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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
Directed by Anthony Waller
United
Kingdom / Russia / Germany 1995
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Director Anthony Waller (The Piper,
An American Werewolf in Paris)
combines cat-and-mouse suspense with classic intrigue in Mute Witness, an
updated take on the Hitchcockian thriller in which the only witness to a brutal
crime can neither speak nor cry out in terror.
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Theatrical Release: January 28th, 1995 (Sundance Film Festival)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Review: Arrow - Region FREE - 4K UHD
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CLICK to order from:
Also available on Blu-ray from Arrow:
Bonus Captures:
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| Distribution | Arrow - Region FREE - 4K UHD | |
| Runtime | 1:36:34.663 | |
| Video |
2.35:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 85,437,638,494 bytesFeature: 69,030,950,784 bytes Video Bitrate: 88.13 MbpsCodec: HEVC Video |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Bitrate 4K Ultra HD: |
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| Audio |
LPCM Audio English
2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit Dolby Digital Audio English 320 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 320 kbps / DN -31dB |
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| Subtitles | English (SDH), None - Russian dialogue intentionally not translated | |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: Arrow
2.35:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 85,437,638,494 bytesFeature: 69,030,950,784 bytes Video Bitrate: 88.13 MbpsCodec: HEVC Video
Edition Details: 4K Ultra HD disc
• Brand new audio commentary by writer/director Anthony
Waller
Black 4K Ultra HD Case Inside slipcase Chapters 13 |
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| Comments: |
NOTE:
The below
4K UHD
captures were taken directly from the respective
discs.
It is likely that the monitor
you are seeing this review is not an
HDR-compatible
display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider
and notably granular range of color and light. Our
capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard
monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more
4K UHD titles in the
future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our
captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of
skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the
4K system at your home. But the
framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by
this simulation representation.
NOTE:
50
On their
4K UHD,
Arrow use a linear PCM stereo channel track (24-bit) in the
original English, and some Russian, languages. "Mute Witness" is filled with various types of violence;
knifings, beating, guns etc.. The mood though is frequently heightened
through the
score by Wilbert Hirsch (An American Werewolf in Paris) which
has some dramatic orchestral strings. I found it quite affective and
intense.
The disc offers optional English (SDH) subtitles - (the Russian dialogue is
intentionally not translated) and is, like all
4K UHD, region FREE,
playable worldwide.
The
4K UHD has
two commentaries. The first is by writer/director Anthony Waller who talks
about shooting in Russia, he provides many anecdotes about the project
coming to fruition, his own participation (his hand) in scenes, the 'film
within a film' concept, using the real crew as extras, and much more. He's
intelligent and informative.
The second commentary is with production designer Matthias Kammermeier and
composer Wilbert Hirsch, moderated by, the late, critic Lee Gambin - author
of Like Being on Mars -
An Oral History of Carrie (1976). There is talk about
meeting director Waller in film school, financing, Waller's meeting with
Alec Guinness and getting him to do a brief scene in Mute Witness,
opening with a film-in-film take ala De Palma's
Body Double and
Blow Out, Waller having some sound and music ideas, first of
impressions of going to Russia to shoot, Exteriors, lighting, sets, visas
etc. As always Lee does a great job. RIP, my friend. The Silent Death
is a brand new dozen-minute visual essay by author and critic Alexandra
Heller-Nicholas (Rape-Revenge
Films: A Critical Study), examining Mute Witness and its
relationship with snuff films. The Wizard Behind the Curtain is a
brand new 24-minute visual essay by author and critic Chris Alexander (Corman/Poe:
Interviews and Essays Exploring the Making of Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe
Films, 1960-1964,) exploring the phenomenon of the
film-within-a-film. Included is the original 25-minute “Snuff Movie”
presentation, produced to generate interest from investors and distributors,
featuring interviews with Anthony Waller and members of the creative team -
there is also about 8-minutes of original location scouting footage as well
as original footage with Alec Guinness, filmed a decade prior to the rest of
Mute Witness. Lastly are a teaser trailer, trailer and an image
gallery. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly
commissioned artwork by
Adam Rabalais and
a double-sided foldout poster featuring original artwork by Rabalais plus an
illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by
Michelle
Kisner.
Anthony Waller's "Mute Witness" was his feature debut. There some
a few positives that elevate it beyond a dismissive surface view - not even
including the participation of Sir Alec Guinness (The
Bridge on the River Kwai) as "The Reaper" and Oleg Yankovskiy
(Tarkovsky's
Nostalghia.) It has some highly effective horror cinema techniques;
characters hiding out, chase scenes, life or death confrontations etc. It
deals with a mute American makeup artist named Billy (Russian actress Marina
Zudina) working on a cheesy slasher film in Moscow, but after accidentally
witnessing the filming of a "snuff film" she is sought after by both the
filmmakers and organized Russian crime. "Mute Witness" switches
between excess ala the 'film-within-a-film' slasher variety and some
genuinely realized tension. I was surprisingly impressed.
Arrow's
4K UHD
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Examples of NSFW (Not Safe For Work) 2160P - (Mouse Over - click to enlarge)
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| Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from:
Also available on Blu-ray from Arrow:
Bonus Captures:
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| Distribution | Arrow - Region FREE - 4K UHD | |
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