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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Call, The

    Featured In Issue 178, August 2013

    Picture4
    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):
    Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    42456
    (MPAA Rating):
    R
    (Rating Reason):
    Violence, disturbing content and some language
    (Retail Price):
    $40.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    118
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A
    (Theatrical Year):
    2013
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    06/25/13
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Brad Anderson
    (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):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    In The Call, veteran 911 operator Jordan (Berry) takes a life-altering call from a teenage girl (Breslin), who has been kidnapped and thrown into the trunk of a madman's car. But with the clock ticking, Jordan soon realizes she must confront a killer from her past to put an end to a serial killer's hunting rampage. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include commentary by Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin, and the filmmakers; an alternate ending (HD 0:52); four deleted and extended scenes (HD 04:22); Michael Eklund's Audition Tape (HD 07:48); the featurettes Emergency Procedures (HD 14:55), A Set Tour Of The Call Center (HD 04:51), The Lair (HD 03:27), and Inside The Stunts (HD 06:56); upfront previews; and an UltraViolet digital copy.

    The 1.85:1 1080p AVC picture was photographed with the Arri digital camera system. The image quality is problematic because of poor black-level saturation. The picture exhibits a thin film haze that varies in intensity depending on the scene and otherwise dulls clarity. Close-ups are the exception, with fine facial features rendered, as well as hair and clothing. In this regard the imagery is razor sharp. The color palette is naturally hued with natural saturation, except for the poor black levels. If it weren't for the poor black levels, this would be a reference presentation. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack sounds dynamic and spatially enveloping with strong, directionalized sound effects during the action sequences. The collage of 911 calls in The Hive sound realistic and envelop the soundfield. Bass energy is, at times, intense in the .1 LFE channel and provides a solid low-frequency foundation to the music score. The music is nicely recorded with a wide soundstage that extends to the surrounds. Atmospherics, Foley, and sound effects are also effectively presented. The sonics are naturally convincing and dynamically energized when appropriate. Along with the tension, dialogue reproduction is consistently natural, intelligible, and spatially integrated. (Gary Reber)

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    Kevin A. Gerfen
    26864 Mandelieu Drive, Murrieta, CA 92562 • Phone: 951 676 4914 • Fax: 951 693 2960
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