Ingrid Goes West Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "Ingrid Goes West" on Blu-ray is delivered in a solid 1080p resolution using the AVC codec and a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. Shot primarily with the Arri Alexa Mini digital camera system, the film most likely received a 2K master. The visual style successfully reflects a California sun-kissed ambiance with a slightly dreamlike picture quality. The video offers an appreciable high-definition resolution with sharp, stable images and plenty of discernible texture and fine detail, particularly during close-up shots. The colors are generally bright and vibrant, though indoor sequences tend to be more neutral. Skin tones exhibit a lightly golden hue balanced with a colorful pinkish tone.

While the presentation delivers good detail and color, blacks can appear deep yet show some digital noise, especially in darker scenes. The dynamic range is generally strong with stable contrast but reveals less-than-perfect black levels during nighttime sequences. Despite this, the positives such as well-defined skin textures, sharp environments, and saturated colors, such as Dan's yellow Lakers jersey, offer a pleasant viewing experience. The image maintains a glossy aesthetic with effective depth in complexions among the cast, making skin tones accurately reflective of the actors' true complexions. The transfer is divided into 10 chapters without significant intrusive encoding flaws, ensuring a smooth visual experience overall.

The single DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track on the "Ingrid Goes West" Blu-ray is robust and reliable, delivering a sound experience that leans heavily on dialogue. The front sound stage dominates, ensuring that the dialogue remains crystal clear and free of any distortion, contributing to a professional and polished presentation. The mixing effectively balances ambient noises, while club scenes and key moments, such as a truck crash, briefly utilize the surround channels and LFE to enhance the experience. The track is subdued, focusing on spoken words and subtlety over bombastic sound effects.

Furthermore, the auditory experience is enriched by spatial dimension and directional cues. These elements work seamlessly with the film’s musical sequences to create an occasionally immersive sound field. The soundtrack is characterized by quality width, depth, and clarity, particularly evident in the musical scores and ambient effects. Nick Thorburn's background music benefits from both front and rear channel utilization, though the overall immersion falls short of conveying the full atmospheric ambiance of its varied Southern California locations. Despite this minor shortcoming, the audio remains engaging and thoughtful in its execution. Dialogues are presented lifelike, affirming the professional caliber of Universal’s mastering efforts.

The Blu-ray extras of "Ingrid Goes West" provide a well-rounded selection that will engage both casual viewers and cinephiles. The Audio Commentary by director/co-writer Matt Spicer, co-writer David Branson Smith, and actress Aubrey Plaza offers an informal yet informative exploration of the film's creation, although it occasionally lacks depth. The Deleted Scenes section includes three scenes with optional commentary, adding context to Ingrid's interactions and enriching the viewing experience. The Original Trailer and additional teaser/trailer options showcase the film’s promotional material, while a Digital HD Copy ensures flexibility in viewing.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Insightful discussion by Director/Co-Writer Matt Spicer, Co-Writer David Branson Smith, and Aubrey Plaza.
• Deleted Scenes: Three scenes with optional commentary addressing Ingrid’s character arc.
• Trailers: Four variations, providing a comprehensive look at the promotional strategies.
• Digital Copy: Code for digital download.

Matt Spicer’s "Ingrid Goes West" offers a darkly comic and incisive exploration of social media obsession through the lens of its unhinged protagonist, Ingrid Thorburn (Aubrey Plaza). The film adeptly portrays the extent to which individuals like Ingrid blur lines between online personas and real-life identities. It opens with Ingrid crashing a presumed best friend's wedding, revealing a disturbing pattern of substituting digital interactions for genuine relationships. Following a stint in a mental health facility, Ingrid discovers Instagram influencer Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen) and relocates to L.A., setting off a series of unsettling and often humorous events as she integrates herself into Taylor's seemingly perfect life.

Aubrey Plaza masterfully embodies Ingrid's sociopathic tendencies, presenting a character devoid of true self-awareness and deeply entrenched in her narcissistic online world. As Ingrid’s obsession intensifies, her actions become increasingly desperate and manipulative, including the orchestrated theft and return of Taylor's pet dog. The film doesn’t shy away from painting a picture of Ingrid's pathological need for validation, turning her into an unsettling yet relatable mirror reflecting our society’s digital-age weaknesses. Elizabeth Olsen’s portrayal of Taylor is equally compelling, capturing the duality of a social media figure whose polished public facade masks a shallow and troubled personal life.

The dynamics between Ingrid and her landlord Dan (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) add poignancy to the narrative. Dan, a Batman-fanatic screenwriter, unknowingly serves as Ingrid's anchor to reality. The evolving relationship between them reveals Ingrid’s fleeting moments of humanity but ultimately underscores her relentless pursuit of social media notoriety over genuine connections. The film paints an authentic picture of the vapid, self-serving culture prevalent among today's digital influencers, making "Ingrid Goes West" not just a humorous yet biting satire but also a cautionary tale that resonates deeply with contemporary audiences obsessed with virtual endorsements and fragile online friendships.

"Ingrid Goes West" delivers a stark and darkly humorous take on the perils of social media obsession, with Aubrey Plaza's gripping portrayal of the titular character being a standout element. Her performance navigates the unsettling emotional landscape with a "blank slate" approach, capturing the audience's sympathy and revulsion in equal measure. The film also benefits from Elizabeth Olsen's riveting depiction of Taylor, a social media influencer who unwittingly becomes the object of Ingrid's fixation, and O’Shea Jackson Jr., whose supporting role provides unexpected depth and charisma.

The technical specifications of the Blu-ray are commendable. The 2.40:1 AVC aspect ratio ensures a visually engaging experience, enhanced by the English DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track, delivering clear and immersive sound. The film runs for 98 minutes, offering a compact yet potent narrative experience. Although extras are minimal, the included commentary provides valuable insight into the film's production nuances, making it a worthy addition for those interested in behind-the-scenes content.

"Ingrid Goes West" may not cater to everyone due to its black comedy approach and often unsettling themes. However, it excels as a social satire, highlighting the dangers and absurdities of online life with remarkable precision and relevance. Given its strong performances and technical quality, the Blu-ray edition of "Ingrid Goes West" is recommended for a watch for those with a penchant for dark humor and contemporary social critiques.