Mid-Century appears in an aspect ratio of 2.00:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. This became a reasonable representation of the source.
Overall sharpness came across fine, though some softness interfered at times – and for reasons that didn’t appear related to stylistic choices. Nonetheless, most of the movie felt accurate and well-defined.
No jaggies or shimmering occurred, and edge haloes remained absent. I also saw no print flaws.
Mid-Century came with a stylized palette that emphasized a pretty strong mix of blue/teal and orange/amber. These choices worked fine given the movie’s narrative, and the Blu-ray reproduced them well.
Blacks seemed strong. Shadows also appeared smooth and concise for the most part, though a few shots came across as a bit murky. In general, I felt pleased with this solid image.
Given the movie’s subdued nature, I expected a low-key DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack, and that was what I got. The audio concentrated on moody ambience much of the time.
Via a few scary moments, effects occasionally cropped up around the spectrum, and the film’s score also utilized the various channels well. Nonetheless, this was usually a restrained soundscape that went with a sinister feel but lacked a lot of concrete sizzle.
Audio quality appeared positive. Music was full and rich, while effects seemed accurate and clear.
Dialogue worked fine, as lines seemed natural. This became a suitable soundtrack for the story on display.
In addition to the film’s trailer, we get an audio commentary from director Sonja O’Hara and actor/writer Mike Stern. Both sit together for this running, screen-specific look at story/characters, cast and performances, period details, sets and locations, design choices, music, editing, effects, and related topics.
Overall, this becomes a quality chat, as O’Hara and Stern both deliver a mix of useful insights and do so in a chatty, engaging manner. Even with the usual happy talk, we get a pretty solid commentary.
A mix of horror genres, Mid-Century cannot meld these domains in a coherent manner. The movie plods and meanders as it winds toward an unsatisfying conclusion. The Blu-ray brings generally positive picture and audio with a commentary as the primary bonus feature. I’ve seen worse horror flicks but this one nonetheless winds up as flawed and forgettable.