'Rats!' Blu-Ray Review - An Absurd Dose Of Unhinged, Cringe Comedy
Texas, 2007: Emo-kid Raphael is in jail following an arrest for graffiti. He's a good guy. It's just graffiti. So you can't blame him for the events after his arrest. He's not responsible for the sting operation, the severed hands, the FBI, Larry the pig, the plutonium deal gone wrong, or anyone who may die due to that deal turning sour. None of it is Raphael's fault, but it is his problem.
For in-depth thoughts on Rats!, please see my colleague Anya Couture's review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
Rats! makes its Blu-Ray debut with a largely solid 1080p video presentation that seemingly represents the source accurately. The image is chaotic yet clear with a textured quality bursting with a bold color palette saturating the screen. The film deploys some vivid colors in the world and clothing which delivers a very striking image. The interior of the houses and the suburban locales provide stunning, occasionally grotesque details. The presentation displays a notable amount of depth while exploring each location. Black levels reveal subtle signs of banding in some of the shadowy corners, but largely they maintain their depth. We did spot some macroblocking during the memorable bathroom brawl. Skin tones are natural with a favorable amount of detail present in close-ups such as fine lines, perspiration, and makeup. This Blu-Ray holds up well enough.
Audio Quality
Yellow Veil Pictures gives this Blu-Ray a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that realizes all of the sonic details without fail. One of the standout aspects of this experience is the punk music that establishes the overall vibes of the pictures. Every song is mixed into the movie well while maintaining absolute fidelity. The absurd dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being overshadowed by any competing sounds. The nuanced sound design makes the world feel full of life. Numerous distinct ambient details flesh out the setting. There are a few key moments that engage the low end such as gunfire and general brawling. You get a lot of texture during this viewing experience. Environmental sounds engage the surround speakers in pleasing ways. The audio track brings this narrative to life exactly as intended. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.
Special Features
Audio Commentary:
Rather than provide a feature-length commentary track, the creative figures behind the film gather to reveal the secrets behind filming key scenes from the movie.
Director's Cummentary Part 1: MILFs, DILFs, & KILFs (4:34)
Director's Cummentary Part 2: Cummunity Pay Back (5:43)
Director's Cummentary Part 3: He's Missing His… Höns?! (3:54)
I LOVE SELLING CRACK: TYBG (two broke boys can't afford fee$) Music Video (1:32)
Pre-Cum – Behind the Fiends Pre-Pro-quo:
A nearly eight-minute video that details the road to hiring cast and crew to work on the project.
Post-Nut Clarity – Deleted Scenes, Blumpkins, & More:
A 13-minute collection of unused moments from the shoot that are just as absurd as anything in the final cut.
Larry Bathes Himself on the Set of Rats (a glorious hog in his prime):
A 50-second video of the large hog rolling around in a baby pool.
WITH PLEASURE (ruh roh shadow-banned!) (Short Film):
An eight-minute short film that explores the exploits inside a burlesque bar.
Booklet:
A multi-page booklet featuring the essay 'Embrace Cringe' from writer Justine Smith is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis of the creative figures.
Final Thoughts
Rats! feels like reality turned up to 11. Just when you feel as if you are settling into a familiar narrative path, the movie throws you for a loop with a healthy dose of absurdism that is equal parts baffling and hilarious. By virtue of what this film is, there are going to be plenty of polarizing responses to how this all unfolds. If you appreciate an Adult Swim ethos or cringe comedy in your filmmaking, you will probably have a good time here. Yellow Veil Pictures has released a Blu-Ray featuring a nice A/V presentation and a valuable assortment of special features. Recommended
Rats! is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Yellow Veil Pictures and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
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