Dwight and his sister Jessie reach a crossroads over what to do about their younger brother Thomas’ mysterious illness. The increasingly dangerous task of keeping him alive weighs heavy on sensitive Dwight, and as a fiercely private and close-knit family unit, Thomas and Jessie depend on him and the rituals they’ve learned in order to keep their secret. Dwight yearns for another life, but Jessie will stop at nothing to keep her family together.

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[youtube https://youtu.be/geM1OV4bJ3I?t=536]

Video Quality

My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To comes to Blu-Ray with a very strong AVC encoded 1080p transfer that brings great life to this feature. The reserved visual style of the film finds a way to impress within its limited ambitions. The picture is pretty clear with only minor instances of murkiness during a few of the darkest portions. The transfer retains an impressive level of detail even in less than ideal lighting setups. Nearly every element from the smallest makeup details to the texture in the clothing and production design is quite impressive. Skin tones are natural and consistent throughout with some fine details present in better lighting. MPI Media Group has delivered some good work here.

Audio Quality

The film comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that replicates the ideal soundscape for this story. Environmental elements are included thoughtfully throughout the film, and when they are engaged this track brings these elements to life favorably. This track allows for a three-dimensional setting full of discrete sonic details. The directionality is quite precise so sounds always present as authentic when coming from their respective points. Dialogue comes through clearly without being overwhelmed by any of the other sounds. Activity in the low end is sporadic but delivers some weight when the moment needs it. MPI has delivered a rock solid track that capably handles everything that is thrown at it. There are English SDH subtitles for those who desire them.

Special Features

Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To is a compelling slow burn pseudo-horror film which is more interested in exploring complex family dynamics rather than making you clutch your armrest from terror. The top notch ensemble handles this material exceptionally well as you understand more and more the overwhelming nature of what it means to truly love someone. The narrative is not exactly built on huge twists and turns, but rather the intrigue that builds from wondering how the story is going to naturally resolve. It is a narrative filled with dark beauty. MPI Media Group has released a Blu-Ray with a solid A/V presentation but next to nothing in the way of supplemental features. If you appreciate horror as a means to untether human drama, give this one a watch. Recommended

My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.

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

Disclaimer: MPI Media Group 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.