Siblings Daphne and Wilson Shaw practically raised one another. They’ve protected each other from everything life has thrown their way. Daphne’s professional life is soaring and she’s looking to adopt a child. Wilson is interviewing for a position at a local school, hoping to become a teacher. But Daphne has an unsettling, dangerous stalker whom she can’t seem to shake, now threatening to destroy them both. They hunt for their tormentor through the shadowy streets of Brooklyn, honing their bodies and minds for a showdown. But this foe may prove to be more than they can handle. They will break and rebuild themselves if necessary to save each other, and protect the light they know is in this world for them… if only they can persevere.
For in-depth thoughts on When I Consume You, please see my colleague Devin McGrath-Conwell’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
When I Consume You debuts on Blu-Ray with a very enjoyable 1080p video presentation that is easy to really appreciate. The high definition master is quite solid, and the encode never falters much in the way of compression artifacts or macroblocking. The film implements some splashes of bold colors in some of the lighting choices and when the characters are walking around in the world. The black levels are a bit more milky rather than inky, and there are very subtle signs of crush and banding in certain shots.
The skin tones are natural with a magnificent amount of detail present in close-ups. The image captures some of the imagery of cuts and bruises really effectively. The presentation provides a pleasing amount of depth on display, especially in the interior shots. The production design along with the fabrics of the distinct clothing provide striking textural details. The image is clean with a complex color palette that pops off the screen. This Blu-Ray is a treat for fans.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray provides a good DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track which capably translates the sound design to this film. With this being a very independent affair, sometimes capturing crystal clear sound can be a pain, but there is not much in the way of audio deficiencies. Compared to some of Blackshear’s earlier work, there are more hard-hitting moments than normal with some heft to the low end that lands well. The various environmental sounds of the world engage the speakers in an effective way that often mirrors the disorientation the characters are feeling. Dialogue is largely the driving force of the film, and it comes through pretty clearly without being clipped by any competing sounds. There are some intriguing ambient details that flesh out the setting when the characters are roaming around. The music in the film is well-balanced and maintains a strong fidelity. This release provides optional English subtitles.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary #1: Writer/director Perry Blackshear provides a solo commentary track in which he discusses the personal aspects of the film, shooting mostly in sequential order, the tricky narrative balance of the story, the shooting locations, the positives and negatives of shooting in your own apartment, the improvised moments, the secrets behind certain shots and more. There are so many little details shared within this that fans of Blackshear will especially appreciate if they have been following his career.
- Audio Commentary #2: Actors MacLeod Andrews, Evan Dumouchel and Libby Ewing provide an immensely entertaining commentary track in which they reflect back upon their experiences with this project, the DIY nature of independent filmmaking, elements that they brought from their actual lives to their performances, working with props and makeup, and more.
- Introduction: There is a minute-long optional introduction from director Perry Blackshear in which he reflects on the film and thanks the audience for watching.
- Behind The Scenes Featurette: A 13-minute collection of footage from the production of the film including auditions, rehearsals, choosing costumes, setting up sets, goofing around on set and more.
- Deleted Scenes: This piece provides nine minutes of unused footage including an alternate introduction, smaller character pieces that were cut for pacing, deeper psychological unraveling and more. This is provided with an optional commentary from Perry Blackshear.
- Interviews With The Cast & Crew: An 20-minute conversation between Perry Blackshear, MacLeod Andrews, Evan Dumouchel and Libby Ewing in which they reflect back on their experiences with the film, the origins of the project, what they initially wanted to accomplish with the film, the DIY nature of the project, the physical nature of the performance, the best parts of making the film and more.
- Q&A From Fantasia Film Festival: A 36-minute virtual Q&A from the World Premiere featuring Perry Blackshear, MacLeod Andrews, Evan Dumouchel and Libby Ewing in which they discuss how this project came about, how the performers went about preparing to play their parts, the collaborative nature of the production, finding the right tonal balance, their favorite moments to shoot and more
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.
- Booklet: A multi-page booklet featuring the essay “A Matter Of Survival: Economic Horror In Perry Blackshear’s When I Consume You” by Craig Ian Mann. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis of the themes of the film and how it connects back to some of the previous work of Blackshear.
Final Thoughts
When I Consume You finds director Perry Blackshear and his extremely talented troupe of performers banding together once again for a truly enthralling bit of micro-budget horror. The sibling dynamic as realized by the committed performances from Evan Dumouchel and Libby Ewing makes the movie what it is, elevating the thematic resonance with every bit of shared history. There are a few bumpy edges, but by and large this satisfies quite a bit. Yellow Veil Pictures and Vinegar Syndrome have released a Blu-Ray featuring a wonderful A/V presentation and a solid assortment of special features. If you are looking for a rewarding, under-the-radar horror effort, get to this one sooner rather than later. Recommended
When I Consume You 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 Vinegar Syndrome 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.