In Stoker, following the tragic death of her father on her eighteenth birthday, India Stoker (Wasikowska) meets Charlie (Goode), her charismatic uncle, whom she never knew existed. When Charlie moves in with India and her unstable mother (Kidman), both are drawn to his charming and calming demeanor. But it soon becomes clear that Charlie's arrival was no coincidence and that the shocking secrets of his past could affect India's future...or shatter it completely. (Gary Reber)
Special features include three deleted scenes (HD 10:01); the featurette Stoker: A Filmmaker's Journey (HD 27:50); stills photography by Mary Ellen Mark; stills of London Theatre Design; five featurettes related to "Theatrical Behind The Scenes": The Making Of The International Limited Edition Poster (HD 02:55), Mysterious Characters (HD 03:33), Director's Vision (HD 03:28), Designing The Look (HD 03:02), and Creating The Music (HD 02:39); a Red Carpet Premiere; the theatrical trailer and TV spots; upfront previews; and an UltraViolet digital copy.
The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture is visually stunning but strangely photographed, with a soft focus throughout. The color palette is naturally hued with realistic fleshtones. Contrast is well balanced with deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. The stylized cinematography and locational production design complements the mysterious storytelling with hauntingly engaging emotion. Overall, this is an artistic house-type presentation that perfectly complements the mystery. (Gary Reber)
The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is hauntingly suspenseful, with a frontal focus, but engaging, with a strong surround presence and deep bass. Bass extension is heightened in the .1 LFE channel during segments that project suspense. Dialogue is intelligible but forward sounding and wanting in spatial integration. The music score is complementary, as in haunting. Overall, this is an unusual and artistically haunting sonic experience. (Gary Reber)