HUMANE takes place over a single day, mere months after a global ecological collapse has forced world leaders to take extreme measures to reduce the earth’s population. In a wealthy enclave, a recently retired newsman has invited his grown children to dinner to announce his intentions to enlist in the nation’s new euthanasia program. But when the father’s plan goes horribly awry, tensions flare and chaos erupts among his children.
For in-depth thoughts on Humane, please see my colleague Cameron Ritter’s review from its original theatrical debut here.
Video Quality
The film debuts on Blu-Ray with a 1080p presentation in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio that looks every bit as good as a modern film on the format should. The movie has a subdued color palette that is consistently saturated in complex hues. Some colors stand out more on screen, such as certain lighting elements and fabrics. We are more enthralled by the detail and clarity unlocked. The subtle facets on display, especially in the background design elements and increasingly brutal makeup effects, are overflowing with vital textures.
There is no distracting damage or digital noise to hurt this transfer. Objects hold up steadily in the shadows and retain their depth with only some intermittent banding at hand. There is an inconsequential loss of detail when it comes to some of the roaming shots in the shadows. Most won’t find it to be a notable issue throughout. The transfer provides exceptional black levels that do not stumble with crush or other shortcomings. Shudder has treated this quite well on Blu-Ray.
Audio Quality
Humane arrives on Blu-Ray with a deftly executed DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that excels on all fronts. This is a dialogue-driven story filled with witty barbs and strained conversations, yet you never feel like any world is drowned out. These exchanges and sound effects stay admirably balanced throughout the duration. While not particularly kinetic, the movie packs a punch when the narrative demands it, and environmental sounds provide a tense atmosphere for the story. The track’s low end provides some effective texture when things are ramping up. All elements play well with the music, where nothing gets crowded out in the track. Surround channels provide some memorable activity with the bustling interior and other developments throughout the narrative. The track earns great marks from beginning to end. Optional English SDH and French subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director Caitlin Cronenberg and Writer/Producer Michael Sparaga provide a track that delivers great insights into the production process, the background with the talent, the shooting locations, the larger thematic ideas, world-building sprinkled throughout the background, and more.
- Deleted Scenes: A six-minute selection of unused material is provided here, including an alternate opening and more.
- Behind the Scenes Photos
- The Endings Short Film: A five-minute short film from Caitlin Cronenberg is provided that explores an argument between a couple through abstract imagery.
- Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring the essay “The Fallacy of Family in Humane” from film critic Nadine Whitney is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis of the themes of the film.
Final Thoughts
Humane is a delightfully demented debut from director Caitlin Cronenberg that finds yet another member of this famous family showing talent behind the camera. The urge to compare her to her loved ones is understandable, but Caitlin carves a path of her own that we look forward to following—although the Cronenbergs’ general outlook on society is unmistakable. The charismatic ensemble brings a lot of personality to the proceedings, which helps mend the gaps of a script that can occasionally feel a bit pedestrian. Caitlin Cronenberg is not able to completely escape the general messiness that comes from a first-time feature outing, but she more than proves herself as a filmmaker with a ton of promise. Shudder has released a Blu-Ray featuring a fetching A/V presentation and a nice assortment of special features. Recommended
Humane is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Shudder and OCN Distribution have 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.
