BLU-RAY REVIEW

The Woman / Offspring 4K Ultra HD

Featured In Issue Issue 274, July/August

Picture4
Sound3.5
WSR Score4
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):
Arrow Video
(Catalog Number):
AV608
(MPAA Rating):
Not Rated
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$49.95
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-66)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
101
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
ABC
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
8/27/2024
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Lucky McKee
(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):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

"The Woman" (Pollyanna McIntosh) is the last surviving member of a deadly clan of feral cannibals that has roamed the American wilderness for decades. When successful country lawyer Chris Cleek (Sean Bridgers) stumbles upon her whilst hunting in the woods, he decides to capture and “civilize” her with the help of his seemingly perfect all-American family, including his wife Belle (Angela Bettis) and daughter Peggy (Lauren Ashley Carter). The Cleeks will soon learn, however, that hell hath no fury like The Woman scorned… (Gary Reber)

Special features include Special features include commentary with Director Lucky McKee, Editor Zach Passero, Sound Designer Andrew Smetek and Composer Sean Spillane; commentary with Actress Pollyanna McIntosh; commentary with critic Scott Weinberg; archive commentary with Director Lucky McKee; nine featurettes: "Malam Domesticam: The Making Of The Woman" (HD 25:29), "Being Peggy Cleek" an interview with Lauren Ashley Carte (HD 19:59); "AjMi Burro!" a short film by Editor Zach Passero (HD 06:41); "Dad On The Wall" documentary (HD 75:13);"Meet The Makers" (HD 06:51), "American Horror: A Panel Discussion" (HD 44:46); deleted scenes (HD 05:55); "Distracted" music video by Sean Spillane; image galleries; theatrical trailer; illustrated collector's booklet and reversible sleeve with artwork by Vanesa McKee.

The 1.78:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 4K Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed digitally using the Sony CineAlta camera system and sourced from a 4K Digital Intermediate restoration supervised and approved by Director Lucky McKee. The picture exhibits a generally natural appearance and takes place for the most part on the Creek family ranch and in their house and the shed cellar where The Women "thing" is tied up. The color palette is perfectly natural and nicely saturated. Greens are intense as are blood reds. Flesh tones appear natural. HDR contrast is generally good with deep blacks, revealing shadows and natural white levels. The imagery is clear with good detail in facial features, clothing and object textures, such as the myriad of objects in the shed cellar. The images are at times disturbing during the flesh-eating sequences. This is the superior looking edition in this box set that includes Offspring prequel and is sure to please fans of the cannibalistic saga. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-channel soundtrack shifts about often from monaural to full 5.1 soundfield envelopment. Atmospherics and ambient environmental effects are generally subtle. Sound effects are accentuated with sharp outbursts, which at times are enhanced with deep bass transients. Foley sound effects are realistic and at times very nuanced. The music is rock pop for the most part with singing presumably by Sean Spillane. Other aspects of the music are synthesizer elements and aggressive extension to the surrounds. Surround envelopment is sporadic and at times directionalized. Dialogue is a major focus, including the more than occasional feral grunt, and it is generally well produced with at times good spatial integration. (Gary Reber)