"THE ECLIPSE" is one of those small, indie-type films, blending superb direction, top-notch performances, and all around craftsmanship to prove a simple, short (88 minutes) film can offer more jump-out-of-the-seat frights and reasons for reflection than the biggest budget horror films of recent years. Ciaran Hinds plays Michael, an industrial arts high school teacher, and aspiring writer. Living with his son and daughter in a seaside town of Ireland, he's still grieving over his wife's death to cancer two years earlier. Struggling with the loss, raising his kids and loneliness, he's also dealing with guilt arising from placing his father-in-law into a nursing home. From the in-law's description and own feelings of loneliness, there's little nursing and even less companionship within his new residence, apparently spending most of his waking hours within a drab, dark room. 

Michael seems to find some social interaction around the yearly literary conference happening each year, when he volunteers as a driver to the literary talent appearing there. This year, however, it seems there might be some potential, temporary spark of romance, or at least an interlude between for Michael, upon meeting a writer of supernatural stories, named Lena. Two major obstacles arise with the arrival of an American writer(Aidan Quinn), a narcissistic and bad drunk, hoping to build upon an ill-fated sexual dalliance he made with Lena the year prior, "and" the apparitions beginning to appear in Michael's home, dreams and elsewhere. There is great drama here, along with interesting characters and dialogue. "THE ECLIPSE" is not really a horror film, but, rather, more like one of the supernatural short stories Lena has written, revealed within a brilliant scene wherein she reads for her audience. Still, when thrills do happen, they're genuinely surprising and will raise the hairs on the neck of any viewer.

MAGNOLIA has provided the correct 2:00:1 aspect ratio for this AVC MPEG-4 1080p blu-ray. Originally shot in hi-def, the image is generally well complimented here. Colors are intentionally restrained in a number of scenes, lending to the somber environment surrounding Michael's inner grief. The cooler color scheme feels perfectly fitting, and while the lack of details in some of the darkest scenes borders on frustrating, there are a number of dark scenes, wherein the depth is flawless. It's a pretty good, but short of "great" transfer.

MAGNOLIA has provided a DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix.  For the most part, the mix is deliberately quiet, save for the dialogue and subtle effects. Nuances can be and "are" very effective, however. There are also select scenes, wherein discrete and panning effects kick in, creating a thoroughly immersive experience. Silence is used with great impact, building tension, until,...WHAM! POW! and, a then a loud moment creates the intended surprise.

A half-hour documentary, (standard resolution)offers interesting cast and crew insight. A short featurette offers Hinds' impressions on his character(1080i)

Trailers for other MAGNOLIA releases are presented in full 1080p.