Midnight Son - Maya Parish

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by Scott Leberecht
USA 2011

Despite the occasional jittery camera shots preceding something unnatural, the color palette, and some soulful glances between the two protagonists, MIDNIGHT SON isn't so much a retread of the current tiresome glittery emo brand of vampire films; rather, it seems like an attempt at a throwback to the handful of nineties arty-indie vampire films (HABIT, THE GIRL WITH THE HUNGRY EYES, THE ADDICTION) with a side of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN. Suffering from a severe (fiery) allergy to the sun from a young age, twenty-four year old Jacob (Zak Kilberg, THE SLAUGHTER) works the night shift as a security guard; however, he starts to undergo another transformation. He is malnourished no matter how much he eats (until he discovers the taste of animal blood). Human blood doesn't seem to be far behind; that is, if he's responsible for the grisly murder of a woman at his workplace... He finds a supplier for human blood in hospital worker Marcus (Jo D. Jonz, NEXT DAY AIR) but he charges steep prices and the methods with which he procures a fresher supply make Jacob uncomfortable. His increasing cravings also disrupt his relationship with bartender Mary (Maya Parish, LEECHES!), but she's got problems of her own, and Marcus (and his brother Russell [Arlen Escarpeta, FINAL DESTINATION 5]) and a homicide detective (Larry Cedar, THE CRAZIES) are closing in on Jacob as the body count increases.

Eric Cotenas

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Theatrical Release: 2011 (USA)

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DVD Comparison:

Image Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Monster Pictures/Eureka Video - Region 2,4 - NTSC

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for all the Screen Caps!

(Image Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Monster Pictures/Eureka Video - Region 2,4 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Image Entertainment Region 1 - NTSC	Monster Pictures/Eureka Video Region 2,4 - NTSC
Runtime	1:28:06	1:28:00
Video	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.94 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 8.8 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: Image Entertainment
Bitrate: Monster Pictures/Eureka Video
Audio	English Dolby Digital 5.1	English Dolby Digital 5.1; English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
Subtitles	English (CC), none	none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Image Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Audio Commentary by writer/director Scott Leberecht, actor Zak Kilberg, actress Maya Parish, and actor Jo D. Jonz • Deleted Scenes (16:9; 1:57) • Trailer (16:9; 2:26) • Interviews: • - writer/director Scott Leberecht (16:9; 17:46) • - actor Zak Kilberg (16:9; 4:42) • - actress Maya Parish (16:9; 5:01) • - actor Jo D. Jonz (16:9; 5:01) • - cinematographer Lyn Moncrieff (16:9; 8:08) DVD Release Date: 17 July 2012 Amaray Chapters 12	Release Information: Studio: Monster Pictures/Eureka Video Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Audio Commentary by writer/director Scott Leberecht, actor Zak Kilberg, actress Maya Parish, and ac • Deleted Scenes (16:9; 1:54) • U.K. Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 2:26) • Interviews: • - writer/director Scott Leberecht (16:9; 17:42) • - actor Zak Kilberg (16:9; 4:38) • - actress Maya Parish (16:9; 4:57) • - actor Jo D. Jonz (16:9; 4:58) • - cinematographer Lyn Moncrief (16:9; 8:02) • Music Tracks: • - Crystallines (4:31) • - Ritual (4:36) • - The Cavern (5:11) • - Urban Tales (6:20) DVD Release Date: 11 February 2013 Amaray Chapters 12

Comments

Both dual-layer discs offer progressive NTSC transfers that look more or less identical (despite Monster Pictures' slightly higher bitrate) and the 5.1 tracks are identical (Monster Pictures includes a 2.0 downmix as well).

Extra features are identical too - including a pleasant (if a little self-congratulatory) commentary which includes discussion of subtle continuity problems that arose from having to do some additional reshoots a full year after the original production phase. Monster Pictures only offers additional soundtrack cues over the domestic release.

- Eric Cotenas

DVD Menus
(Image Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Monster Pictures/Eureka Video - Region 2,4 - NTSC - RIGHT)