpse into the editorial decisions. Extras retain their standard definition quality but remain engaging components of this Blu-ray release.

Extras included in this disc:

• Director’s Commentary: A full-length solo commentary by Co-Writer/Director Andrew Fleming.
• Conjuring The Craft: An in-depth look at the film’s use of witchcraft and paganism.
• The Original Behind the Scenes of The Craft: A brief, promotional behind-the-scenes featurette.
• Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary: Three scenes not included in the theatrical release, with director commentary.
• BD Previews: High-definition previews of other films.
• BD-Live enabled: Online functionality for additional content access.

"The Craft," a supernatural drama steeped in teenage angst and the allure of witchcraft, strikes a delicate balance between eerie mystique and the everyday trials of high school life. Centered around Sarah (Robin Tunney), a newcomer to Los Angeles with latent magical abilities, the film delves into her integration into a coven comprised of three other outcasts—Nancy (Fairuza Balk), Bonnie (Neve Campbell), and Rochelle (Rachel True). Their quest for power and belonging leads them down a path where desires are manifested through spells with both frivolous and severe consequences, echoing the film's exploration of power dynamics and the ethical boundaries of magic. As Sarah's natural prowess surpasses her peers, tension escalates, culminating in a supernatural showdown that pits newfound abilities against moral conviction.

Directed by Andrew Fleming, "The Craft" is not just a tale of teenage witchery but a nuanced look at the complexities of adolescence, identity, and the human condition when infused with power. The film cleverly navigates through themes of revenge, acceptance, and the consequences of unchecked ambition, presenting a narrative that is as much a commentary on high school hierarchies as it is on the broader implications of wielding power irresponsibly. Though criticized for its surface-level treatment of deeper themes and a leaning towards style over substance, "The Craft" manages to enchant with its special effects, charismatic performances, and a narrative that, while predictable, captivates with its dark charm and the genuine struggles of its characters.

While "The Craft" has drawn comparisons to other teenage dramas of its era, it distinguishes itself through its unique blend of horror and humor, coupled with an honest albeit Hollywood-glamorized portrayal of Wicca. Despite employing typical horror tropes and occasionally veering into the realm of cliché, the film's accurate depiction of witchcraft—aided by consultations from actual practitioners—adds a layer of authenticity to its fantastical narrative. The performances, particularly by Balk as the unhinged Nancy, inject a compelling vitality into their roles, elevating the film above mere 90s nostalgia to a cult classic that resonates with audiences seeking entertainment with a witchy twist.

The Blu-ray release of "The Craft" showcases the film's unique charm and energy, delivering a package that, while not groundbreaking, certainly enhances the viewing experience. This release benefits immensely from a high-quality setup, as evidenced by its evaluation on a meticulously calibrated JVC DLA-RS20 1080p High Definition Front Projector paired with a Carada Precision Brilliant White 96 Screen, and sound enriched through an Anthem AVM50v THX Ultra 2 Preamp/Video Processor into Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier, supported by high-fidelity Canton Ergo Series and Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers. Such equipment underlines the Blu-ray's superior audio and video presentations, which are significantly better than average, with the engaging performances and special effects of "The Craft" being vividly brought to life.

Sony’s commitment to quality is evident in this release, offering a presentation that elevates "The Craft" above its status as a nineties supernatural teen flick. The picture quality is slightly above average, showcasing the film’s unique visual style, while the audio experience is markedly improved from previous releases, thanks to meticulous mastering and compatibility with high-end home theater systems like the Oppo BDP-83 Universal disc/Blu-ray Player and Sony Playstation 3 for video playback, alongside SV Sound PB-13 Ultra subwoofers for a resonant audio depth. The inclusion of familiar extras from the special edition DVD, along with BD-Live functionality, add value for fans and newcomers alike.

In conclusion, while "The Craft" may not rank as a classic in the horror genre, its Blu-ray release presents a compelling case for reassessment. It’s a testament to how quality production can invigorate even a moderate teen flick into something more engaging, thanks to exceptional audiovisuals and a substantial set of features. This release is recommended for both fans seeking nostalgia and new viewers exploring the movie's unique take on teenage witchcraft and angst. The professional polish of the presentation underscores Sony’s prowess in delivering quality Blu-ray catalogue releases, making "The Craft" a surprisingly worthy addition to any collection.