A former paratrooper returns to his hometown in the Midlands seeking revenge on a gang of thugs that violently tormented his vulnerable younger brother.
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Video Quality
The new Blu-Ray of Dead Man’s Shoes from Second Sight Films attempts to make the film look its best within some limitations. The film arrives with a new 1080p master produced from an extensive clean-up of an existing HD master to reduce warping, instability, and damage. It was announced prior to this release that the label explored the possibility of a new 4K restoration, but the original elements could not be located. While this is a disappointing reminder that even films from recent decades are not immune to preservation issues, it is heartening that a label such as Second Sight still took steps to make this look the best it can currently look. The film was shot on Super 16mm and transferred from film to digital in an era when the process was less refined. Despite this, this new master is quite pleasant and will be a welcome sight for fans.
This label is based in the UK, and the included Blu-Ray disc (available for purchase in a Standard and Deluxe Edition) is Region B locked, which means you will need a region-free player to play the discs or a player-specific workaround like the “Top Menu” trick I used on my Panasonic player. The film was previously released on Blu-Ray in the UK in 2009, but we do not have the release to compare. The film has yet to receive a Blu-Ray release in the US.
The Blu-Ray release handles the gritty Super 16mm cinematography well. The dingy production design and bleak shooting locations provide a decent amount of textural details. Black levels avoid nearly all signs of banding outside a few moments, as they largely maintain their depth. The flesh tones are natural with a favorable amount of detail present in close-ups. The image is textured with a few small specks of print damage to add a bit of character to the experience. The cool color palette does not light up the screen with deep colors, but it evokes the brutal nature of the narrative with the proper nuance. While you may spot some limitations in fine detail and stability that stem from not being able to do a proper 4K restoration, this presentation is overall a winner from Second Sight Films.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray delivers a strong audio experience with the original DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio presentation that represents the source accurately. The front channels handle the majority of the dialogue and other discrete sounds, but activity extends to the surround and rear speakers to make the world feel more all-encompassing. The film is mixed to have the dialogue, especially the grumbling from Paddy Considine, a bit overpowered by parallel sounds, but this appears to be a creative choice or a limitation of the source. The low-end effects from the subwoofer are not as engaged as they might be with a traditional action film, but key moments have the necessary presence. Atmospheric sound effects are deftly rendered within the mix so that the directionality is always accurate. The music saturates the room and grounds you in the world of the story. Second Sight Films has treated this well. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Audio Commentaries: There are two amazing new commentary tracks, along with an archival one, that explore the film through both a personal and analytical lens. The reflections on the production from the creative team deliver some great stories about working with the performers and overcoming certain obstacles, while the film historians peel back certain layers that make you appreciate certain elements of the story even more.
- Audio Commentary #1 (New): Director Shane Meadows and Producer Mark Herbert
- Audio Commentary #2 (New): Film historians Andrew Graves and Jon Towlson
- Audio Commentary #3 (Archival): Director Shane Meadows, Producer Mark Herbert, and Star Paddy Considine
- Interviews: Second Sight has conducted an incredible array of new interviews in which several of the key talent come together to reflect on the making of the movie and share memories of how everything came together and how it impacted their lives.
- Quite A Journey: Interview with Director Shane Meadows and Producer Mark Herbert (33:10)
- A Very Fine Line: Interview with Actor Toby Kebbell (26:25)
- The Right Horses: Interview with Actor Gary Stretch (19:01)
- Made An Impact: Interview with Director of Photography Danny Cohen (16:52)
- Deleted and Extended Scenes: A 29-minute collection of unused footage is provided that features moments that did not make the final cut.
- In Shane’s Shoes: A 25-minute archival featurette that takes a look at Shane Meadows and his journey to the film, the production process, and the festival premiere.
- Short Film – Northern Soul: A 27-minute short film that takes a mockumentary approach to a man who is obsessed with American wrestling.
- Danger Mouse and Jemini Music Video (3:30)
Final Thoughts
Dead Man’s Shoes is a compact, immensely compelling crime thriller from Shane Meadows that mixes dark comedy and horrifying reality to great effect. The narrative seems to echo other notable classics, yet it finds a way to carve out a place of its own and form its own identity. Paddy Considine is an absolute beast in the lead role, and he gives you a strong representation of who we would come to know him as in the modern entertainment landscape. The film can be a rough watch, but it rewards you with an impressive emotional gut punch. Second Sight Films has released a new Blu-Ray featuring a respectable A/V presentation and a favorable assortment of new and archival special features. Recommended
Dead Man’s Shoes is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray in a Standard and Limited Edition form.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Second Sight Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
