{2jtab: Movie Review}

Two full seasons have passed and finally the characters of Haven are given the chance to really flourish.  All the hidden powers have been revealed and, while more characters are added, there’s a certain confidence that kick starts its Third Season; a confidence that had been missing as the Second Season began to wind down.  And the show was just this close to be cancelled.

Maybe it was that desperation in not knowing their own fate on the network that renewed the writer’s interest in developing the show.  Maybe it was the reinsertion of The Colorado Kid mystery.  Either way, it is here in Haven: The Complete Third Season that the soft-spoken show – inspired by a novella from famed horror writer Stephen King – becomes the solid performer its fans have always known and argued it was.

Haven is a Syfy television show that, at least when it started, struggled to find its footing in the supernatural swamp waters of lesser shows.  Some of the stories were strong and some of the stories were weak enough for the CW to put on repeat.  While the acting from its leads – Emily Rose as Audrey, Lucas Bryant as Nathan, and Eric Balfour as Duke – was always strong, the sci-fi/fantasy mysteries were merely serviceable; well-written as far as characterization goes, but something bigger was missing.  Every once in a while a strong episode would appear and you knew that they were trying.

And now we get to enjoy the thirteen episode payoff.  From UFO's to werewolves to a manical bolt gun killer, Haven has it all as it marches forward into its richly deserved Fourth Season.

The Monster-of-the-Week episodes finally have their connection in that the Troubles - the strange recurring phenomenon that plagues the small town – have completely surfaced in order to push Audrey out of the town.  Erase her memory.  Reintroduce her as someone else.  It’s a battle against as time as the season opener – entitled ironically enough “301” – tells us exactly what the season is going to be about: the abduction of Audrey and her friends and lovers will fight to the very end to keep her in Haven as Audrey Parker, not someone else.

This strongly directed show remains beautifully shot in Nova Scotia and, bizarrely enough for a Syfy show, graced with perfectly fine CGI that seals all the improvements made this season.  Show creators Sam Ernst and Jim Dunn have stepped up their involvement behind the show and the guests stars - Game of Thrones star Iain Glen, Nolan North and Claudia Black – include a memorable turn for Jason Priestley as he directs the Halloween episode.

Fortunately, the show is growing and the newcomers to the main cast - Bree Williamson as Claire Callahan, Kate Kelton as Jordan McKee, and Dorian Missick as Tommy Bowen – are largely upping its game.  If you haven’t started visiting Haven and its mysteries, it’s about time you started packing.

After all, the Troubles will find you.

And no one wants that.

{2jtab: Film Details}

MPAA Rating: This title has not been rated by the MPAA.
Runtime: 572 mins.
Cast: Emily Rose; Lucas Bryant; Eric Balfour; Nicholas Campbell
Genre: Drama| Supernatural | Sci-fi
Tagline: Haven
Distributor: Entertainment One | Syfy Channel
Release Date: July 9, 2010
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: September 21, 2012

Synopsis: After a sudden underwater tremor sets free scores of the prehistoric man-eating fish, an unlikely group of strangers must band together to stop themselves from becoming fish food for the areas new razor-toothed residents.

{2jtab: Blu-ray Review}

Component Grades Movie Blu-ray Disc Blu-ray Experience

Blu-ray Details:

Available on Blu-ray - September 3, 2013
Screen Formats: 1.78:1
Subtitles: English
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Discs: 50GB Blu-ray Disc; Four-disc set (4 BDs)
Region Encoding: A

Presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Entertainment One with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer, Haven: The Complete Third Season has a generally good, sharp appearance a great deal of the time.  Aerial establishing shots of Nova Scotia and other exterior shots are some of the sharpest and most appealing sequences every put on blu-ray.  I imagine this is great for Canada’s tourist business.  Digital grain does have a tendency to crop up in dark sequences and while an overall filtered disposition pulls the visual flow down in some places, the transfer shouldn’t disappoint its fans.  Accurate flesh tones and contrasted textures look smart throughout the presentation.  Colors pop well and crush is at a minimum.  The lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that kisses each episode is pretty substantial for a weekly television broadcast and the tracks are loaded with nice surround sound.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• There are a total of 6 wonderfully informative cast and crew commentaries gracing various episodes.  The commentaries tend to be on the chatty side, but also include a smattering of information about filming, special effects and character backgrounds.  You’ll hear from creators/writers Sam Ernst and Jim Dunn, actors Emily Rose, Lucas Bryant and Eric Balfour, and some of the various directors.

Special Features:

The supplemental material is deep and, when it discusses the show’s great mythology, very interesting as it shows just how far along the writers are with it.  They are always ahead of the game; not throwing stuff at a wall to see what sticks (like those pesky Lost writers did).  Production design is detailed, the cinematography and acting is discussed in another.  Most of the featurettes can be viewed in 40 or 25 minute segments and never become repetitive in what they cover.  There’s a great an nearly hour long Q&A session panel discussion with actors Emily Rose, Lucas Bryant and Eric Balfour, writers Jim Dunn, Sam Ernst and Charles Ardive.

• The Haunting Truth About Haven (42 min)
• Haven Panel from New York Comic Con (48 min)
• Cast Interviews (27 min)
• Escape to Haven Webisodes (16 min)
• Deleted/Alternate Scenes (11 min).
• Behind the Scenes Reel (4 min)
• Season 3 Trailers
• Season 4 Teaser

{2jtab: Trailer}

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