THE MIDNIGHT SWIM Blu-ray review

Yellow Veil Pictures has released a brand spanking new special edition Blu-ray of Sarah Adina Smith’s acclaimed debut feature THE MIDNIGHT SWIM. The film is told from the point of view of June, a documentary filmmaker recording a trip to Lake Spirit with her sisters. The brood has left for the scenic locale under mysterious circumstances, their mother has gone missing after diving in the lake.

While June is mostly a silent observer we are given some insight to her mental state through the images she captures, the things she chooses to focus on, and how her subjects react to her. Its a subtle but surprisingly effective device. I've seen plenty of films told through the vantage point of an unreliable narrator but this might be the first time I've seen an unreliable observers story

THE MIDNIGHT SWIM has been floating (I thought about rephrasing that "floating" bit to avoid an unintentional pun, but I'm a week behind schedule and committed to publishing this today) around in the back of my mind for the last 7 or 8 years since I initially saw it back in 2014. The film is peppered with beautifully haunting imagery that will burn itself onto your psyche, like a projection television screen left on a paused image for too long.

Smith crafted a bare bones psychological thriller more concerned with emotional honesty than narrative clarity. So while it might not always be clear exactly what is happening we are given time to consider why. Those are the real magic tricks behind the success of THE MIDNIGHT SWIM, the lingering questions that an audience will be left to consider. Ambiguity can be a powerful device when it feels like a narrative choice.

With new artwork designed by celebrated Polish poster artist, and frequent Yellow Veil collaborator, Aleksander Walijlewski, the new home video edition will include the following bonus and special features:

Commentary with Sarah Adina Smith, Aleksa Palladino, Lindsay Burdge, Jennifer Lafleur, and Ross Patridge.
Sarah Adina Smith’s 2009 short THE SIRENS
Sarah Adina Smith’s 2007 never-before-seen short THE PHOENIX AND THE TURTLE
Special Featurette: THE THREE SISTERS; A look back at THE MIDNIGHT SWIM with Sarah Adina Smith
Limited Edition Booklet Featuring:
Never before seen THE MIDNIGHT SWIM artwork drawn by Sarah Adina Smith
Essay from film critic Justine Smith.
Essay from culture writer Nicole Cliffe.
Reversible cover art and slipcover by Aleksander Walijewski
Theatrical Trailer
English Subtitles

MULHOLLAND DRIVE Ending Explained

MULHOLLAND DRIVE is a complex and surreal film directed by David Lynch, known for its non-linear narrative and dreamlike sequences. The ending is open to interpretation and has been the subject of much debate among viewers. Here's a breakdown of the ending: Diane's Dream vs. Reality: Throughout the film, there are two main narrative threads: one follows Betty/Diane's dreamlike experiences in Hollywood, and the other delves into Diane's harsh reality. The ending reveals that the majority of the film has been a dream constructed by Diane Selwyn, a failed actress, as a means to escape the guilt and pain of her actions. Betty/Diane's Descent into Madness: Betty, played by Naomi Watts, represents Diane's idealized self—a hopeful and innocent aspiring actress. However, as the film progresses, it becomes clear that Betty's story is unraveling, and her identity begins to merge with Diane's. This culminates in the revelation that Betty is merely a construct of Di...

Final Destination Bloodlines Set to Bring Fresh Horrors to the Franchise

The long-running and fan-favorite horror series Final Destination is set to make its return with Final Destination Bloodlines, bringing a new chapter of supernatural terror to the big screen. Scheduled for a theatrical and IMAX release on May 16, 2025, in the U.S. (and internationally beginning May 14), the film promises to continue the franchise’s tradition of chilling premonitions and inescapable fate. The upcoming installment features a fresh ensemble cast, including Kaitlyn Santa Juana (The Friendship Game, The Flash), Teo Briones (Chucky, Will vs. The Future), Richard Harmon (The 100, The Age of Adaline), Owen Patrick Joyner (Julie and the Phantoms, 100 Things to Do Before High School), and Anna Lore (They/Them, Gotham Knights). Also joining the cast are Brec Bassinger (Stargirl, Bella and the Bulldogs) and horror icon Tony Todd, who reprises his role from the original Final Destination films. Todd, best known for his chilling portrayal of the titular character in the Candyman fra...

Blu-ray Review: Presence

Steven Soderbergh’s Presence is not just a ghost story—it’s a deeply personal, introspective, and stylistically daring supernatural thriller that stands out for its bold use of perspective and moral depth. Shot entirely from the first-person point of view of a spirit, the film immerses the viewer into the consciousness of an unseen entity navigating a family’s domestic unraveling. It’s not only a technical experiment, but a story with emotional weight, subtle revelations, and a chilling undercurrent of tragedy. Premiering at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and released by Neon in early 2025, Presence has become a sleeper hit, earning $10.5 million on a modest $2 million budget. Directed, shot, and edited by Soderbergh, with a script from veteran screenwriter David Koepp, the film offers an experience that is simultaneously eerie, emotionally nuanced, and structurally inventive. From the very first frame, Presence makes its unique perspective clear. The camera doesn’t merely observ...

FOLLOWING FILMS

Search This Blog