‘Pet Shop Days’ Blu-Ray Review – A Reckless & Chaotic Story Of Connection And Independence

In an act of desperation, impulsive black sheep Alejandro flees his home in Mexico. On the run from his unforgiving father, Alejandro finds himself in New York City where he meets Jack, a college age pet store employee with similar parental baggage. Together the two enter a whirlwind romance sending them down the rabbit hole of drugs and depravity in Manhattan’s underworld. When Alejandro’s past threatens to catch up with him, Jack is forced to choose between his family and a life on the run.

For in-depth thoughts on Pet Shop Days, please see my colleague Jaylan Salah’s review from its original theatrical release here. 

Video Quality

Pet Shop Days makes its Blu-Ray debut with an authentic 1080p video presentation in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio that captures the dreamy 35mm cinematography perfectly. The complex color palette saturates the screen with nuanced colors found in the locales, whether you are traversing the brutal urban sprawl or gleaning slivers of foliage from the Mexican outdoors. The image is textured with prominent grain but largely free of print damage outside of the occasional speck. The production design and shooting locations provide valuable textural details. The presentation shows off an astounding amount of depth in the multitude of environments. Black levels largely avoid instances of banding as they maintain their depth. The flesh tones are natural with visceral detail present in close-ups. This Blu-Ray is a robust representation of this movie at home. 

Audio Quality

Utopia gives this Blu-Ray a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that translates all of the distinct facets of the mix with an assured hand. The soundtrack is a vital part of this journey, and it is always favorably balanced while maintaining its fidelity. Dialogue comes through clearly in its mixture of English and Spanish without being drowned out by any competing elements. The film is not a thrill-ride in a traditional sense, but the characters come across unpredictable moments with key elements adding some nice texture to the proceedings. Environmental sounds enliven the surround speakers in notable ways. When the characters are moving through the city, a parade of distinct ambient details flesh out the setting. The track provides a lively experience full of peculiarities that bring this journey to life exactly as intended. You could not ask for better from this track. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided. 

Special Features

• Roxy Cinema Premiere Q&A: A nearly 20-minute conversation with director/co-writer Olmo Schnabel, actor Dario Yazbek Bernal, co-writer/producer Galen Core and actor/co-writer Jack Irv, in which they speak about the high-profile champions of the film, inspirations for the odyssey, the response to the film, and more.  

• Q&A at the American Cinematheque at Los Feliz 3: A 27-minute Q&A with director/co-writer Olmo Schnabel, actor Dario Yazbek Bernal, co-writer/producer Galen Core and producer Alex Coco that dives into similar material as the previous Q&A with some unique elements. 

• Behind the Scenes Still Gallery (4:14)

• Original Trailer (1:53) 

Final Thoughts

Pet Shop Days is an enthralling yet occasionally frustrating narrative that hinges on characters making poor decisions due to an erratic emotional state. You can understand why these decisions are being made on some level, but it all becomes a bit exhausting as you want better for them. The performances feel very lived-in and believable within this grimy world that is showcased. This is a deeply independent feature, yet a few famous faces slide in to help lure you into this chaotic world. It might not hook you emotionally, but there is enough here to keep your attention as you witness a downward spiral. Utopia has released a Blu-Ray featuring a strong A/V presentation and a nice assortment of special features. Recommended 

Pet Shop Days 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: Utopia 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.