Extracted (2012)

This review is sponsored by

BUY IT

General		Extras
Category	Thriller	Trailer-a raft of trailers for Accent Entertainment releases
Rating
Year Of Production	2012
Running Time	85:29
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Ads Then Menu
Region Coding	1,2,3,4,5,6	Directed By	Nir Paniry
Studio Distributor	Accent Film Entertainment	Starring	Sasha Roiz Jenny Mollen Dominic Bogart Richard Riehle Nick Jameson Rodney Eastman
Case	Amaray-Opaque
RPI	?	Music	Tim Ziesmer

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 5.1 (384Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	2.35:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	2.35:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	None	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     Engineer Tom Jacobs (Sasha Roiz) invents a program and machine that will allow a person to watch another’s memories: he intends that the invention may allow people in trauma to revisit memories, and thus aid recovery. Tom, however, is unable to get funding for his invention until the Justice Department become interested. They demand a trial; drug addict Anthony (Dominic Bogart) has been arrested for shooting dead his girlfriend Adrienne (Augie Duke) but maintains that he blacked out and cannot remember the incident. Although the machine is not fully tested, and over the objections of Tom’s pregnant wife Abbey (Jenny Mollen), Tom agrees to the trial. He is able to enter Anthony’s memories and revisit the crime scene, but the evidence is inconclusive. Then when Tom tries to extract himself from Anthony’s memories, a glitch in the program results in him becoming trapped in Anthony’s mind. All that is left for Abbey is Tom’s unconscious body.

     For four years and two months Tom remains within Anthony’s memories, unable to get out or to communicate with Abbey. He then discovers what may be a way out; in certain circumstances he is able to see and to communicate with Anthony, and visa versa. But to get back to Abbey he needs Anthony’s cooperation and Anthony is not convinced that he murdered Adrienne and has his own conditions before he will help Tom. The result is a chase to discover the truth through Anthony’s memories; but just how reliable are memories?

     The above synopsis may make it seem that Extracted is straightforward, but in reality the film is anything but for Extracted has a well-constructed, non-linear structure. At the start we see Tom trapped in a sort of limbo; we do not know what is happening and the plot is revealed gradually through memory flashbacks, both Tom’s and Anthony’s. Extracted is basically a two hander, the focus on the developing relationship between Tom and Anthony, and the film is well served by Sasha Roiz and Dominic Bogart, who both give excellent performances. Extracted builds good tension and there are a number of twists that do not take the film quite where expected, as gradually the truth about the death of Adrienne is revealed. The ending does make sense, something that does not always occur in films of this genre. The result is an intriguing film based on an interesting premise that mostly works fine.

     Extracted is well worth watching. It has an interesting premise, the plot is well developed and the acting good. Written and directed by Nir Paniry, whose first feature this is, this low budget independent film is definitely worth seeking out.

Video

     Extracted is presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and is 16x9 enhanced. The original ratio is not listed in the IMDb, but 2.35:1 looks right.

     Extracted is a low budget film shot using Red One digital cameras. The scenes use mostly hand held cameras, and evince a lot of swaying and motion, even in dialogue scenes.

     The print is generally sharp and finely detailed, with good definition of faces in close-up. Colours are mixed, but deliberately so. Flashback “memory” sequences have nice natural, quite rich colours, while scenes of Tom trapped within the machine are much more muted. Blacks are mostly good and shadow detail fine, brightness, contract and skin tones natural and consistent.

     The print shows frequent blurring with motion and some aliasing. Perhaps the most noticeable artefact is at 29:59 where the grey background wall is mottled. There are no marks.

     There are no subtitles.

     I did find the swaying camera annoying and unnecessary, but that may be me. Otherwise, an acceptable print for a low budget film.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     Audio is an English Dolby Digital 5.1 track at 384 Kbps.

     Dialogue is mostly clear although there are instances when the two main male actors mumble and can be hard to hear. The surrounds were not overused, but did kick in with music and effects. The sub-woofer added some appropriate bass.

     The original music by Tim Ziesmer was effective and did not draw attention to itself.

     Lip synchronisation is fine.

     The audio track did what was required.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Trailers

     On start-up there were trailers for Hello I Must Be Going, Absentia, (Privacy), Plasma Ex Machina and Falling Overnight that collectively run 10:13. A total of 30 trailers of Accent Film Entertainment releases can be selected from the menu - some, but not all, of the start-up trailers are repeated- and we do get a trailer for Extracted included. There is a “play all” option.

     Extracted was the original title of the film; the IMDb gives the amended title as Extraction and it is by this name that the Region 2 UK release is listed. However, it is not available until September 2013. There is no Region 1 US release listed for release. A win for Region 4.

     How reliable are memories? Extracted has an interesting premise, the plot is well constructed and the acting good. This low budget independent film is definitely worth seeking out.

     The video is OK and reflects the film’s low budget origins, the audio is good. A raft of trailers is the only extra.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall