Solace – Blu-ray Movie Review

FBI agents Joe Merriwether and Katherine Cowles are on the trail of a serial killer who seems to always be one step ahead. Frustrated and out of ideas, they bring in psychic John Clancy who can see a person’s past and future by touching them. He gives them the insights they need to close in on the killer but learns other things too. In the end, Clancy and Merriwether must decide whether to act on his predictions or let events play out on their own.

With so many reboots and regurgitated stories coming from Hollywood these days, Solace actually feels a bit refreshing. While it doesn’t break new ground, the serial killer/psychic angle is not something I had seen in a while. The story takes plenty of twists and turns and won’t be predictable to all but the most seasoned and cynical movie buffs. A few elements solicited groans as I watched but overall, the movie is extremely entertaining.

Along with a solid script, the casting really helps elevate things. Anthony Hopkins seems incapable of anything but a top-notch performance. I don’t recall ever seeing him at less than his very best. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is well-known to fans of The Walking Dead as super-villain Negan, but here he proves he’s a much better actor than the zombie apocalypse allows him to be. As the female lead, Abbie Cornish creates an interesting character that manages to avoid the typical Hollywood female law enforcement agent stereotype.

Fans of psychological thrillers will be glad to add this title to their library. Even though there are a few surprises, I’d watch the film again.

Detail levels are very high in this transfer but they are a bit hampered by contrast that varies from good to murky. Many scenes have a subtle haze which doesn’t enhance the content. Shadow detail is solid and I saw no crush in dark scenes. Color is also a bit undefined at times with green and yellow tints that prevent the image from achieving the highest quality.

Audio is the star of this Blu-ray with lots of great ambient effects that make great use of the surround channels. Dialog is also clear and properly placed in the wide front soundstage. My only complaint is a lack of impact in the more intense scenes thanks to an under-utilized sub-woofer channel.

Bonus features are pretty thin and include only a nine-minute making of featurette and audio commentary by director Afonso Poyart. You also get a theatrical trailer.