Retaliation appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 2.39:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. Though not great, the movie offered generally good visuals.
Sharpness was usually fine. A few shots could be a little soft, but not to a significant degree. Instead, the program normally appeared concise and accurate.
I noticed no issues related to jagged edges, shimmering or edge haloes. No source defects marred the presentation, either.
One wouldn’t anticipate bold colors from a tale like this, and Retaliation went with a subdued palette that favored chilly blues and ambers. These choices seemed stark but effective.
Blacks were acceptable, though they could be a bit inky, and shadows were decent. Overall, the movie remained pretty appealing.
The DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack of Retaliation seemed low-key as well, without a lot of real involvement on display. This was a quiet film overall and not one that threw a lot at the viewer.
Music used the speakers nicely, and the occasional “action scene” brought out good activity. Much of the movie concentrated on environmental audio, but the track opened up to other information as appropriate.
Quality appeared positive, with speech that felt natural and distinctive. Music boasted good range and impact, and effects appeared accurate and lively. The audio felt like a “B” to me.
A few extras appear, and we find an audio commentary from directors Ludwig Shammasian and Paul Shammasian. Both sit together for this running, screen-specific discussion of the original short film and its adaptation, story/characters/themes, cast and performances, sets and locations, music and sound design, editing, photography and related topics.
Though it starts very well, the commentary becomes less consistent before long. Not that it fizzles, but the Shammasians occasionally go AWOL and they occasionally have less to say. Still, they bring enough good notes to make the track worth a listen.
Brutality and Honesty runs 21 minutes, 21 seconds and includes comments from Ludwig Shammasian, Paul Shammasian, producer Jasper Graham, and actors Orlando Bloom, Janet Montgomery, Rory Nolan, Alex Ferns, and Charlie Creed-Miles.
“Honesty” covers the short film precursor to Retaliation, story, character and themes, cast and performances, and some scene specifics. Some of this repeats from the commentary, but “Honesty” adds some good insights and becomes a fairly informative piece.
The disc opens with ads for Guns Akimbo, I Am Vengeance: Retaliation, and Vivarium. No trailer for Retaliation appears here.
As a look at the never-ending pain that impacts survivors of sexual abuse, Retaliation comes with potential. However, it seems too invested in grim elements and lacks the depth it needs. The Blu-ray comes with generally positive as well as a few bonus materials. Despite a strong lead performance from Orlando Bloom, the film doesn’t work on a consistent basis.