After years of being off the big screen, Mel Gibson’s much anticipated 2010 thriller, Edge of Darkness is on DVD today!

Release Date: May 11, 2010
Rating: R
Running Time: 117 minutes

The bullet that killed his daughter was meant for Boston cop Thomas Craven. That?s what police brass and Craven himself think, but that?s not what the investigation finds. Clue after clue and witness after witness, the search leads him into a shadowy realm where money and political intrigue intersect. If Craven wasn?t a target before, he ? and anyone linked to his inquiry ? now is. Mel Gibson stars in his first screen lead in eight years, making Craven?s grief palpable and his quest for payback stone-cold and relentless. Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) directs from a screenplay co-written by The Departed?s William Monahan. Gibson is back, taking us to the edge?and into the sinister darkness.

Edge of Darkness was a highly anticipated film, since it was Mel Gibson’s first leading role since Signs and while Gibson delivers undoubtedly in this film…it was not the high energy thriller that I had originally envisioned it in my mind to be. Based off the original BBC mini series, this film had so much potential with the layered characters and story lines to work with. Instead, there is a lot of space in between the exciting moments and just when you think you will fall asleep or give up, you are rocked in your seat by a shocker.

Though there are just not enough moments to have this movie on the edge of your seat in each and every moment. There were some predictable plot twists but that wasn’t a main concern as the entire movie as a whole was just not a thrill. The ending doesn’t win over viewers at all as it was incredibly unfulfilling.

There’s also something that I really wish did not make it in the film. Gibson’s character speaking to his dead daughter…I didn’t like it in the original mini series and I especially did not like it this time around. It just takes away from the thrill. Gibson is so good at portraying a man in pain…so good that this could have been left out of the film so that fans can see more of Gibson kicking some serious butt. Overall, unfortunately Gibson’s performance can’t save this snooze fest. It’s worth it for die hard Gibson fans and original BBC mini series fans, but the slow pace and low audio will turn off viewers very quickly.

Special Features:

Deleted & Alternate Scenes – There are 4 scenes shared, 2 including star, Mel Gibson. Only one was quite intriguing, when Gibson’s character had a confrontation with the corporate executive. Alternate/deleted scenes like this make me wish there was commentary by the director explaining why these scenes were cut. If you made it through the film, you mine as well check out these 4 scenes.

Edge of Darkness becomes available on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, On Demand and for Download on May 11, 2010.