Afflicted Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

Afflicted Blu-ray Movie Review

Sick.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 28, 2014

With the rare exception of a movie like Cloverfield, the "found footage" motion picture usually signals one thing, a movie made "on the cheap" (relative to the typical Hollywood production) and with a small crew and one that is, unfortunately, frequently just not all that inspiring. What started with The Blair Witch Project -- a movie that's grossly overrated and laughably not scary in this reviewer's humble opinion -- has become a certifiable craze and spawned countless knock-offs and different takes on the genre, from the ridiculous (Alien Origin) to a staple franchise (Paranormal Activity). With considerably smaller production values, these sorts of films absolutely require a gripping story and a visual seamlessness to sell the illusion. Anything less and the result is nothing short of a cinematic disaster of nauseating shaky cams, bad characters, and an empty plot. Afflicted nearly rewrites the genre. It's the best of its kind since Cloverfield, a tight, very well done, smart, savvy, frightening, mysterious, and intense story of a pair of world travelers who document their experiences on the Internet and run afoul of, as the title suggests, a terrible affliction that will leave a bloody trail across Europe while in search of answers and a way out.

Suffering.

Longtime friends Derek (Derek Lee) and Clif (Clif Prowse) have dabbled in filmmaking and are now setting off on a vacation of a lifetime, a trip around the world that they will document via the miracle of the Internet and even interact with fans and fulfill viewer requests along the way. The only thing that could go wrong, it would seem, would be Derek's AVM, a medical condition which has left him with "a tangle of screwed up blood vessels in his brain" that could ultimately cripple or kill him. Against his doctor's better judgment, he sets off on the expedition with his friend. They meet a few pals and pick up a few women. One evening, Clif and a few friends pull a prank on Derek but find him sick in bed, wounded on the head and shoulder. The expedition continues, but Derek's condition deteriorates until it becomes obvious that, even while sick, he's gained incredible powers: super strength, inhuman speed, and regeneration. In essence, he becomes a superhero, but it will soon become clear that he's anything but.

It must be nice to have the kind of scratch required to amass an impressive camera collection, never mind spend a year -- and who knows how much money -- traveling the world just because it sounds like a fun thing to do. That sort of inaccessible plot drive device aside, Afflicted does a tremendous job of pulling the audience into the story, beside the characters, and into the darkness, mayhem, and terror that follows them. What begins as a template for reality television -- a fun, energetic, open, friendly, and absorbing character introduction sequence that smartly covers all the angles that will later in the film become crucial plot elements -- quickly morphs into a gritty, strongly realized, no-nonsense examination of one man's brutal inward and outward transformation into something that's dramatically relatable (best to watch the movie to discover what's actually happening to the man) and visually arresting, even in the P.O.V. footage frame. From Derek's experimentation to downfall, from his total collapse to his bloody search for the truth, the film feels fully believable and engaging even as it delves deeply into the implausible and even impossible.

Though the film benefits from that tight, well-paced, smartly realized story, it wouldn't work nearly as well without its exceptionally well constructed lead characters and equally strong performances from the men who portray them. Derek Lee (not the ex-baseball player) and Clif Prowse are really quite good in every aspect their roles require. Whether those aforementioned introductory scenes that establish a couple of very likable people with real substance and a tangible bond or the darkest, lowest point of their lives, the actors shine. Certainly, the film's characters suffer from a few convenient "duh" moments in an effort to allow the plot to continue on -- Clif's almost blind friendship and loyalty ultimately seems to get in the way of him doing the right thing and going to get his friend real help rather than let the condition progress too far -- but a few minor gripes aside, the film proves very powerfully and convincingly done, and even the "found footage" angle at least makes contextual sense in today's "easy" YouTube fame world. Still, parts of the movie may have worked better were it a straightforward, "real" movie, but at least in this way it sets itself apart from something similar like An American Werewolf in London and it does reinvigorate the genre and restore one's hope for it.

Afflicted Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Afflicted's 1080p transfer doesn't visually excite, but it satisfies the film's requirements and displays the material as-captured with the "unprofessional" filmmaking approach. Details are less than exacting but prove adequate in basic close-up shots where skin textures and gore are suitably revealed. Likewise, the same may be said of European interiors and exteriors. Colors are drab and murky; the film is rather dark by nature, particularly in its second half where sunlight comes at a premium. A few bright exteriors, however, do reveal some nice coloring across several Italian building façades. Black levels are inconsistent, often favoring a slightly gray, unnaturally bright appearance. Light crush is visible elsewhere. Compression issues and noise are frequent guests, spotted primarily across those same blacks. Like other "found footage" films before it, Afflicted doesn't make the case for Blu-ray on the "pretty" side of the ledger, but it does appear to display the movie as photographed and intended, which should enjoy a higher premium than "pretty."

Afflicted Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Many "found footage" films oddly seem to amplify sound compared to what the camera would actually record, Cloverfield being a great example. Afflicted doesn't really go down that road, at least not too far. For the most part, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack brings a capable, but not particularly engaging, sound experience into the home theater. Energy and flow are positive, but not explosive. The track lacks a dynamic surround field, though music does feature well enough across the front. Support sound effects and action elements do spread a bit more and offer a slight uptick in energy. Gunfire doesn't burst through the stage, but neither does it whimper. Dialogue is satisfactorily firm and well placed. Like the video, the track carries the film well but not to any sort of reference level.

Afflicted Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Afflicted contains a brief allotment of extra content.

• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Night 14 Reflex Test (1:02), Night 32 A Mistake (2:53), and Not the Person You Remember (4:19).
• Behind the Scenes of Afflicted (1080p, 3:51): A look at the lifelong friendship and collaboration between filmmakers Derek and Clif, building a film that would be "cool" on a budget, filming in Italy, and local cooperation.
• Anatomy of a Scene: The Window Jump (1080p, 2:30): A brief look at making one of the film's most challenging visual shots. The first half simply shows the scene in question before moving on to a minute-long making-of.
• Previews (1080p): The Raid 2, Pompeii, Deliver Us From Evil, and The Last Exorcism 2.
• UV Digital Copy.

Afflicted Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Afflicted is really one of the better Horror films to come along in the past few years. It's driven, tight, fun, freaky, and frightening. The movie makes good use of the "found footage"/"P.O.V." style very well, highlighted by an amazing sequence in the third act that's quite unlike anything seen before in a movie like this. A great script, quality characters, and superb acting elevate Afflicted and place it amongst the best off its kind, Horror or "found footage" alike. Sony's Blu-ray release of Afflicted is disappointingly short on extras, but video quality satisfies under the constraints and the audio is decent. Highly recommended on the strength of the film.