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The Outsider Season 1 Blu-ray Review

“The Outsider” is another quality Stephen King adaptation. 

“Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this blog post. The opinions I share are my own.”

Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, the Georgia set 10 episode HBO series/miniseries “The Outsider” isn’t exactly light material. The story begins with the reveal that a respected Little League coach (Terry Maitland) is under arrest for the murder of a child. There’s clear evidence that he was responsible but there’s also clear evidence that he was nowhere near the sign of the crime. Thus begins an investigation that becomes more disturbing and sinister as it unfolds. Those investigating the murder (Detective Ralph Anderson and later Detective Jack Hoskins and the brilliant but eccentric investigator Holly Gibney) find themselves being led down a dark path involving a hooded figure, lookalikes, deadly scratches, cases of other child murders identical to Terry’s, and perhaps something supernatural. Who is the real murderer and can he, she, or it be stopped?

There’s no question that Stephen King properties have become hot commodities in film and television and “The Outsider” is but one of the more recent releases. This miniseries/debut season (there are rumors of potentially more seasons) is what some might consider a slow burn series. Admittedly, there is some sluggish pacing as the series does bide its times before dropping a bombshell moment. Additionally, I truly think this would have worked better as an 8 episode season/series instead of 10 as it would have tightened the pacing considerably. Regardless, this is still a gripping, unnerving, and tense horror drama that pays off in the end AND skillfully juggles multiple genres. I liked that it’s a part police procedural, a murder mystery, a story of a family that has been broken, and a supernatural thriller. Perhaps the most intriguing thing about it though is that it feels grounded despite having some very abnormal situations. I like the notion of a supernatural series set in the real world in which people scoff at the concept that things beyond their explanation are happening. Not only does it make it more believable in a sense, but it also makes it more chilling in that these characters are coming across something they never thought would be real. What that thing is I will not say as I’m not going to spoil the surprises within this series. 

Although there are certainly main characters, “The Outsider” is a bit of an ensemble piece with some truly noteworthy performances. Jason Bateman has a small role, but the actor once again continues to show his range (he also directs the first 2 episodes). Ben Mendelsohn continues to be one of the most fascinating actors to watch. The real highlight here though is Cynthia Erivo who steals the entire show with a mindblowing performance that grabs your attention immediately. The series is worth watching for her alone. 

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.00:1 1080p. How does it look? Expect a deeply impressive hi-def transfer of the episodes.

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? The 5.1 track is effective in all the right ways. 

Extras:
* Digital copy
* “Invitation To The Set”- A VERY brief extra featuring interviews, show clips, and set footage.
* “Jason Bateman On The Outsider”- Like the title says
* “The Outsider: Inside Episodes 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5, 6 and 7, and 8, 9, and 10 “- A series of 4 featurettes that explore the characters and storylines within the episodes of the series via interviews.
* “Stephen King And The Outsider”-Stephen King and cast and crew members talk about “The Outsider.” Some of these clips are recycled from above extras.
* “Adapting The Outsider”- A featurette about adapting the book to the small screen.
* “El Cuco. The Baba Yaga. The Outsider.”- A featurette on the creature mythology
* “Amazing Holly Gibney”- A featurette on the great character

July 24, 2020 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Ben Mendelsohn, Cynthia Erivo, HBO, horror, Jason Bateman, Stephen King, The Outsider Season 1 Blu-ray Review, The Outsider Series