-thumb-380xauto-28224.jpg)
The initials of Enter the Dangerous Mind, new to Blu-ray via Well Go USA on April 14, spell out EDM. That’s because protagonist Jim (Jake Hoffman) produces electronic dance music. He lives in his own little world, barely capable of carrying on a discussion with anyone as he creates his mixes. His best friend Jake (Thomas Dekker) is basically a bully, constantly berating Jim for his lack of a girlfriend and social life in general.
Jim’s romantic woes seem to brighten when he meets Wendy (Nikki Reed) while servicing computers at her place of employment. She hears one of his dubstep mixes that serves as his ringtone and offers a complimentary opinion. This is the spark that begins a tentative relationship, but things quickly sour when Jim has an awkward moment while making out after a date. From there out, Jim’s already unstable state of mind devolves into psychosis. He’s plagued by voices in his head that emphasize his self doubt.
-thumb-380x253-28222.jpg)
Co-directed by Youssef Delara and Victor Teran (the latter wrote the screenplay), EDM is basically an extended mood piece about someone slowly becoming criminally insane. It benefits from particularly effective, understated performances by its two leads. Jake Hoffman, who looks less like his famous dad (Dustin) and more like the offspring of Jason Biggs and Keanu Reeves, convincingly portrays Jim’s slow-burn, loose cannon persona. Nikki Reed is just as good as the initially unsuspecting Wendy, modulating believably from stand-offish girlfriend to horrified victim. Scott Bakula pops in now and again as a therapist (the English subtitle track erroneously, transcribes the word as “the rapist” —even the word therapy becomes “the rapy”).
I don’t know if the digital cinematography by Ben Kufrin was inherently low contrast and decidedly un-filmic in appearance, but even if so the Blu-ray transfer leaves something to be desired. It’s notably too low-contrast, looking a bit washed out actually. Black levels are quite shallow, registering more as shades of gray. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack is much stronger, nicely showcasing Reza Safinia’s score.
Watchable mainly for its sustained mood of depressed creepiness and its two lead performances, Enter the Dangerous Mind is ultimately a rather slight thriller. Well Go’s Blu-ray contains no supplemental material aside from some trailers.
Jim’s romantic woes seem to brighten when he meets Wendy (Nikki Reed) while servicing computers at her place of employment. She hears one of his dubstep mixes that serves as his ringtone and offers a complimentary opinion. This is the spark that begins a tentative relationship, but things quickly sour when Jim has an awkward moment while making out after a date. From there out, Jim’s already unstable state of mind devolves into psychosis. He’s plagued by voices in his head that emphasize his self doubt.
Co-directed by Youssef Delara and Victor Teran (the latter wrote the screenplay), EDM is basically an extended mood piece about someone slowly becoming criminally insane. It benefits from particularly effective, understated performances by its two leads. Jake Hoffman, who looks less like his famous dad (Dustin) and more like the offspring of Jason Biggs and Keanu Reeves, convincingly portrays Jim’s slow-burn, loose cannon persona. Nikki Reed is just as good as the initially unsuspecting Wendy, modulating believably from stand-offish girlfriend to horrified victim. Scott Bakula pops in now and again as a therapist (the English subtitle track erroneously, transcribes the word as “the rapist” —even the word therapy becomes “the rapy”).I don’t know if the digital cinematography by Ben Kufrin was inherently low contrast and decidedly un-filmic in appearance, but even if so the Blu-ray transfer leaves something to be desired. It’s notably too low-contrast, looking a bit washed out actually. Black levels are quite shallow, registering more as shades of gray. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack is much stronger, nicely showcasing Reza Safinia’s score.
Watchable mainly for its sustained mood of depressed creepiness and its two lead performances, Enter the Dangerous Mind is ultimately a rather slight thriller. Well Go’s Blu-ray contains no supplemental material aside from some trailers.
-thumb-80x80-24358.jpg)