Reviewed by Chris Eberle

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Synopsis

Five young up-and-coming married men decide to indulge their extra-marital fantasies by purchasing a loft apartment to use as a private getaway. All seems to be going smoothly until one morning they discover a dead woman in the bed with no idea how she got there. The finger-pointing begins as all of them search their memories to find out the woman’s identity and which members of the group knew her. As the past begins to unfold, it turns out every man has a secret that he’s trying desperately to keep hidden. Eventually one of the group, Vincent, is charged with murder. But did he commit the crime or is he being set up as he claims?

Specifications

  • Universal
  • 2014, Color, Rated R, 1 Hrs 43 mins
  • 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, 2.40:1 Aspect Ratio
  • Starring: Karl Urban, James Marsden, Wentworth Miller
  • Directed by Erik Van Looy

Rating

  • Entertainment:
  • Video:
  • Audio:
  • Extras:
  • Violence: Yes
  • Sex: Yes
  • Language: Yes

Commentary

If you can get around the absolutely deplorable behavior of the five main characters, this is an OK thriller; or perhaps it’s better described as a whodunit. Told in a series of flashbacks, the action starts right away with a body falling from a balcony and the shocking discovery of a bloody corpse in a bed previously only used for pleasure. The five main actors are all decent but they have to try hard to make the best of a poor script. Much of the story is predictable but there just enough twists in the plot to keep it going. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the story takes a sudden turn with a bit of new information. It all comes together in the end but you have to follow the flashbacks closely to keep everything straight.

The sexual aspect of the film is handled tastefully with little nudity and intimate scenes shot in soft focus. The main thing that keeps The Loft in the adult realm is the subject matter. These five guys are completely disrespectful to their wives and only fear getting caught. I thought their conversations about women were akin to frat-house humor and completely devoid of intelligence or tact. By the time you’re twenty minutes into the film, you’ll think they’re getting what they deserve. At least there is some mystery to this movie but I can’t imagine watching it more than once; definitely rent before adding this one to your library.

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Technical

The image is sharp and detailed with excellent contrast. My only beef is the color representation is a bit unnatural. Scenes that should be cooler like the loft’s interior are oddly warm. And outdoor material looks a bit flat and under-saturated.

Audio is crisp and clear with a wide soundstage and just enough surround information to create a sense of depth. Some of the dialog is obviously over-dubbed and at times reminded me of a quickly-edited television show.

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Extras

There are no bonus features included in this release. My package included both DVD and Blu-ray discs plus a digital copy accessible through Ultraviolet.

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