WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Temp, The
Genre:Thriller

Reviewed In Issue 05 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Timothy Hutton, Lara Flynn Boyle, Faye Dunaway, Oliver Platt.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2.5
Sound Rating: 2.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Paramount Home Video
(Catalog Number): LV32793-WS
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $34.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 99
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): No
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1993
(LD Release Date): 09/01/93
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Tom Holland
(Screenplay/Written By): Kevin Falls
(Story): Kevin Falls & Tom Engelman
(Music): Frederic Talgorn
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Joel Schiller
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Scott Conrad, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Howard W. Koch, Jr.
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): David Permut & Tom Engelman

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
The Temp is a suspense thriller that attempts suspense and thrills but fails to deliver as billed. The story is about an experienced, bright and motivated, but temporary replacement secretary, Kris Bolin (Lara Flynn Boyle) who rises to upper management within days of her employment at Mrs. Appleby’s cookie company. She is hired as the new temp to Peter Derns (Timothy Hutton) who is competing for a promotion. Bolin appears efficient, if not the best assistant he has known, but after two rival executives meet mysterious deaths, Peter fears his job security may end permanently and begins to fear the one person he needs to trust—his temp, who may or may not be killing the competition. Faye Dunaway plays Charlene Towne, the company’s ruthless president.

LaserDisc Picture:
This transfer is very red-shifted and color balance is inconsistent. Most scenes, both interior and exterior look pale and soft, almost faded but some outdoor shots are sharp and vivid. The matted aspect ratio is 1.85:1.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
Sound is poorly recorded with harsh, sibilant dialogue and surrounds that are too subtle resulting in a very monoish perspective at the screen channels.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: