Blu-ray Movie Reviews

The bullet that killed his daughter was meant for Boston cop Thomas Craven. That's what police brass and Craven himself think, but that's not what the investigation finds. Clue after clue and witness after witness, the search leads him into a shadowy realm where money and political intrigue intersect. If Craven wasn't a target before, he - and anyone linked to his inquiry - now is.

It has been awhile since we’ve seen Mel hit the screen in the leading role and I was excited by the combination of him and director Martin Campbell (Casino Royale). Unfortunately this one plays a bit too much by the numbers and isn’t as dark as I was hoping for. I kind of consider this a tamer version of “Taken”. I guess this is a feature version of a TV series that Campbell was involved with some time ago so maybe the compression to a two hour film was just asking too much.

Warner delivers a solid presentation that falls just short of reference quality. While fine object detail is good, the image looks a tad over processed at times. This results in a bit of a hard look that may distract the pickier viewer. Color and contrast are spot on though and the image has a very dimensional quality to it. The soundtrack features some great dynamics with some interesting low bass from time to time. Imaging is solid across the main soundstage and the surrounds contribute their fair share to the mix.

Warner includes both a DVD and digital copy with this one. You also get an assortment of short features that can be accessed during the film if you want. They look at the production and also include interviews. There is also a feature on the film’s director and the history of this project.

Not quite the thriller I was hoping for, Edge of Darkness delivers a solid return to the screen for Mel that falls just a bit short of the director’s typical films. Worth a rent.