Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

1974: La Posesión de Altair Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 2, 2022

There’s not a lot of room to do something different with the found footage subgenre. These films basically share the same moves, working to create some level of realism while teasing elements of horror or mystery before being whipped into a frenzy for the finale. 2016’s “1974: La Posesion de Altair” is no different, with writer/director Victor Dryere taking his tale to the decade of 8mm home movies, tracking the decline of a young woman in touch with dark forces, while her husband captures her grim awakening with his new camera. Dryere has some atmosphere and a dramatic destination he wants to reach, but there’s not a lot of suspense in “1974,” which sticks close to the found footage playbook.

“1974” returns viewers to a simpler time of film equipment, with Manuel (Rolando Breme) taking possession of an 8mm camera, hoping to chronicle his time with wife Altair (Diana Bovio). However, his spouse has an issue with nightmares and possession, sending Manuel on mission to understand why Altair is suddenly submitting to an unknown force.

There’s not much more to “1974” than the basics of characterization, with Dryere hoping to win viewers over with atmosphere, setting Altair up for contact with darkness, keeping the picture occasionally on the move with the young woman as she succumbs to an outside influence. Manuel is there, always with his camera (and a seemingly unlimited supply of film), capturing moments of domestic bliss and distortion, allowing Dryere to work on his verite moviemaking tricks while slowly dragging “1974” into a possession story.

1974: La Posesión de Altair Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "1974" does fine with all the 8mm footage. There's an effort to age the picture, adding scratches and debris, which makes for compelling wear and tear to help set the mood. Grain is heavy throughout. Detail reaches as far as possible, delivering a basic understanding of character imagery and locations. Color is also appreciable, with golden, sunlit interiors and threatening situations in colder lighting. Delineation is satisfactory.

1974: La Posesión de Altair Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix supports the feature's intent to provide creepy moods, working with sometimes active atmospherics around the house and into the night, visiting the open world. Dialogue exchanges are communicative, often dealing with whispering performances. Music is limited but supportive, and sound effects are more authoritative, delivering strange noises in the house and grander reveals, which also offer some low-end activity.

1974: La Posesión de Altair Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• CD Soundtrack is offered.

• Sound Design Featurette (3:05, HD) spends a few moments with sound designer Uriel Villalobos, who discusses his relationship with writer/director Victor Dryere, with the pair working on the creation of two different aural moods for the picture.

• And a Trailer (1:03, HD) is included.

1974: La Posesión de Altair Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"1974" has the look of the era and performances are acceptable for this type of movie. It's the rest of the film that lacks freshness, with Dryere making familiar moves with shadows and surprises, offering a stale take on found footage creepiness.