The Snowman appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1.85:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. Expect no problems during this strong transfer.
Sharpness always worked well. Even wide shots provided nice clarity, so the whole package offered a good sense of clarity and definition.
I noticed no issues with jagged edges or shimmering, and edge enhancement failed to appear. Source flaws also remained absent in this clean presentation.
Given the frigid Norwegian setting, I expected Snowman to provide a limited palette. I expected correctly, as the movie stayed with cold tones most of the time, most of which veered to the teal side of white. Within these choices, the hues seemed well-rendered.
Blacks were positive, as they demonstrated nice depth and density, and shadows followed suit. These showed nice smoothness and delineation. Overall, I found this to be a solid presentation.
In addition, the DTS-HD MA 7.1 soundtrack of Snowman worked well, and the soundfield kicked into gear mostly due to weather sequences. Those used the spectrum well, as snow and winds filled the environment in a compelling manner. All of these created a good sense of the frozen setting.
Audio quality was fine, and speech seemed concise and distinctive. Music was full and rich, while effects demonstrated good accuracy.
Those elements were always clear and dynamic. Though not the most dazzling soundtrack, I thought the mix filled out the film in a positive way.
Five featurettes appear here, and we start with Cast of Characters. It runs seven minutes, 46 seconds and includes notes from producers Robyn Slovo and Piodor Gustafsson, director Tomas Alfredson, and actors Michael Fassbender, Michael Yates, Rebecca Ferguson, Sofia Helin, Jonas Karlsson, and JK Simmons.
As expected, the show covers cast, characters and performances. It tends to offer fluffy praise and little else.
With Creating Jo Nesbø’s World, we get a four-minute, five-second piece with Fassbender, Simmons, Slovo, Ferguson, and author Jo Nesbø. We get a few notes about the book series in this short but moderately informative reel.
The Snowman Killer lasts four minutes, three seconds and features Karlsson, Fassbender, Gustafsson, Alfredson, Slovo, and costume designer Julian Day. This piece discusses aspects of the movie’s villain. It brings us a smattering of useful material among more puffery.
Next comes the six-minute, 33-second Norwegian Landscape. It provides notes from Slovo, Fassbender, Alfredson, Gustafsson, Ferguson, Karlsson, 2nd unit director Saul Metzstein, supervising location manager Camilla Stephenson and plant manager Pal Thorud. As the title implies, “Landscape” looks at the movie’s locations. It becomes a decent overview.
Finally, Stunt Files takes up one minute, 36 seconds with remarks from Slovo, Alfredson, Gustafsson, and Metzstein. “Files” views elements connected to shooting on a frozen lake. It’s way too short to add much.
The disc opens with ads for All I See Is You, Death Race: Beyond Anarchy, Happy Death Day and The Foreigner. No trailer for Snowman appears here.
A second disc provides a DVD copy of Snowman. It includes the same extras as the Blu-ray.
With an intriguing premise and a strong cast, The Snowman comes with much potential. Unfortunately, it tells its tale in such a slow, plodding manner that it becomes a chore to watch. The Blu-ray offers excellent picture and good audio with a minor selection of bonus features. Even diehard genre fans should skip this dull effort.