BLU-RAY REVIEW

B'Twixt Now And Sunrise

Featured In Issue 266, March/April 2023

Picture3.5
Sound3
WSR Score2.5
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):
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
60995
(MPAA Rating):
Not Rated
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$42.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
70
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
2/28/2023
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Francis Ford Cppola
(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
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

"B'Twixt Now And Sunrise" follows a down-on-his-luck writer who is visited by a ghost and becomes immersed in a local murder mystery while promoting his latest novel. When struggling supernatural fiction writer Hall Baltimore (Val Kilmer) arrives in an isolated small town a part of his book tour, he hears about the local fore of vampires and a infamous mass murder. Eager for inspiration, Baaltimore is swept into a surreal fever dream of eccentric characters –– from the oddball sheriff (Bruce Dern) to the ghost of a young girl (Elle Fanning) to visions of Edgar Allan Poe (Ben Chaplin –– that forces him to confront his own troubled past. (Gary Reber)

Special features include "Twixt: A Documentary" (HD 40:50) and a digital copy.

The 2.00:1 1080p picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed digitally using the Sony HDW-F900 camera system and sourced from a 2K master Digital Intermediate format. The picture is rather flat with an overall dark appearance to the old town setting. Color dramatically projects out of the darkness in Hall's dream sequences, The present time image is warm in therms of color treatment, Flesh tones are generally natural within the lighting design, with the dream characters pale and desaturated in contrast. Contrast is revealing of shadow detail and supported with deep blacks, white levels are subdue to enhance the Gothic feel of the imagery. Resolution is generally excellent. Overall, this is a horrific bedtime story of near black-and-white character. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby TrueHD 5.1-channel soundtrack is mediocre with limited dynamics, The orchestral score is veiled sounding and generally a background element. Atmospherics and sound effects are limited. The occasional directional dialogue generally sounds natural and acceptably integrated. Overall, the sound elements are mediocre but there are moments of aggressive surround, especially during the dream sequences. (Gary Reber)