The Texas Killing Fields appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 2.40:1 on this Blu-Ray Disc. The shows consistently looked good but not great.
For the most part, sharpness appeared positive. Some softness affected occasional wide shots, but the majority seemed reasonably distinctive and concise. I noticed no issues with jagged edges or shimmering, and I witnessed no edge haloes. As expected, no source flaws popped up during the clean presentation.
Fields opted for a subdued palette. Occasional instances of bright hues popped up, but the series usually preferred a somewhat sepia feel. Within those constraints, the colors appeared clear and full. Blacks were fairly deep, and shadows usually satisfied; a few shots were a bit dense, but most appeared positive. All of this added up to a solid “B” image.
Similar thoughts greeted the more than acceptable Dolby TrueHD 7.1 audio of Fields. Overall, the soundscape didn’t come across as consistently involving. Still, it threw out more than a few sequences with a good sense of place and environment. These include storms and the occasional elements of violence. While these didn’t dazzle, they used the five speakers well and added a nice sense of the action.
Audio quality was positive. Speech seemed natural and concise, without edginess or other issues; I occasionally found it a little tough to understand some lines, however. Effects appeared accurate and dynamic, while music was rich and clear. Nothing here created a great soundtrack, but like the visuals, the audio deserved a “B”.
Only one significant extra shows up here: an audio commentary with director Ami Canaan Mann and writer Donald F. Ferrarone. Both sit together for this running, screen-specific look at cinematography, sets and locations, cast and performances, story/script/character topics, research and facts behind the movie's fiction, the score, and a few other areas.
Overall, this becomes a decent chat. It tends to sag at times – and it definitely starts slowly – but it still delivers a reasonable examination of the film. It takes the flick quite seriously and provides a more narrative-based take than usual; we get introspection about the story and events more than a “nuts and bolts” view. That’s fine, as the discussion delivers an intriguing piece.
The disc opens with ads for Martha Marcy May Marlene, The Divide, The Son of No One, Battle Royale and Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel. We also get a trailer for Fields.
It seems tough to make a dull serial killer film, but that’s what we get with The Texas Killing Fields. Too scattered and slow to make a dent, the film fails to explore any potential it might boast. The Blu-ray comes with fairly good picture and audio as well as a reasonably engaging audio commentary. I can’t find much to recommend with this lackluster thriller.