Plot: What’s it about?
Maya Larkin (Winona Ryder) was possessed by a demon when she was young, but now she finds herself on the outside of that situation, as she serves as an assistant to two priests. The two men of cloth (Elias Koteas and John Hurt) are trying to perform an exorcism on a man at a mental hospital, but Maya thinks this is no normal exorcism. She is of that opinion because in the man’s room, she finds a wealth of numbers written down and while at first glance they seem random, Maya feels there is a method to this madness. Within the patterns of numbers, Maya discovers a hidden truth and if the code is correct, then Satan will soon surface and take a human form. This form happens to be novelist Peter Kelson (Ben Chaplin), who Maya feels she must warn and then convince to do whatever is needed to avert the situation. But with little support from anyone, even the churches, Maya has to prevent the unthinkable, all while the fate of her world hangs in the balance.
This movie was held back for some time prior to release, but managed to hit theaters just in time to be ignored by the masses. I like these end of the world supernatural thrillers, so I checked out Lost Souls and liked what I saw. I also thought Bless The Child and End of Days were decent genre pictures also though, while critics and mainstream audiences panned them. I suppose I went in expecting a decent movie and that’s what I got, while others were waiting for a modern classic to be shown to them. If you’re a fan of these kinds of movies, then I suggest you ignore people and check these out for yourself, as you never really know until you do, right? Lost Souls has a stunning visual atmosphere, which is a good element to have in a supernatural thriller, as well as some cool eerie sequences that drive home the chills. Winona Ryder heads a decent cast here, which also includes Elias Koteas, Ben Chaplin, and Philip Baker Hall, all of whom seem in fine form. This movie is well worth a rental for genre fans, so if you’re interested, ignore the critics and judge for yourself.
Video: How’s it look?
Originally released by New Line way back in the early 2000’s, Lost Souls has the benefit of “waiting” a couple of decades for its Blu-ray release. This film has a visual presence unlike the normal transfers we see, so while there is some grain present and colors seem muted, it’s all good in this case. So while the grain and lack of color could seem strange, rest assured this is how the film was meant to look. The colors are present, but dulled down a lot for visual’s sake, so don’t expect deep reds or lush greens here. I saw no problems with the contrast either, which is tweaked and balanced to fall into line also. This one might seem a little rough, but that’s the intended visual style and once again, Shout!Factory has provided a superb visual presentation.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The audio here is more along the beaten path, with a pretty by-the-book DTS HD Master Audio mix. The surrounds are used to effective ends, but not always in an obvious fashion, as subtle audio seems to rule this mix. The musical score is well treated also, with a rich and immersive presence throughout the running time. I heard no problems in terms of dialogue either, as the vocals were clean and crisp from start to finish. This one contains not one, but two superb audio tracks and whichever format you prefer, you’re covered with this release. You’ll also find a 2.0 surround track included here, as well as English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Shout!Factory seems to have kept all of the supplements from the previously-released DVD.
- Audio Commentary – You can listen to an audio commentary track with director Janusz Kaminski, who is joined by director of photography Mauro Fiore. The two discuss a lot of technical issues in this track, but also branch into other topics as well. I do think this track will be too dull for most folks, but those interested in the technical side will want to give this one a spin.
- Deleted Scenes – A selection of ten deleted or alternate scenes (with optional commentary), are worth a look though they add a little to the film’s storyline.
- Theatrical Trailer
The Bottom Line
The term “forgettable movie” is thrown around a lot. And it’s with films like this, it’s clear to see why. While not “bad” in the traditional sense of the word, it’s just forgettable. I commend Shout!Factory on their release of an overlooked title, but this one is for the hard core fans only.
