A strange, bloodied woman travels to a secluded, rural town.

For thoughts on The Runner, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/XVdHVOn5xZ0?si=AsDYK3rj3k5b13T3&t=90]

Video Quality

The Runner makes its Blu-Ray debut with a pleasing 1080p video presentation that captures the visual language of the piece very well. The natural production design and shooting locations provide clear textural details that are rich for exploration. This is especially welcome in the goopy makeup effects that are startling in their grotesque beauty. The black levels reveal small signs of banding in a few of the darker moments, but they maintain their depth for the most part. The flesh tones are natural with a stellar amount of detail present in close-ups. The image is crisp with the natural color palette shining off the screen. The film offers up some deep, complex colors that saturate the screen. The presentation shows off an impressive amount of depth in the locales. This Blu-Ray is a nice representation of this effort.

Audio Quality

Yellow Veil Pictures gives this Blu-Ray a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that represents this very well. Given the importance of music to this project, you would hope that it would have a powerful presence in the mix, and you get your wish. The music is prominent and well-balanced while maintaining its fidelity. The sparse amount of dialogue comes through clearly without being overshadowed by competing sounds. The complex sound design comes alive with various elements at play. Environmental sounds of the world engage the speakers in an immersive way within its limitations. The low end of the music delivers some nice texture to the proceedings. The audio track brings this one to life brilliantly. This film is presented with optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Directors Jae Matthews and Gus Muller provide an informative commentary track in which they reflect on the production, the shooting locations, the script development, the performances, facets of the narrative, and more.

Interview with Jae Matthews and Augustus Muller: A 13-minute interview with the filmmakers in which they discuss their background and initial collaborations, the formation of the band, the attempt to balance the band with the filmmaking, getting connected with James Duval, and more.

Boyharsher Music Videos:

- Autonomy (4:52)

- Machina (4:33)

- Tower (3:30)

Jae Matthews’ VHS Shorts: A selection of early projects are provided here which give you a glimpse of the early talents of Jae Matthews.

- Tied (2:11)

- Alycia (1:40)

- Babes (1:41)

- Beach Babes (9:27)

- Edge Of (3:35)

- I Had Never Smoked Weed Before (1:47)

- Low Life (1:47)

Behind The Scenes Polaroid Slideshow: A selection of images from the production is provided here.

Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring the essay “Danse Macabre” from film historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis of the themes, cultural connections, and filmmaking techniques which strengthens your appreciation for this effort overall.

Final Thoughts

The Runner is a project that is capable of being enjoyed by a larger audience, but in reality, it will mostly be appreciated by a particularly niche audience. The piece functions more like a visual album than a traditional film, and luckily we enjoy the featured music. The visuals tap into an unsettling and eerie vibe, but you should not expect too much from this one from a narrative stance. The interstitials with the band spell out most of the elements that would leave you with any questions which is a disappointing bit of hand-holding that does not feel necessary. Yellow Veil Pictures has released a Blu-Ray featuring a first-rate A/V presentation and a few welcome special features. You are probably better off sampling some of the music before you commit to a purchase. Recommended

The Runner 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: Yellow Veil Pictures 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.