A pitch-black satire widely misunderstood upon original release, Observe And Report combines the talents of writer/director Jody Hill (The Righteous Gemstones) and a hilarious cast including Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express), Anna Faris (Scary Movie), Michael Peña (Ant-Man), and Ray Liotta (Goodfellas) for one of the most subversive comedies of the 2000s. A prescient send-up of American violence, it remains more hysterically absurd and yet disturbingly familiar than ever!
Security guard Ronnie Barnhardt (Rogen) rules over Forest Ridge Mall with an iron fist, dreaming of one day joining the police force and marrying his dream girl (Faris). But when a flasher begins terrorizing the mall, Ronnie’s desire to be a hero leads him down a vigilante path no one could have seen coming.
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Video Quality
Observe and Report comes to Blu-Ray via Shout! Studios with a 1080p transfer that is derived from a new 2K scan of the Interpositive approved by writer-director Jody Hill. This film was first released on Blu-Ray in 2009 courtesy of Warner Bros. That release was very strong for the time, but it was during the era of the weaker VC-1 codec, so you can spot some shortcomings 15 years later. This new transfer is an impressive representation of the feature with a naturally filmic presentation. The grain structure holds firm with nothing swarming or becoming clumpy. Our only complaint is the missed opportunity to give this one a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release. There are obvious improvements here, but the lack of a 4K scan and upgrade will probably make this a less urgent upgrade for some fans.
Any previous print specks have been eliminated for a clear and consistent viewing experience. The transfer does not come up short in the realm of density fluctuation or other unwanted anomalies. The color palette is natural and vibrant with pleasing hues in the clothing, lighting, and specific flourishes of the production design. Black levels are deep and provide an amazing amount of depth and detail. Highlights hold together well to avoid blooming. The transfer delivers when it comes to conjuring fine detail as subtle textures emerge from the background. The lack of a 4K UHD Blu-Ray is a disappointment, but this new Blu-Ray release is still a winner and should be enjoyed by fans.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray presents the film with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in its original English audio which represents the soundscape to perfection. The darkly comedic dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being overwhelmed by competing information. Every insult or outburst is strong in the mix with no crackling or sibilance. This is not an action-packed film, but some moments liven things up including gunshots that pack a major punch in the low end. The environmental sounds of the mall and elsewhere in the world open up to create a three-dimensional space. The soundtrack is key to enhancing the personality of the picture, and every note flows out with grand fidelity for a rewarding listening experience. This presentation does everything it needs to. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Picture-In-Picture Commentary: Writer-Director Jody Hill and stars Seth Rogen and Anna Faris provide an archival video commentary track in which they spend the first several minutes addressing the weirdness of being seen on screen while recording it. After they settle in, there is some fun banter between the three and insights into how certain jokes evolved and their relationship with the people on screen.
- Interview with Writer/Director Jody Hill: A great new 21-minute interview with the filmmaker who recounts his career trajectory following his feature debut, developing the pitch for Observe and Report, the real-life inspiration for the narrative, the rebellious spirit of the movie, the lack of likability of the character, shooting in New Mexico, the reception of the film, and more.
- Forest Ridge Mall – Security Recruitment Video: A three-minute faux advertisement to join the mall security team.
- Seth Rogen and Anna Faris – Unscripted: An eight-minute archival featurette that shows the evolution of certain jokes through improvisation.
- Basically Training: A seven-minute archival making-of featurette that takes a look at the lead character and the performance of Seth Rogen.
- Deleted Scenes: A 27-minute collection of unused footage from the film.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-and-a-half-minute trailer is provided.
- Gag Reel: A nearly 13-minute collection of flubbed lines, laughing fits, malfunctioning props, and more.
Final Thoughts
Observe and Report is a twisted gem from the mind of Jody Hill that feels like a bit of an anomaly in a world where corporations are so risk-averse to challenging audience expectations. The main character is far from the lovable goofball that should populate a movie such as this, but that is largely why the film has endured over the years. The situations are outrageous and the moral compass is completely broken, but you rarely stop laughing if your sense of humor aligns with the creatives. The performances are very good, and it is a lot of fun to look back at all of the faces who would blow after this experience. It is a dark delight. Shout! Studios has delivered a Blu-Ray featuring a fantastic A/V presentation and a nice assortment of new and archival special features. If you don’t have this in your collection yet, this disc deserves a spot. Recommended
Observe and Report is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Shout! Studios has supplied a copy of this set 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.