The Film
It's no wonder that no one wants to talk about Kevin. He's pretty darn creepy. We Need to Talk About Kevin is one of those films that will open up several cans of worms, and possibly make you question every single parental decision you've ever made.
The film opens up post-"incident," with Eva (Tilda Swinton) trying to wrap her mind around her now-teenaged son's high-school killing spree. Besides her own fragile mental state, Eva has the deal with things like getting a job, people punching her randomly on the street, others throwing red paint on her house and car, and just the general staring.
Kevin flips back and forth, from conception to current day. We see Kevin's colicky stage, which he never really seems to get out of, even as a toddler and a teen. Eva isn't exactly mother of the year, either. However, it doesn't seem to justify Kevin pooping his pants to spite mom, destroying Eva's special place, and putting his little sister's pet in the garbage disposal. Of course, all of that pales in comparison to what's coming. See, Kevin isn't just a problem child, he's more of a Chucky -- and only his mom seems to see these things, even as she tries to smile and shower him with motherly love.
The Picture
Kevin is definitely a film that's hard to watch, but that's certainly not because of the way it looks. This is a pretty impressive 2.35:1 presentation all around. Outdoor scenery and the film's many uses of red stand out over the image's strong black levels. Other colors are realistic, but never pop too much, adding to the film's somber tone. There's also a little grain present, but it never takes away from any of the details, which is at its sharpest in the scenery and the close-ups on Tilda Swinton's awe-struck, weathered face.
The Sound
Oscilloscope has included two audio options on this release. The LPCM 2.0 track is nice, but go for the gusto of the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, if you have the means. Despite the film's somber tone and quiet dialogue, this track has a surprising amount of surround to envelope the viewer. Right from the beginning, we have a rapid fire of sprinklers firing across the soundfield. From there, the track is pretty active, with an abundance of ambient noises, including rain, screams, oldies music, and one helluva intense score.
The Extras
It's a crying shame that the clip with Lionel Shriver is not longer or the author doesn't have his own commentary track. Otherwise, We Need to Talk About Kevin has a decent crop of extras, with the most notable being "In Conversation with Tilda Swinton" (who doesn't get enough credit, frankly) and the behind the scenes short.
Final Thoughts
We Need to Talk About Kevin is a movie that can be hard to digest, let alone watch. It's not exactly the type of movie that you'll be clamoring to see, but it's well worth the discomfort. It's a thought-provoking, well-acted film, with a surprisingly impressive Blu-ray.
Product Details
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