Set after the collapse of the Earth’s ecosystem, VESPER follows the titular headstrong 13-year-old girl (Raffiella Chapman), who uses her survival skills to subsist in the remnants of a strange and dangerous world with her ailing father, Darius (Richard Brake). When Vesper finds a mysterious woman, Camellia (Rosy McEwen), alone and disoriented after an aerial crash, she agrees to help find her missing companion in exchange for safe passage to the Citadel, – the dark central hub where oligarchs live in comfort thanks to state-of-the-art biotechnology. Vesper soon discovers that her brutal neighbor, Jonas (Eddie Marsan), is searching for Camellia, who is harboring a secret that could change all of their lives forever. Forced into a dangerous adventure, Vesper must rely on her wits and bio-hacking abilities to unlock the key to an alternate future.

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

[youtube https://youtu.be/nCFu9d_qi4Q?t=2847]

Video Quality

Vesper debuts on Blu-Ray with a 1080p presentation in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio that looks really great. The movie showcases a mostly overcast and dour environment which are brought to life with deep black levels in the shadows that hold together nicely. The surroundings of the characters usually include dense patches of fog which present without much digital noise. Objects retain their depth in the darkness with banding only showing up in brief instances. The transfer provides a substantial amount of detail and clarity in the production design and on the clothing. The movie itself has a reserved palette that renders very nicely on screen, especially when it comes to the highlights which do not bloom. No damage or digital noise was detected that would hinder any enjoyment. RLJE has provided a solid experience overall.

Audio Quality

The film comes to Blu-Ray with an effective DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original English. The movie makes tremendous use of environmental sounds to make this world three dimensional. Surround channels get some rewarding activity with the different elements that pop up throughout. The low end adds some substantial texture during key moments especially near the end. The dialogue and sound effects are balanced well with the score where nothing overshadows any competing element. This track is quite formidable and brings this movie to life as you would want. There are English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles provided.

Special Features

A Hero In The Wasteland: A two-minute look at the characteristics of the young main character with insights from the cast and creative team.

The Drone Factor: A two-minute look at the character of Darius, the acting challenges for Richard Brake, using a drone to communicate, how that impacts the other performers and more.

A Chronicle Of The Future: A four-minute look at the dynamics at play in this version of the world.

The World Of Tomorrow: A three-minute look at the creation of this post-apocalyptic world from a design perspective.

Final Thoughts

Vesper is a very strong science fiction tale which rewards thanks to its focus on character within this larger context. Although the world might be a futuristic wasteland, the emotions are grounded in something familiar which helps you keep invested in the story even when it drags on a bit longer than it needs to. The skill put forth on a craft level is extremely impressive with both practical and digital effects blending seamlessly for a fully convincing experience. This is the type of solid science fiction we would like to see developed more. IFC Films and RLJE Entertainment have released a Blu-Ray featuring a strong A/V presentation and a couple of brief special features. If you are a science fiction fan, you should definitely have this on your radar. Recommended

Vesper is currently available to purchase on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: IFC Films and RLJE Entertainment 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.