Starring Kevin Costner, Dragonfly is an electrifying supernatural thriller full of surprises that will keep you guessing until the very end! Dr. Joe Darrow (Costner) is a man distraught over the violent death of his wife. When Joe is confronted by a series of haunting messages, impossible coincidences and unsettling encounters, he can’t help but wonder if she’s really dead. With each supernatural event, Joe becomes more desperate, until he begins to suspect the shocking truth.
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Video Quality
Dragonfly was released on Blu-Ray in 2020 with a 1080p transfer in its original 2.39:1 that is decent enough from Universal Pictures but shows room for improvement. There is no indication that this transfer is derived from a new master, but even this older master provides a fine viewing experience. Colors are decently saturated with acceptable vibrancy, especially in the foliage of the jungle. Black levels are agreeable in their depth, even if a few moments struggle with delineation and crush in the shadows.
The source appears to be in good shape with only a sprinkling of specks that do not intrude upon the image very much. Compression artifacts and other digital anomalies are kept to a minimum. The transfer looks clear and somewhat detailed for much of the runtime with only sporadic moments exhibiting density fluctuations in the grain field. Image quality is stable with some pleasant detail in the landscapes, production design and clothing. This transfer holds up with only minor signs of processing. The presentation is one that gets the job done even if we wouldn’t pass up an upgrade in the future.
Audio Quality
Universal brings us this Blu-Ray with a lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix that could likewise use a refresh. Dialogue holds up well for most of the runtime, but there are instances when exchanges are slightly hard to decipher due to the music or sound effects. The environmental elements are not deployed in a showy manner, and they could use some finer delineation within the speakers. There are a handful of scenes that struggle to find the balance of the various elements in the sound design. You will find some texture in the low end thanks to a few thrilling moments. The score grounds the mysterious mood of the narrative which exhibits no signs of weakness when it comes to fidelity. Universal has provided a track in need of refinement. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director Tom Shadyac provides a good commentary track in which he discusses the production of the film, the elements he wishes he could fix, working with the performers, the comedic moments he wishes he had left in, the themes of the feature, and more.
- Deleted Scenes: A 12-minute selection of unused footage is provided in rough standard definition which provides intermittently entertaining moments.
- Spotlight On Location: A nearly 13-minute archival featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the resonance of the material, the themes throughout, the performances, and more.
- Best-Selling Author Betty Eadie On Her Near Death Experience: A nearly seven-minute piece in which the author recounts her traumatic experience.
Final Thoughts
Dragonfly is a pretty decent supernatural drama that presents as more of a thriller than it actually becomes. Kevin Costner keeps this material alive with a convincing portrait of grief, even when the narrative itself does not sell all of the developments. The tonal balance is not always deftly struck, but overall it bridges the gap between the logical and the emotional in a satisfying manner. Universal Picture Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray that sports a good enough A/V presentation and a couple of fine supplemental features. If you are a Kevin Costner fan, he will not let you down with this one. Recommended
Dragonfly can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment 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.
