Plot: What’s it about?
Making movies about serial killers has almost become a cliche’. There are so many and very few are even worth the price of admission. However, Jennifer 8 is one that I believe to be worth just that. Jennifer 8 is the story of a homicide detective, John Berlin (Andy Garcia), who comes across a case that leads him into something that he doesn’t expect. While on his first assignment at his new location (he had just transferred up from Los Angeles to the Pacific Northwest) he finds a hand that he later believes is related to a series of killings with the code name “Jennifer”. At first John’s actions are considered somewhat of a revelation, with someone new trying to break a case that had stumped so many other officers only a few years earlier. There is some dissent, though, about his decision to reopen the investigation.
Lance Henriksen (TV’s Millenium) plays John’s good friend and fellow officer Freddy Ross. It was Freddy who was John’s first sergeant when he first joined the force, so John is immune to the constant barking and ordering that Freddy is so used to putting out. Understanding, yet tough, Ross reluctantly goes along with John’s continuing investigation of the Jennifer case. It’s not until that we meet Helena (Uma Thurman) that thing start to get interesting. Helena is the witness in the Jennifer case, but she’s blind. I was a bit suprised, but Thurman plays a very convincing blind woman, and she was great in this role.
Ultimately, things spiral into a maze of red tape and corruption, and with murders happening to key members of the cast, it’s John himself who ends up being accused of the murders! Also worth mentioning is the appearance of John Malkovich, but his stint is brief and could have been easliy played by another actor. Still, though, it’s good to see him in this movie and I think it brings the whole movie up a notch or two. While there are movies that are very similar to Jennifer 8, I think this one stands out as being one of the better movies of it’s class. Andy Garcia, who isn’t in a lot these days plays the character convincingly and the supporting cast is great in their roles as well.
Video: How does it look?
Jennifer 8 is presented in an anamorphic 1.85:1 image that looks great, but has some setbacks. The movie is very dark, and not just in subject matter (though it’s dark there as well). There are some scenes that look almost too dark, and I’ve seen some other sites comment on this as well. I saw the movie in theaters so long ago, I’m not sure if that was the director’s intent of not. Considering that the film is enhanced for 16:9 TV’s, that means a new digital transfer was done for the DVD, so you have to assume that this is the closest thing to what was meant to be seen. Still, all the rest of the video is amazing and it’s another, in what is fastly becoming, my favorite studio for DVD’s.
Audio: How does it sound?
A remastered Dolby Digital 5.1 track is used and there is also an option for a Dolby Surround track as well. The sound is very, very good. The opening scene with the rain sounds great and the directional effects throughout the movie are very well placed and do the job. For a soundtrack that’s 8 years old, this one sounds pretty darn good.
Supplements: What are the extras?
There is a theatrical trailer included.
