Product Details

• Actors: Michael Biehn, Alexandra Daddario, John Savage
• Directors: Stevan Mena
• Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: ANCHOR BAY
• DVD Release Date: August 30, 2011
• Run Time: 103 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0051ZIXNK
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,239 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

In 1989, a 6-year-old boy is lured into the vehicle of a stranger. The stranger is a serial killer with a tendency of butchering teenage girls. In the basement of a rural Pennsylvania slaughterhouse, he will teach the boy everything he knows. Five years later, teen Allison (Alexandra Daddario of Hall Pass) comes to live with her uncle (Michael Biehn of The Terminator) following her parents' death. In time, she will discover the boy and his madman mentor. And they will all be plunged into an unimaginable evil from which there may be no escape. Nolan Gerard Funk (Deadgirl), Brett Rickaby (The Crazies), Valentina de Angelis (''Gossip Girl'') and John Savage (The Deer Hunter) co-star in this graphic and acclaimed shocker from writer/director Stevan Mena about family, torment, and the nightmare absolution that is BEREAVEMENT.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A True Gem For The Horror Genre November 13, 2011

By Lord Darkseid

Format:DVD

If I could sum up this movie in one word, it would be "wow". I just finished watching "Bereavement" and I will rate this amongst my top horror movies of all time. From a filming aspect, I have to also agree with other reviewers that the cinematography is fantastic. I was impressed with that right from the start of the film. In terms of horror movies, this is a gem to the genre. I didn't see "Malevolence" so I didn't know what to expect in this prequel. Will there be any survivors? You'll have to watch to find out. The mark of a good horror film is to make the audience care about the characters so that you feel terror if their safety is threatened. This film succeeds with that. This film isn't just about blood and guts all over the floor so if you're getting this because you want some sadistic torture copycat like the "Saw" franchise, you'll be disappointed. Another reviewer wrote that they felt there wasn't enough background story to the serial killer. I disagree with that. The actor portraying the serial killer actually made me feel a little sorry for the character. He was clearly psychotic and out of his mind. He didn't seem to take joy from killing people. It was something he felt he "had" to do. We the audience don't learn about this man's own childhood or how he ended up committing these horrible murders. Its a mystery but that adds to the allure of the film. Another complaint someone had is why did this new girl Allison all of a sudden was the only person in town who found the missing boy in the abandoned rundown shack after 5 years? Thats not so far fetched. If you think about your own town, how many times do you drive past an old house or building and never even give it a second look? Allison was brand new and had a fresh pair of eyes as she looked around her new surroundings.... Thats why she was able to pay attention to what others ignored over the years. I will say that I agree that it seemed odd that the killer was killing locals and yet no one seemed to notice or maybe the sheriff's office is just that inadequate. That was really the only flaw of the story. Otherwise, this movie is definitely 4 out of 5 stars. Great job to all that created this film! Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not since Halloween August 30, 2011

By Edithayne

Format:Amazon Instant Video|Amazon Verified Purchase

This one scared me and I'm hard to scare. It reminded of the groundbreaking done in Halloween except knocked up several levels. If you don't like slasher, then you probably won't like this movie. If you like a slasher movie that is well made, well acted, with a good storyline that will scare you, you will find that this movie will not leave you quickly.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars decent but weak ending March 16, 2012

By David Sanchez

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

i bought this movie cause i was told that it was good....it was ok. Not bad for 5 bucks i spent. the story is very good but it has some of the same bull that most run of the mill horror movies have. the don't go in there parts are stupid cause any reasonable person would not do some of the stupid stuff the girl does. im a big fan of criminal minds and it kinda reminded me of the show.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique Horror Movie that Will Keep You Entertained March 9, 2012

By Mr. Bey VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I had fairly low expectations for Bereavement. The horror genre has produced a few good movies over the past decade, but it's also shown us quite a few duds that I would prefer to forget. Thankfully, Bereavement is worth watching.

The concept of Bereavement is fairly simple. A young boy is kidnapped by a deranged killer with the intent of training him in the trade of ritual murder. The young boy, played by Spencer List, makes the role film. I haven't seen a young boy more convincing in a horror role since Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense. He really is quite fantastic in his reserved role that must have been very difficult to play.

Bereavement isn't completely different from other horror movies, but it treats the process much differently. It goes for fear more from realism than plain shock novelty. If anything else, I respect Bereavement for treating it's audience as intellectuals rather than idiots looking for a cheap thrill.

I'd recommend Bereavement if you enjoy horror movies. I'm getting pretty sick of the genre and it's slow progression, but I really enjoyed this film. You better watch it quick before five other movies come to rip off it's concept.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Strange movie but very good February 12, 2012

By Reggie Reed

Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase

I enjoyed this movie quite a bit. The lead characters, especially the one played by Alexandra Daddario, make some curiously poor decisions, but if you can look past that (like you must with most horror movies), you'll find the acting and cinematography to be top notch. I couldn't get my mind around the killer's motives but that may be because I haven't seen the first movie. This is a high quality blu-ray transfer. The excellent video quality makes watching the beautiful Daddario quite a treat. I can't comment on the sound since I don't have a home theater setup at the moment.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Do you like to be shocked? December 14, 2011

By R. Phillips

Format:DVD|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

A young boy is taken from his home by a madman and is forced to watch and even partake in violent crimes. This movie is for those of you who like your heart pumping and aren't looking for two hours of serenity for your evening. You could say that scenes in this movie are more distrubing than scary, but that is what gives this movie its luster. Not your typical Hollywood ending I might add.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars LIKE IT MORE SO THAN THE FIRST December 5, 2011

By fmwaalex VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

BEREAVEMENT

{The state of being deprived of something or someone : the loss of a loved one by death.} That good people is a quick definition of the word that lays claim to the title of this film. Makes sense since this is a prequel to a film called "Malevolence", both by writer/director Steven Mena. Check out the definition of that word and it all makes sense, would be interesting to see what a third film in this series would be called. Of course the first film was an indie success for the filmmaker that garnered awards and such leading to an easy decision I am sure to do this film.

