• Avail: Now
• Distributed by: Warner Home Video
• Run Time: 117 minutes

Hey folks, Valkor here. To say that Mel Gibson is a great actor in an understatement; is he a genius? Maybe that's a bit much? But put him in a role of a wide assortment of any number of different characters and he'll nail it. Ransom, The Road Warrior, Conspiracy Theory, Lethal Weapon all great films all blessed with the power of Mel. And if you haven't seen Edge of Darkness – then you don't know what you're missing because this has got to be one of Mel's best performances by far.

The Story

Edge of Darkness pits Mel in the role of Thomas Craven, a father who lost his daughter Emma Craven (Bojana Novakovic), in what was first thought to be a vindictive attack against him, turns out it's so much more than that. He'll track down clues, interrogate those close to his daughter – friends, associates, which will ultimately lead to laboratory where she interned, called North Moor. What secrets held within this company could be so great that it not only caused the death of Emma, but three others whom she helped and causes a father to track down her killer(s) with extreme prejudice.

Edge of Darkness is one suspenseful, edge of your sit whodunit that locks you in from the get go and doesn't let go until the climatic conclusion. This is the kind of film that starts out small and explodes to something bigger. And that's just the way I like it. I'm not a big fan of the pacing, which is a bit slow, but the film breaks that up nicely with some explosive moments that if you should happen to be nodding off, it will perk you right up! Even though Mel plays a cop, it's not a wacky cop we're used to. Actually he's quite reserved in this film. Just when you think he'll start to flip out, he doesn't. He maintains the films seriousness from start to finish. I also enjoyed the work of Ray Winstone as Jedburgh. Just whose side is this guy on anyway? He's mellow and very smooth, having him on screen is definitely the film's bright spot and he plays well against Mel's angst ridden character.

Audio/Video

The film is presented in 16X9 2.4:1, in full 1080p Hi-def. Visually, images are crystal clear and very sharp; in some areas maybe a little too sharp? It's just a minor distraction, but very noticeable. Audio we have DTS-HD 5.1, dolby digital French dub, and 5.1 Spanish (Castillian and Latin). Sounds are excellent with everything well balanced with just the right amount of bass and treble. Plus your speakers will explode at all the jolting moments. Trust me, you will jump.

The Extras:

First and foremost the Blu Ray is a combo pack that contains the BD disc, a DVD of the film and a digital download so you're covered no matter the situation. Next up you have "Mel's Back", which takes a look at his return to acting and what he brings to the role of Thomas Craven.

"Revisiting Edge of Darkness Mini Series" takes a very brief look at the BBC original mini-series the film is based on and what went into the production. It's cool to learn that the BBC had little to no input in the series. Definitely check it out.

"Edge of Your Seat" takes a look at the action moments of the film.

You also have "Boston as a Character", "Director Profile:: Martin Campbell", "Making a Ghost Character Real", and more.

Edge of Darkness is definitely a film you don't wanna miss. And whether it's the Blu Ray or the DVD, either way you can't lose with this one; truly one of Mel's finest performance in a great film. And out of TOV 5 stars I give Edge of Darkness 5 stars perfect. (The combo pack, highly recommend it!)

Valkor out!

Email: valkor@the-other-view.com