PANIC ROOM

The theatrical trailer for “PANIC ROOM” scared this reviewer away.  Sure, it had the definite imprint of director David Fincher’s visual style all over it, but the actual “plot”, relating to a woman being trapped in her own panic room, while thieves try to get to her, seemed incredibly stupid.

However, having finally viewed the film on the new “SUPERBITS” COLUMBIA TRISTAR release, it is highly recommended!  Jodie Foster plays a divorced mom, who has just bought an expensive three-story home in New York.  Beside the fact that the home is incredibly luxurious, it comes with its own “PANIC ROOM”.  A “Panic Room” is a safe haven for the owners to hide in, if there’s ever a break-in, to thwart off rape, robbery, or worse.  It comes with its own phone-line, ventilation system, television monitors and more.  However, after three thugs break into the house and Foster and her daughter take refuge in the room, they quickly realize the thieves are after something that’s “in” the panic room, and they’re not going to give up until they make it in.
The acting is fine, and the story, while predictable, is still entertaining.  It is entirely due to Fincher’s direction, however, that the film works and thrills as well as it does!  Almost every frame is incredible to watch.  The camera moves about the house in a hypnotic, edge-of-the-seat manner, and the tension created from the beginning to the end, is real!  This is a nail-biter!
The only real complaint has to do with the film’s conclusion, which is partially anti-climatic, and the epilogue, which is useless!
COLUMBIS TRISTAR has released the film with its proper 2.40:1 aspect ratio, and it’s an absolute necessity to watch the film with its full dimensions.  Every part of the composition is well thought out.
The transfer looks sharp, however it’s hard to qualify the color values, because Fincher has intentionally desaturated them in order to achieve the dark look he made famous in his earlier masterpiece, “Se7en”.  Colors are decent, but they’re never vibrant. Fleshtones appear natural, and the contrast is flawless.  The blacks and grays are perfectly discernible, and in a film this dark, this is no small feat!

COLUMBIA TRISTAR has presented this release with both Dolby Digital 5.1 “and” DTS 5.1 as an option.  The soundmix is of demonstration quality!  While there is little in the way of subtle effects, when something “big” is about to happen, the audience is immediately and effectively immersed in a 360 degree environment, wherein the music, sound effects, and dialogue are creatively utilized.
Both mixes are impressive, but the DTS is clearly the better of the two.  The DTS offers more distinction of the surround effects. The teaser trailer is included.