Graham Sutter is a sick man who preys upon women and savagely murders them, but the man is looking for a little help. In 1986 he goes on the hunt but this time it is not for women, it is for a little boy. Someone he can mentor and teach, someone who can help him with his own personal demons, he finds such a boy. Six year old Martin Bristol is the unlucky boy who just happens to be in the right place and time for the killer. It also just so happens that he suffers from a disease that allows him to feel no pain. Upon discovering this after the boy is lured into his truck while the boy's mother is inside with a potential sitter the man thinks it is a sign.

From this point on the boy is subject to all kinds of mental torture as he is forced to watch and sometimes help in the murder and disposal of this man's victims. Enter a young women named Allison who has moved to the town to live with her Uncle, Aunt, and cousin. Being a city girl things are not going exactly as she had hopped but finds comfort in meeting a boy her age. They begin to hang out to the Uncles non liking of course, in his mind the boy is no good.... But that is the least of his worries as Allison is growing more and more interested in a young boy she sees in an abandoned farmhouse. As her curiosity grows so does the chances of her being the next victim for the local killer.

I have to say that this is a much better film then it seems to be getting credit for amongst other reviews. That's cool every one has their own preferences for what movies they like and such. Although I will say this film seems so much better if you have seen the first movie. "Malevolence" was a pretty good slasher/horror film that worked because it knew exactly what it was. This film is very different from the first one but works even more in my opinion because it does the exact same thing and still sets up what is to come in "Malevolence".

Where "Malevolence" was a straight slasher film and had the look and fell of that kind of film this one is more a psychological horror flick. A good horror/drama in many ways with both elements bending into the other in a somewhat natural way. An example would be "The Silence of the Lambs" of the type of style and feel I am talking about. Now of course this film is not the classic that "Silence" is but it is in that same vein of filmmaking. In fact this one seems even more realistic with the way it is written, shot, and presented. Of course that could also be the killers lack of charisma when compared to those of "Silence" but still it makes for a good movie.

Writer/director Steven Mena knew what he wanted to do with this film and it shows as he has taken what he learned the first time around and added to it. The story while from a new viewer may come of as just another serial killer flick really does help explain the mystery of the first film. Like who is this guy and why is he doing what he is doing to these people. While this film certainly can be an entertaining ride for any one who hasn't seen the first flick I will say it does help to see them both. In fact watching them in the order they were released is the best way to go. The first film is helped by the fact that you really don't know why this killer is doing this and the second is helped because it explains it, does that make sense to any one other than me?

I have to say that this film was really well done especially from how it was shot. There are some masterful shots in this film with brilliant and beautiful cinematography. The opening of the film in particular is just so well done and magnificent. From the wide shot for the title card to the truck passing right into frame driving away from the camera, and even into the journey from start to finish looking for a kid it all looks good. I would be honestly surprised if some one disagreed with me here. You can not like the film, acting, or what ever but i bet we would all agree on how it was shot.

Speaking of acting our lead actress Alexandra Daddario did a good job as newbie in town Allison. She comes off very believable as the city girl hating her new life, teenagers. She has a good look and quality about her that lends to the role. Spencer List plays the young boy who is kidnapped by the killer and comes off well in the film, especially for a child actor who has some pretty rough scenes to go through. Every one else in the film is really good especially Michael Biehn as the girl's Uncle. But it is Brett Rickaby who is the show stealer here playing the psycho of the town. He comes off very well in every scene even in ones where he is afraid of a deer skull he thinks orders him to kill. Now that could have came off very silly for lack of a better word in another actors hands if portrayed wrong. It is a low budget film but that does not mean it has to be a B film.

The DVD copy that i got a hold of comes with some excellent special features on it which is always a plus for me. There is a great behind the scenes feature that takes you into the everything you would want to see. From set ups to performances it can all be found here. Then of course the making of which goes into not only thins film but the previous one and how they both came about. But among even more special features we get an excellent audio commentary from the writer/director himself. This of course is my favourite thing about the bonus stuff as it goes deeper into the making of this film and even more facts about the previous one.

Now this is not a perfect film and might not make every ones personal favourites list but it is a good flick. I can see how some would not like it as much and how others could love it. It could be another low budget classic that picks up viewers the longer it is out. I personally think it is a really good movie especially if you have seen the first one. I feel like i am repeating that to much but it does need to be said, I recommend both to any horror fan. At the very least it good make for a good rental for and movie night one may have. In fact i may even say that I like this film more so than the previous one, but while very much connected they are very much two different beasts. Check them out if you get the chance, you just may find yourself enjoying some low budget entrainment. {something that entertains; interesting, diverting, or amusing thing; esp., a show or performance}, definition of that last word [from yourdictionary.com] Read more ›