Traveling magician Mr. K (Crispin Glover) is down on his luck. Business is slow, and the few gigs he’s picked up along the road have left him adrift. After spending the night in a remote hotel, he is alarmed when he discovers that he is unable to find the exit. As he explores the maze-like corridors, he hears strange noises and encounters a series of curious inhabitants who have formed their own factions within the walls of the hotel. Alone and afraid, he starts mapping out the corridors, desperately hoping to get to the bottom of the building’s layout before it is too late. Stuck more hopelessly than ever and about to give up, he makes a bizarre discovery that will change everything. Starring the ever-eccentric Crispin Glover, this Kafkaesque mystery offers a bold new take on falling down the rabbit hole.
For thoughts on Mr. K, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:
Video Quality
Mr. K arrives on Blu-Ray in a 1080p presentation that provides a top-tier viewing experience. This is a visually dynamic film with haunting, mind-bending shots where you can see an incredible amount of detail. The transfer retains the intended claustrophobic look, where subtle elements of the clothing and production design are able to come through. The skin tones and makeup look very detailed and natural throughout. The film is not overflowing with bold colors, but the hues in some of the design and lighting elements stand out in a striking way. This film uses lighting deliberately as it establishes the headspace of our main character, as well as the tone of this liminal space, to create tension. The highlights are handled exceedingly well, along with the deep blacks that do not appear to falter with any compression artifacts. This presentation represents this film with immense splendor.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that capably handles the creepy soundscape that swirls throughout. The environmental effects create a really discombobulating experience that believably realizes the world. The activity in the low end is handled well thanks to the music and some key developments, such as the intermittent marching band. The film uses music that fills the room with peerless fidelity. Dialogue comes through clearly without ever being covered up by the sound effects or the score. The sound design is just as precisely implemented as the on-screen visuals with all of the sounds positioned just right in the mix. This track is a winner for Music Box Selects. Optional English and English SDH subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Interview with Crispin Glover & Tallulah for Collider: A 20-minute interview with the actor and filmmaker in which the pair discuss the creation of the film, what drew them to the project, how they got the most out of their budget within the production design, how it felt filming certain scenes, the struggle to get the film made, and more.
- The First Cut Short Film: A ten-minute short film is provided that looks at the dawn of a surgeon’s destiny. There is some notable audio damage in a few spots.
- Image Gallery
- Theatrical Trailer (1:38)
Final Thoughts
Mr. K is a trippy journey of oppressive psychological barriers and the helplessness that comes with being out of control of your own destiny. Crispin Glover has not had a chance to deliver a performance this substantial in a while, and he fully commits to the outlandish situations his character finds himself in. The production design is supremely impressive, fully sucking you into this world in a believable manner. The film is a bit repetitive and overlong without building substantially upon what came before, yet it still remains an intriguing time that engages more than it doesn’t. This will be an alienating experience for some audiences, but those who vibe with it should have a good time. Music Box Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a strong A/V presentation and a worthy assortment of special features. Recommended
Mr. K 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: Music Box Films 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.
