Closure Gillian Anderson

(aka 'Straightheads')

Directed by Dan Reed
UK 2007

I see most critics hated this film but I found it very interesting - certainly not as exploitive as I suspected with the plot description.

With a futuristic feel we have a middle-age woman (Gillian Anderson) and a younger security expert hooking up after he installs her systems and she invites him to a lavish party in a friend's countryside estate. After leaving they encounter three savagely violent men who dramatically beat him and horrifically gang-rape her. After surviving this terrifying encounter, the traumatized couple stay together - quite possibly to support each other after the ordeal. The female really needs to enact some revenge upon them while the man is content to move on - even with one of his eyes severely damaged. After she finds out who and where they are - she utilizes a rifle that her father gave her - eventually convincing him to go with her although they really have no formal game plan.

What really transpires is that human truths become exposed as both protagonists flip-flop their vengeful intentions in the midst of seeking just punishment on their perpetrators. I found it memorable in the same way as Lucile Hadzihalilovic's excellent Innocence. Strange unexplained circumstances transpire and your imagination the is left to fill in the gaps. Also the ending is kind of abrupt and unsatisfying but this too adds to the films mystique. Another film it bears comparison to is Peckinpah's violent and unforgettable Straw Dogs. I appreciated that Closure was no where near as violent and exploitive as it could have been but unfortunately this will be utilized in its manner of sale. A shame because it has unique merits despite ending up with very little insight into the human condition that it exposes. It just is - confirming its inherent sadness and negative outlook.

Gary W. Tooze

Poster

Theatrical Release: April 27th, 2007

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DVD Review: Sony - Region 1,3 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Sony Pictures - Region 1,3 - NTSC
Runtime	1:19:45
Video	1.78:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.41 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	English, French, Chinese, Spanish, Korean, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Sony Home Video Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.78:1 Edition Details: • 11 Previews DVD Release Date: September 18th, 2007 Keep Case Chapters: 12

Comments:

A very stingy Sony DVD - single-layered (3.69 Gig!) and bare bones. It is anamorphic and progressive and the image quality as somewhat weak probably is very similar to how it was frugal Indie roots. Rather dim with dullish colors. The 5.1 audio is unremarkable and untested but close, I'll wager, to the way it was produced. Set to sell to in parts of Asian and South America - it has an optional English, French, Spanish, Chinese or Korean subtitles. Good news again that I don't see excessive manipulation and the image is fairly clean.

No extras save some Sony previews of many horror and gore films. The DVD inferiorities didn't take away from my enjoyment of the film. But the final comment is that it is pricey for the quality of the disc you are getting. So although we don't recommend the DVD itself I do suggest some may like the film.

Gary W. Tooze

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