Kidnap – Blu-ray Review

Synopsis

Single-mother Karla Dyson is at the park with her young son when she is distracted by a phone call. She turns her back for an instant and he disappears. She runs to the parking lot just in time to see him being forced into a car. She immediately jumps into her mini-van to pursue the kidnappers. After many harrowing moments and near-misses, she finds the perpetrator’s home and walks in determined to rescue her beloved child.

Specifications

Universal
2017, Color, Rated R, 1 Hr 22 mins
DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, 2.40:1 Aspect Ratio
Starring: Halle Berry, Sage Correa, Chris McGinn
Directed by Luis Prieto

Rating

Entertainment:

Video:

Audio:

Extras:

Violence: Yes
Sex: No
Language: Mild

Commentary

Kidnap manages to strike a good balance between an indie-feel and a classic Hollywood action film. The cast and story are minimalist to say the least. Halle Berry carries the movie easily with her tremendous talent and ability to emotionally turn on a dime.

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The action begins a mere 15 minutes in with some superbly-choreographed car chase sequences. Even though the eventual outcome is no surprise, there aren’t too many moments that stretch credibility. Berry’s performance is completely believable as a mother driven beyond her limits to save her son. I was fully engaged in heart-pounding action up until the end. I can’t imagine it holding up for multiple viewings but it is certainly a fun flick to watch with a few friends and a large bowl of popcorn.

Technical

The image is shot using a natural color palette and the high contrast one expects to see in a modern film. Detail is excellent in both closeup and wide shots and I saw no evidence of motion artifacts or edge enhancement. Practical effects are used throughout which only enhances the realism.

Audio is clean and crisp with a wide soundstage and good use of the sub and surrounds. The mix is a bit polite given the subject matter but I was pulled into the action effectively nonetheless.

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Extras

Only a three-minute look inside the film is included.

Chris Eberle

Chris' passion for audio began when he took up playing the bassoon at age 12. During his third year at the New England Conservatory of Music, he won a position with the West Point Band where he served for 26 years as principal bassoonist. He retired from the Army in 2013 and is now writing full time and performing as a freelance musician in Central Florida. As an avid movie lover, Chris was unable to turn away the 50-inch Samsung DLP TV that arrived at his door one day, thus launching him irrevocably into an obsession with home theater. Dissatisfied with the image quality of his new acquisition, Chris trained with the Imaging Science Foundation in 2006 and became a professional display calibrator. His ultimate theater desires were realized when he completed construction of a dedicated cinema/listening room in his home. Chris is extremely fortunate that his need for quality audio and video is shared and supported by his wife of over 25 years. In his spare time he enjoys riding his recumbent trike at least 100 miles per week, trying out new restaurants, going to theme parks and spending as much time as possible watching movies and listening to music. Chris enjoys bringing his observations and discoveries about every kind of home theater product to as many curious and well-informed readers as possible. He is proud to be a part of the Team and hopes to help everyone enjoy their AV experiences to the fullest.