While viewers can see red flags all over the place, such as Anna’s creepy boyfriend Mike (Theo Rossi), the Taylors eagerly invite Anna into their lives. when the police are called to a domestic dispute involving Mike and Anna, the Taylors quickly invite Anna to live in their guest house, in an effort to protect their unborn child. What could go wrong? As anyone who’s ever watched an exotic thriller knows, everything goes wrong.
When the Bough Breaks does attempt to shake up the standard formula by inserting Mike into the story, but without revealing specifics, since viewers can easily choreograph the limited angle his character brings to the table, overall, his inclusion doesn’t do much to improve the story. Meanwhile, since the trailer makes it plain that Anna is trying to seduce John Taylor, the importance (or lack of) of Mike’s presence is already set. By the time the investigators shows up to reveal the extent of Anna’s psycho behavior, Mike has become irrelevant and the countdown to a climactic scene has begun.
When the Bough Breaks offers nothing in terms of surprises. Watching it, I could help but think that this is a film that just as easily could have been made for Lifetime or USA Network. in fairness, though modest, the films $10 million budget did allow for strong production values. It’s also worth noting that When the Bough Breaks likely pushed the boundaries of its PG-13 rating, with one rather gory shot and several naked backs.
Performances are good across the board. Morris Chestnut really deserves to be in better films. Despite, the middling material, it’s obvious throughout that Chestnut is fully engaged in portraying John Taylor. Chestnut does the suave husband thing well! Jaz Sinclair is impressive as the psychotic Anna, handling the swings in personality very well. The only Rossi is terrifically terrifying as Anna’s boyfriend, he looks dangerous front the moment he appears on screen and never That’s pretty much it. When the Bough Breaks isn’t a terrible film, it’s just there, offering nothing new, or exciting. If you’re a fan of any of the actors involved give it a look, if not don’t bother.
Shot digitally and presented in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio, this attractive 1080p transfer. Shot digitally, the image is sharp but never glossy. The level of detail is both impressive and precise, allowing for the appearance of fine textures and facial features. colors are brilliant throughout and black levels are deep. Nighttime scenes are a standout, showcasing a nice level of shadow detail. Faces are realistic. The film itself may have serious flaws but the Blu-ray transfer is stunning.
The DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack delivers the film well. The dialogue, music and limited atmospheric are largely front speaker based. The surrounds come into play during rain and thunder. The driving rain really pops! Otherwise, this is a fairly modest sound. Dialogue is clean and clear throughout.
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Danish, Estonian, Finnish, Korean, Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Russian, Swedish and Thai subtitles are included.
The following extras are available:
- Audio Commentary: Director Jon Cassar, Writer Jack Olsen, & Actress Jaz Sinclair deliver a surprisingly informative commentary, discussing the writing process, fleshing out the characters, the plot, piecing the movie together, shooting in New Orleans, character motivations, dramatic tension and more.
- The Haves & The Have Nots (HD, 7:48) A brief look at the plot, characters, and performances. Much of this material is covered in the audio commentary.
- Deleted Scenes (HD, 17:59 total) Sexy Chef, John Needs Doctors Advice, “Maybe Baby” John/Laura Love Scene, Party Preparation, Anna Seduces John, Anna Has a New Boyfriend, Driving Anna Home, Anna Hides Her Undies and Girls Talk Future Plans.
- Ultraviolet.
