When an experimental drug trial goes horribly wrong, seven young test subjects, after being kept awake for days, must face the terrifying side effect of the drug: if you fall asleep you die. Trapped in an isolated medical facility, they desperately try to find a way to reverse the side effects of the trial, as one by one they succumb to sleep and death. Panic quickly takes hold and they turn on each other. It’s left up to Claire, the group’s unlikely leader, to keep them together, find a way to escape, and somehow manage to stay awake.

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[youtube https://youtu.be/D6hpN4qYZgE?si=MVZl153mOFDrd8U3&t=3906]

Video Quality

Double Blind makes its Blu-Ray debut with a very nice 1080p video presentation that captures the nondescript interiors favorably. This is a film that takes place largely in bright, aesthetically sterile rooms, but the disc does not struggle when we wade into shadows or other murky environments. Black levels hold up fairly well when it comes to depth, but there are slight signs of banding in certain shots. Highlights hold firm without veering toward blooming.

The image is clear with the subdued color palette translating the image faithfully. Flesh tones are natural with a tremendous amount of detail present in close-ups. This is readily apparent when the more goopy and gory makeup effects are introduced to tactile effect. The presentation shows off an impressive amount of depth, even though much of the movie depicts cramped spaces. The clean production design along with the fabrics of clothing provide crystal clear textural details. There are a few small areas where this disc could be improved, but overall this Blu-Ray does a good job with this one.

Audio Quality

Epic Pictures continues to choose to give their Blu-Ray discs a Dolby Digital 5.1 lossy audio track instead of a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track, which is a frustrating oversight we would love to be corrected in the future. Yes, the sound is not unpleasant, but it could be given greater impact with a lossless track. Dialogue comes through clearly without being overshadowed by any competing sounds. The score conjures up the appropriate mood and is capably balanced while maintaining its fidelity.

Hard-hitting moments spring forth at the appropriate time in the narrative to deliver texture when needed. Environmental sounds of the facility effectively engage the surround speakers. When characters are trying to break out of the room, there are some intriguing ambient details that flesh out the situation. The audio track is passable, but it could have been a richer experience with a full lossless track. This disc provides English SDH and Spanish subtitles.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director Ian Hunt Duffy and Actors Pollyanna McIntosh and Diarmuid Noyes provide an entertaining and informative commentary track in which they discuss the background elements of the production, amusing stories from set, the creation of the score, moments that were cut from the final version, details of the production design, the collaborative nature of the production and more.

Deleted Scenes: Nearly five minutes of unused scenes are provided including more death hallucinations, small character interactions, and more. These scenes can be viewed with an optional audio commentary with director Ian Hunt Duffy.

Behind the Scenes Featurtte A very brief two-minute promo in which the cast and creative team tease the movie, its themes, and more.

Gridlock Short Film A 20-minute short film from Ian Hunt Duffy is provided here that involves a child going missing during a traffic jam on a country road. This is very effective and well worth a watch.

Trailers: This disc provides the two-minute trailer for Double Blind. There are also trailers provided for other Dread titles including Satanic Hispanics, The Jester, Island Escape, and Last Night at Terrace Lanes.

Final Thoughts

Double Blind is a prime example of a high-concept horror-thriller that teases a unique threat and actually explores it in a satisfying manner. Too many independent features try to get too ambitious and lose track of telling an effective story, but this one is tight and focused with characters that are not insufferable and are brought to life by talented performers. With some obvious attention paid to getting the most out of their production value, this creative team has come together to make something solidly entertaining. Epic Pictures has released a Blu-Ray featuring a mostly good A/V presentation and a nice selection of special features. If you are looking for an under-the-radar thriller, don’t pass this one by. Recommended

Double Blind will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on March 12, 2024.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Epic Pictures 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.