Invited away on a hen’s weekend, Sissy is stuck in a remote cabin with her high school bully…and a taste for revenge. Cecilia (SISSY) and Emma were tween-age BFFs who were going to grow old together and never let anything come between them. That is, until Emma’s new friend Alex did just that. When Cecilia became the target of Alex’s bullying, it forced Cecilia and Emma apart. Twelve years later, Cecilia is a successful influencer living the dream… until she runs into Emma for the first time in over a decade and her world is turned upside down. Darkly comedic and unnervingly savage, SISSY is a satirical look at millennial self-victimisation in the social media age.

For in-depth thoughts on Sissy, please see my colleague Mike Vaughn’s review from its original festival debut here.

Video Quality

The film debuts on Blu-Ray with a 1080p presentation in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio that does not disappoint. The movie has a reserved color palette that is accurately saturated in mostly classic interiors with earthy tones. Some colors have more of a rich presence, but we are more struck by the detail and clarity at hand. You can appreciate the subtle facets on display, especially in the rustic production design and makeup effects brimming with vital textures. The transfer provides deep black levels that do not stumble with crush or other shortcomings. There is no observable damage or digital noise in this transfer. Objects hold up considerably well in the shadows and retain their depth with only the slightest banding at hand. There is a minimal loss in detail when it comes to some of the panning shots in the shadows, but it is not a standout issue throughout. Shudder has done nice work with this Blu-Ray.

Audio Quality

Sissy arrives on Blu-Ray with an impeccably executed DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that brings things together quite well. Dialogue and an array of sound effects stay favorably balanced throughout the duration. While not particularly showy, the movie digs deep when the narrative requires it, and environmental sounds provide an effective atmosphere for the story. The track’s low end provides some memorable texture when the tension is building. All elements play well with the music where nothing gets swallowed up in the track. Surround channels provide some spine-tingling activity with the interior tones and other developments in the darkness. The track gives you everything you want as a horror fan. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Co-director/co-writer Kane Senes and co-director/co-writer Hannah Barlow provide a track that provides some great insights into the production process, the background with the talent, the shooting locations, and more.

Killer Influence – Hannah Barlow & Kane Senes On the Making of Sissy: An 18-minute interview with the filmmakers in which they discuss returning to Australia, the themes that appealed to them, choosing the perspective to tackle the narrative, the look of the feature, and more.

Side by Side Storyboard Comparison: A 14-minute piece that compares storyboards to the final film.

Behind the Scenes Image Gallery (3:53)

EPK Segments: There is an array of brief videos provided that give you a behind-the-scenes look at various locations and craft elements.

- B-Roll – By The River (2:08)

- B-Roll – In A Night Club (2:17)

- B-Roll – On The Road (2:06)

- The Cast (5:53)

- The Story (3:39)

- Composing The Music (4:48)

- The Stunts & Effects (7:44)

- The Production Team (6:28)
Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring the essay “Safe Space: Soul Rot and Social Media in Sissy” from film critic Amber T is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis of the themes of the film.

Final Thoughts

Sissy sews the seeds for a very interesting narrative that confronts the lingering trauma of bullying and how social media impacts our self worth. The darkly satiric approach to the material occasionally undercuts its effectiveness, choosing to go for exaggerated violence that feels like we have jumped into a Final Destination movie. This can be fun to a point, but the story feels a bit toothless from a thematic viewpoint. One thing that cannot be denied is that Aisha Dee exudes a star power that makes this one immensely watchable, even during the more incredulous moments. Shudder has released a Blu-Ray featuring a striking A/V presentation and a lovely assortment of special features. Recommended

Sissy 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: Shudder 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.