BLU-RAY REVIEW

Blacklight

Featured In Issue 260, March/April 2022

Picture5
Sound5
WSR Score4
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
10000812830
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13
(Rating Reason):
Strong violence, action, and language
(Retail Price):
$34.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
104
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
5/3/2022
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Mark Williams
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

In "Blacklight," trust, identity, and the danger of unchecked power push a covert FBI operative to the edge. Travis Block (Liam Neeson) lives and fights in the shadows. A freelance government "fixer," Block is a dangerous man whose assignments have included extracting agents out of deep-cover situations. He knows his hands are dirty, but he's aiming to change. When an agent is killed after infiltrating a group exposing violent societal upheaval, Block discovers a shadowy program called Operation Unity is striking down ordinary citizens for reasons know only to Block's boss, FBI chief Robinson (Aidan Quinn). As Block gets closer to the truth, he enlists the help of a journalist (Emmy Raver-Lampman), but his past and present collide when his daughter and granddaughter are threatened, and in saving them, he could save himself. Noe, Block needs to resvue the people he loves and expose the truth for a shot at redemption. Nothing and no one is safe when secrets are hidden. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurettes "Blacklight: Behind The Scenes" (HD 02:47) and "Shooting Blacklight" (HD 02:37) and a Movies Anywhere digital code.

The 2.39:1 1080p AVC picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, upconverted to 2160p with greater resolution and luminance, was photographed digitally in anamorphic Panavision® using the Arri Alexa Mini camera system and sourced from a 2K master Digital Intermediate format. Picture quality exhibits excellent fidelity. Colors are naturally hued with good saturation. Colors often pop. Flesh tones are perfectly natural. Contrast is superb with deep natural black levels, revealing shadow delineation, and natural white levels. Resolution is superb with fine detail exhibited throughout, especially in closeups. Facial features are distinctive and finely rendered. Clothing is revealing of realistic texture as well as objects, This is a picture that looks great. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-channel soundtrack delivers excitement throughout with fast-paced vehicle chase action, explosions, intense gunfire, hand combat, and an exciting Mark Isham score. The score extends wide and deep across the soundstage and aggressively to the surrounds. Sound effects are dynamic and discretely directional throughout the soundfield. Atmospherics sound realistic. Deep bass extension is active in the .1 LFE with sub-25 Hz energy. Dialogue is intelligible and mostly sounds spatially integrated. This is powerful action-fueled holosonic® soundtrack. (Gary Reber)