Inspired by true events, PROFILE follows an undercover British journalist on her quest to bait and expose a terrorist recruiter through social media, while trying not to be sucked in by her recruiter and lured into becoming a militant extremist herself. The unconventional thriller plays out entirely on a computer screen in the screen life format, directed by Timur Bekmambetov.
For in-depth thoughts on Profile, please see my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
Profile debuts on Blu-Ray with a 1080p presentation in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio that captures the intended aesthetic of the film really well. The movie itself has a natural color palette that is pretty pleasing throughout, and there is an excellent amount of detail and clarity. The video footage of the performers talking is lower quality to match the aesthetic of a typical web call, but the material on other parts of the computer screen are crisp and clear. The movie does employ some deep black levels, but there is some apparent digital noise at points. Objects hold up pretty well in the shadows and retain their depth. There is no damage detectable in this transfer. There are not really any moments that are going to jump off the screen, but this is an incredibly sleek and solid video presentation overall.
Audio Quality
Profile comes to Blu-Ray with a commendable DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track. With this taking place on a computer screen, there is obviously not going to be too much action going on but it does what it needs to do well. The low end of the track is not a standout in the slightest for this reason. The dialogue and sound effects are appropriately balanced with the music where nothing gets lost in the track. Surround channels are mostly used to subtly enhance the environment rather than be anything too forceful. There are no issues whatsoever with this track.
Special Features
There are no special features provided on this disc.
Final Thoughts
Profile is another fantastic example of how inventive filmmaking can deliver a visceral experience even in the absence of a large budget. The tension that is built through this slowly building relationship dynamic makes for fascinating time. The two main performers here do a truly wonderful job of bringing a believability to these characters that really enhance the film. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring a strong A/V presentation but nothing in the way of special features. Recommended
Profile will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD on August 10, 2021. This film is currently available on Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Universal Pictures 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.
