Unlocked Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Unlocked," distributed by Lionsgate Films, features an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Filmed with a variety of both Arri and Red cameras, the visual output is commendably smooth and detailed. The overall aesthetic aligns with the thriller genre but leans towards being somewhat drab and ordinary. However, what stands out is the film's natural palette owed to the minimal color grading, delivering a refreshingly unaltered visual experience. Detail levels, especially during extreme close-ups and scenes depicting injuries or terrorist acts, are exceptionally high, which may be unsettling for some viewers.

Overall, "Unlocked" exudes a natural sharpness and an appealing color palette, supported by cleanly resolved close-ups and high fidelity. Though sporadic low-light noise and occasional black crush slightly mar the experience, black levels generally dominate and add significant depth to the image. Flesh tones maintain a natural warmth, barring a few nighttime sequences that exhibit a blue tint. While the primary colors tend towards a reserved palette typical of thrillers, certain densely saturated scenes pop with engaging visual bite, ensuring a pleasurable viewing experience throughout. This Blu-ray transfer maintains its image quality consistently across the runtime, solidifying its standing as a technically competent presentation.

The Blu-ray release of "Unlocked" features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that delivers a serviceable but intermittently engaging audio experience. While the mix offers accurate dialogue clarity and clean rendering of spoken lines, it occasionally falls short in dynamic utilization of the surround channels. The score and ambient environmental effects are sometimes immersive, particularly during the more intense skirmishes where gunfire and hand-to-hand combat are deftly handled within the sound stage, offering a satisfying auditory punch.

A notable observation is the front-loaded nature of the initial shoot-out scenes, which surprisingly forgo the use of rear channels, resulting in a somewhat constrained dynamic range despite the fine stereo work upfront. However, as the film progresses, this limitation abates with subsequent action sequences providing a notable uptick in surround channel activity. Scenes set on the bustling streets of London feature minimal ambiance initially but this changes significantly with later action scenes. For instance, sequences with assault rifles and explosions are rendered with sharp attention to spatiality, effectively utilizing the surround channels to create an engaging soundscape. Particularly noteworthy are close-quarters gunfire and grenade blasts that offer substantial bass impact, delivering the most intense low-frequency energy in the film.

The extras on the Blu-ray for "Unlocked" offer a limited but informative view into the making of the film. The standout feature is a 13-minute standard Electronic Press Kit (EPK) that includes interviews with the cast and crew and film snippets, giving a glimpse of the production process. Additionally, there is a trailer for the film. Despite the scarcity of supplementary content, viewers gain a brief but comprehensive look behind the scenes.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making Unlocked: Standard EPK fare, with interviews and snippets from the film.
• Unlocked Trailer

"Unlocked," a fast-paced thriller directed by Michael Apted, is carried primarily by the dynamic performance of Noomi Rapace as CIA agent Alice Racine. Set against a backdrop of espionage and bio-terrorism, the film presents a tangled web of betrayals and last-minute escapes, underscoring the classic "trust no one" trope. The supporting cast, featuring seasoned actors like John Malkovich, Toni Collette, and Michael Douglas, lends credibility and experience to roles that are sometimes constrained by genre conventions. Despite the rote elements and the occasional reliance on clichéd close-ups and dramatic phone calls, Rapace's gritty portrayal holds the viewer's attention throughout.

The screenplay, penned by Peter O'Brien, integrates plot twists that emerge almost immediately, keeping the narrative brisk and engaging. However, some viewers might find the subterfuge-laden storyline demanding a flowchart to track all the duplicitous characters. Elements such as Alice’s traumatic past and her transition from field work to undercover operations in London add depth to her character but also play into familiar thriller patterns. The recurring theme of rogue agents within the CIA and MI5 complicates Alice’s mission, and her alliance with a burglar named Jack Alcott (Orlando Bloom) adds an additional layer of intrigue, albeit with some implausible developments.

Despite the film's adept handling of action sequences and Rapace’s compelling presence, "Unlocked" is not without its flaws. The simplistic use of racial profiling and contrived emotional hooks might feel heavy-handed for some viewers. Nonetheless, the film maintains a steady stream of adrenaline, making it a worthwhile watch for thriller enthusiasts seeking a quick fix of excitement. The narrative's propensity to reveal internal conspiracies and anti-government sentiments adds a touch of political commentary, though it doesn't stray far from the conventions of its genre. Overall, "Unlocked" competently delivers the expected thrills with minimal innovation.

"Unlocked," in its Blu-ray format, presents a competently assembled rendition of a typical anti-terrorism thriller. The film, starring Noomi Rapace and Orlando Bloom, leverages a plot brimming with twists and turns to engage its audience, albeit in a somewhat conventional manner. Visually, the Blu-ray transfer is commendable with crisp image quality and consistent color grading. Minor inconsistencies in darker scenes, which occasionally show some lack of depth and detail, do not detract substantially from the overall viewing experience. The audio presentation is solid, delivering clear dialogue and a robust soundtrack that elevates tense sequences without overwhelming the subtler moments.

The narrative of "Unlocked" occasionally tiptoes into exploring themes of racial bias but largely adheres to the familiar territories of the genre. Its pacing is both a strength and a weakness; while the story moves briskly enough to maintain interest, it also leaves less room for character development and nuance. Performances from the cast are professional, particularly Rapace, who brings depth and intensity to her role. However, the script often hinders them from achieving their full potential, opting instead for standard thriller tropes and predictable plot points.

As "Unlocked" came to its close, I actually thought to myself, Well, that was better than I expected it to be, which is perhaps an assessment that's the inverse of the expectation situation I described above. I guess perhaps because I've had to review so many similar terrorist-themed films (and television series) over the past few years, I may have become more tolerant (as horrifying as that now sounds to me), but I actually found "Unlocked" to be relatively engaging, and fast-moving enough that I was willing to overlook its manifest shortcomings. Fans of the cast or even the director may well want to check this out, and for them technical merits are perfectly fine if not really inspiring.