Mikey Saber (Simon Rex) is back home in small-town Texas after burning bridges and flaming out all over Los Angeles. A hustler, operator, and charismatic con man, Mikey quickly learns that no one wants him back. When he meets a teenager working at the local donut shop, he sees his ticket back to the big time, in this darkly funny, live-wire film from acclaimed writer-director Sean Baker (The Florida Project, Tangerine).
For in-depth thoughts on Red Rocket, please see my colleague Devin McGrath-Conwell’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
Red Rocket comes to Blu-Ray in an AVC encoded transfer in 2.39:1 courtesy of Lionsgate featuring an appropriately gritty transfer which captures the 16mm roots of the film. This presentation is quite gorgeous and offers a stable image quality throughout. The lo-fi nature of the film translates well on disc with most shots giving the movie a bit of extra character to match the location. Baker captures some interesting scenery which really pops in high definition. Not only do the textural details render cleanly, but colors are suffused in a way that matches the aesthetic of the film. Colors especially pop any time Mikey visits the Donut Shop to see Strawberry and her bright red lips. There is no evidence of compression artifacts or other digital nuisances outside a very minor bit in the most dimly lit locations. Skin tones look natural throughout the runtime. I do not see how this disc could have been improved significantly without a 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc. It’s a really stunning transfer.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that is very active. The track really comes alive with the environmental sounds both in the outdoor material along with the ambiance of certain interiors. The musical cues are showcased impeccably here with an enveloping use of the surround speakers. The dialogue comes through crystal clear without ever being overpowered by the environmental effects or the music. The sound design is just as precisely thought-out as the on screen visuals with all of the sounds positioned just right in the mix. The environmental effects create a desolate soundscape that matches the deteriorating nature of the town. Activity in the low end is decent, especially so when the music comes to life in a forceful manner. This is a stellar audio presentation that brings the movie to life in a really substantial way.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Writer / Director Sean Baker, Cinematographer Drew Daniels and Actor Simon Rex provide a really fun and thoughtful commentary track which explores how they went about shaping the story into the feature film, lively stories from the production, the casting of the film, shooting during a pandemic, and much more. This one is filled with fun moments from beginning to end and is well worth listening to.
- Audio Commentary #2: Film Critic Kat Ellinger provides a commentary track that functions more as an analysis of the film including themes, the work of Sean Baker, criticisms of the film, personal insights and much more. It is rare we get this type of commentary track on a major studio release, and it feels very rewarding that it is included.
- Making Of Red Rocket: A 12-minute featurette is provided which has the cast and crew talking about the story, the characters and the place of morality, the production during COVID, the work of Simon Rex, the collaborative nature of the project and more.
Final Thoughts
Red Rocket is a fascinating character study which forces you to wrestle with the charisma of the protagonist and the toxicity he brings to his environment. The character is detestable, but the performance from Simon Rex is electric. Sean Baker has once again shown his command of the camera as he captures a very specific slice of life not often found on screen. The film is wickedly funny and even tragic at times; you will not be able to stop thinking about it long after the credits have finished rolling. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring a wonderful A/V presentation and some fun special features. Not everyone may be able to jive with this story, but those who appreciate the tone it is taking will fall in love with it. Highly Recommended
Red Rocket will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital on March 15, 2022.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Lionsgate 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.
