Backstabbing for Beginners appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 2.39:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. I thought the Blu-ray provided consistently satisfying visuals.
Sharpness was generally very positive. A smidgen of softness appeared in some interiors, but those instances were minor. Instead, the program demonstrated nice clarity and accuracy the vast majority of the time.
I witnessed no instances of jagged edges or shimmering, and edge haloes appeared absent. Source flaws also failed to interfere.
Colors stayed fairly subdued for the most part. The settings didn’t favor a dynamic palette, but the hues looked reasonably accurate and full, with a not-unexpected emphasis on teal, amber and orange.
Blacks were acceptably dark and deep, while shadows showed generally positive delineation. Overall, I found this to be a strong presentation.
As for the DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio of Backstabbing, it worked pretty well. Not exactly an action extravaganza, the soundscape doesn’t offer a whole lot of note. A few scenes – like on streets and with a few violent bits – opened up the mix in a moderate way, but this was a chatty movie overall, though, so one shouldn’t expect much from the soundfield.
Audio quality always appeared positive. Music showed warm, full tones, and effects – as low-key as they were – sounded accurate and concise.
Speech was an important factor that worked fine; the lines were consistently distinctive and natural. Nothing here dazzled, but the audio remained more than acceptable.
One featurette appears here: The Truth Behind Backstabbing for Beginners. This reel runs eight minutes, 12 seconds and offers comments from writer/director Per Fly.
“Truth” looks at the story and characters, aspects of the screenplay, influences, cast and performances, sets and locations. Though brief, “Truth” brings some good insights and makes me wish Fly had recorded a commentary.
The disc opens with ads for Lady Bird, The Florida Project, The Disaster Artist, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and The Vanishing of Sidney Hall. No trailer for Backstabbing appears here.
Taken from a real-life scandal, Backstabbing for Beginners fails to explore its subject matter in a compelling manner. Slow and flat, the movie lacks the energy and zest it needs to prosper. The Blu-ray provides good picture and audio but includes few bonus materials. Backstabbing boasts potential drama but it never ignites.