Equals

Set in an Orwellian dystopic future where emotions are genetically eradicated, "Equals" tells the story of two individuals who start to feel. Initially running the film festival gamut before being distributed on DirecTV's video on demand platform and enjoying a brief limited theatrical release, the Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult helmed film is a visually stunning and strikingly stylistic film that translates well to the Blu-Ray format.

After an event called "The Great War," the vast majority of the earth is left uninhabitable. A small population of humans resides within a safe area, and they've culled themselves of all emotion to survive as a collective. However, there's an AIDS-like disease called Switch on Syndrome spreading through the populace making them feel emotions. "Sufferers" of the disease are treated with inhibitors, but when it becomes too advanced, they're sent to the ominous DEN for final treatment. An illustrator, Silas (Hoult), and a writer, Nia (Stewart), discover that they both have S.O.S., and fall in love.

The story is textbook "1984," with a dash of "Romeo and Juliet" thrown in, as well as elements from every other dystopic anti-emotion sci-fi piece of media one can think of (particularly the similarly-titled "Equilibrium"). It takes from the genre without giving back anything new or interesting. This doesn't make for a particularly bad film, but it does result in one that is predictable, derivative and plodding at times. That being said, the performances are the highlight, and the chemistry between Stewart and Hoult is palpable.

To achieve that characteristic "dystopic future" look, the film abuses color correction severely, rendering everything at first impressive, but eventually tiresome, washed-out. It's not a problem with the Blu-Ray format itself, however, and the detail that isn't corrected out is lovely in the format.

The score is minimalistic when it is present, and the film is comprised mainly of long silences. Apart from a few too-loud ambient outdoors sounds, it's crisp and clean.

As for the special features, there is a commentary with director Drake Doremus, the editor and the cinematographer. Additionally, there are three behind the scenes featurettes covering the concept, the experience of filming and the design of the film. The design featurette was the longest and the most impressive, especially when discussing the Japanese college that provided the futuristic location.

Overall, those who think they'd enjoy the film and those who did enjoy the film enough to consider purchasing the Blu-Ray won't be too disappointed. It would have been nice to see some deleted scenes or a cast commentary in addition to the director's commentary, but the featurettes that do accompany the film are fun, and the film itself looks pretty darn good on the Blu-Ray format.

"Enough"
Blu-Ray
$19.99
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