BLU-RAY REVIEW

Amusement

Featured In Issue 139, March/April 2009

Picture4.5
SoundNR
WSR Score4.5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
New Line Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
3000020293
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Horror violence, terror and disturbing images
(Retail Price):
$35.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Single Layer (BD-25)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
85
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
2009
(Theatrical Release):
No
(Direct-To-Video Release):
Yes
(Disc Release Date):
01/20/09
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
John Simpson
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

Taritha (Winnick), Shelby (Breckenridge), and Lisa (Lucas) are lifelong friends on separate life paths. But they share a horrific destination when a seemingly innocent incident from their school days comes back to terrify them. Someone wants vengeance. Inside a stonewalled chamber of prison cells and mechanisms of doom, the three women and other victims face a fierce fight to survive. Who lives? Who dies? It's all for someone's Amusement. (Gary Reber)

There are no special features.

The 2.40:1 1080p VC-1 picture quality exhibits a natural quality throughout, with deep blacks and excellent shadow delineation. Colors are naturally rendered, and fleshtones are accurately presented. Picture resolution is excellent, with images that are sharp and clear, though slightly softly focused at times. Contrast is also superb as well as dimensionality. Details are rendered with clarity. Noise is virtually nonexistent, and there is no noticeable edge enhancement or other artifacts. This is an overall impressively natural-looking picture that is sure to please. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby® TrueHD 5.1-channel soundtrack features a well-recorded music score that heightens the creepiness and provides the tension that produces chills and thrills. Sound effects are directionalized in both the front and surround channels with directionalized surrounds that are often aggressive. The music really excels to create the chilling mood throughout, with deep 25 Hz bass response complemented with loud sound effects, such as during a thunderous rainstorm and in the Pension. Often the effects and music produce holosonic® envelopment. Dialogue is conventionally produced, with virtually no ambient stereo support, but generally sounds natural and spatially integrated. This is an effectively produced soundtrack with a great music score and sound effects to heighten the horrific experience. (Gary Reber)