Starry Eyes appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 2.40:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. The movie came with a decent but not great transfer.
Overall definition seemed positive. As expected, wider shots came across as a bit soft and tentative, but most of the movie showed nice delineation. I witnessed no issued with shimmering or jagged edges, and edge haloes remained minor. Print flaws were absent.
Like virtually all modern horror movies, Starry opted for a stylized palette. It tended toward a low-key, semi-desaturated vibe that could be somewhat sickly. That fit the material; the colors weren’t impressive, but they were decent for the movie. Blacks seemed acceptably dark, while shadows could be a bit thick but were acceptable. Nothing here impressed but the image was adequate.
Similar thoughts greeted the film’s DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack. It went for a fairly atmospheric air, as the mix gave us logical accompaniment for the creepy visuals. This meant music popped up around the room and became somewhat dominant while effects remained mostly in the environmental realm. Scenes in public – like at restaurants or parties – added a little involvement but the track usually focused on ambience.
Audio quality was good. Dialogue could feel a little canned, but the lines were easily intelligible most of the time. Music showed nice range and impact, while the effects were reasonably accurate. This became an acceptable mix for an atmospheric horror movie.
On the disc, we find a mix of extras, and these launch with an audio commentary from writers/directors Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer and producer Travis Stevens. All three sit together for a running, screen-specific look at the project’s origins, story/character domains, cast and performances, various effects, music, sets, location and production design, and connected domains.
For the most part, this becomes a good commentary. It meanders a little at times, but much of the track stays on task. This means we get an interesting enough overview of the project.
10 Deleted Scenes occupy a total of 11 minutes, 37 seconds. In these, we get minor character bits and more atmospheric material. The final film already seems slow and tedious; these forgettable bits wouldn’t have changed that.
Next comes a Music Video for Jonathan Snipes’ score. This takes some cues and shows the composer as he creates music. It’s not really a music video, but it’s also not much of a look behind the scenes. That leaves it as a fairly pointless addition.
We also see an Audition Video. In this 13-minute, 52-second reel, we see try-out segments from actor Alex Essoe. I like this kind of feature and think the “Audition” becomes a good extra.
During a Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery, we see a nine-minute, 49-second running montage. It shows shots from the set, publicity images and other pictures. Nothing great shows up, but it brings us a decent collection of images.
The disc opens with ads for Summer of Blood, LFO and Late Stages. We also get a trailer for Starry Eyes.
As an attempt to meld horror and satire, Starry Night falters. It lacks the humorous bite to dig into that side of the tale, and the terror elements feel forced and silly. The Blu-ray brings us reasonably good picture and audio as well as a decent set of supplements. Somewhere buried in Starry Nights, a decent movie might reside, but the end result seems self-indulgent and pointless