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Songbird Blu-ray Review

“Songbird” truly is tone deaf.

Directed by Adam Mason and written by Mason and Simon Boyes, “Songbird” is a thriller set during a pandemic that was made during the pandemic. This movie, however, is about a virus named Covid-23 that has turned Los Angeles into a post-apocalyptic nightmare. Anyone that is infected is forcibly taken to the Q-Zone (a vile quarantine zone). Some people are immune though including the main character Nico (a bike courier). Nico has a girlfriend (Sara) that he can’t meet, but he decides to risk it all for her when Sara’s Lita becomes infected. Now, Nico has to find a way to get a black market Immunity bracelet for Sara to save her from going to the Q-Zone. The romantic story isn’t the only plot here as there are interconnected character arcs involving a war veteran/drone flyer (Michael), a wannabe singer who has to do some unsavory things to make a living (May), a family (William, Piper and Emma) that is drifting apart and working in the black market immunity bracelet business, and a corrupt Department of Sanitation head (Emmett).

The words “Produced By Michael Bay” probably tell you everything you need to know about this movie. It’s full of quick cuts, a fast pace, action, handheld camera work, and mind numbing plotting. It’s also shamelessly exploitive and downright tone deaf entertainment. Creating a pandemic movie about hope and survival is one thing, but making a pandemic thriller that contains excessive violence, human monsters, and plots about cheating the system is something else. As absurd as the movie is though, I will say it is a tight 86 minute “race against time” movie. It’s certainly never boring. It’s just baffling from a creative standpoint.

Somehow, the movie contains quite the cast as it stars KJ Apa, Sofia Carson, Demi Moore, Craig Robinson, Paul Walter Hauser, Alexandra Daddario, Peter Stormare and Bradley Whitford. KJ Apa of “Riverdale” fame does a good job leading the movie here and is undoubtedly the highlight. Moore, Carson, Daddario, Robinson and Walter Hauser are fine in their roles, but their characterization is pretty limited. I’m not sure what movies Peter Stormare and Bradley Whitford are in, but boy do they chew the scenery. 

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 1080p. How does it look? The shaky cam cinematography may not be the most appealing thing to look at, but the transfer is solid nonetheless.

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? This 5.1 track delivers the goods. 

Extras:
* 18 deleted scenes with optional commentary by Adam Mason
* Commentary by Adam Mason and Simon Boyes
* A “Kingdom” promo video and a making of the video for “Kingdom.”
* “The Story Of Songbird”- An in-depth 44 minute featurette on the making of the movie and making a pandemic movie during a pandemic. Interviews with cast and crew members are included.
* Digital copy 

March 16, 2021 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Demi Moore, KJ Apa, Michael Bay, Pandemic Movie, Songbird Blu-ray Review