Panic Room (Superbit) DVD Review:


The Movie

Meg Altman (Jodie Foster) and her daughter Sarah (Kristen Stewart) play a deadly game of cat and mouse with three intruders - Burnahm (Forest Whitaker), Raoul (Dwight Yoakam) and Junior (Jared Leto) - during a brutal home invasion. But the Panic Room into which they escape is the very place that holds what the intruders are desperately seeking.

To be honest with you, I really didn't think a movie about two people being locked up in a room at the same time as burglars where outside trying to get in; would hold my attention. I was wrong. This movie yanked me right inside the room. But hold on… I admit, the film had some engaging, heart pounding, and thrilling moments, but there is little to make the film stand out apart from Jodi Foster; but even that is not enough to raise this film up from being an average suspenseful film. After a while, this nerve-racking picture turned into a cat-and-mouse game that just had to end.

The Video

PANIC ROOM appears in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 on this single-sided, double-layered DVD; the image has been enhanced for 16X9 televisions. The film transfer was superb. Sharpness was incredible. There were no signs of softness or vagueness. I did detect some jagged edges but enough to create any major concern to the film. I didn’t detect any print flaws in the films transfer. Colors remained solid without any problems. Black levels were deep and rich but at times appeared somewhat grimy. PANIC ROOM is not one of the better Superbit DVD’s I’ve seen, but nonetheless I thought the DVD presentation offered a fresh and unsullied film transfer.

The Audio

PANIC ROOM includes both the Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS mixes. The DTS track provided a stronger bass response and added a more wide open sound field, but as a whole, either one of the mixes came across as in a similar fashion. Effects moved well around all five channels and they blended together precisely. Dialogue was crisp and well defined at all times. The films core also appeared intense and active. Ultimately, PANIC ROOM provided a grand audio event.

The Extras

-Theatrical Trailer
-Scene Selections
-Filmographies

Superbit Editions are known for not including any type of special features. If you're a fan of this film, wait for the special edition that's already in the works.

Overall

PANIC ROOM offers its share or thrills and suspense but generally feels like a run of the mill type of film. It succeeds somewhat, but then falls short. The DVD offers great picture and sound but close to no extras. PANIC ROOM isn’t a bad film; I just felt that not enough of the film stood out to make it brilliant.

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