6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
When a rescue crew investigates a spaceship that disappeared into a black hole and has now returned, things start to take an increasingly horrific turn.
Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Kathleen Quinlan, Joely Richardson, Richard T. JonesHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 88% |
Sci-Fi | 55% |
Supernatural | 31% |
Mystery | 26% |
Surreal | 16% |
Psychological thriller | 15% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.34:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Save yourself from hell.
If the fear of the unknown is the greatest fear of all, then what better setting for a horror movie
than the vast, unexplored, unknown quantity that is outer space? Ridley Scott's 1979 masterpiece
Alien definitively showcased the amazing potential for the Sci-Fi/Horror in outer space
combination genre,
and plenty of imitators have followed, few of which are better than 1997's uneasy, disturbing,
and fairly original Event Horizon. This no-holds barred horror show understands its genre
well, never becoming too bogged down in any one contrivance. While the film is not without its
flaws, the numerous positives outweigh some questionable dialogue and delivery, somewhat
underwhelming visual effects, and a third act that becomes a bit too conventional and bland in light
of the first hour's creepy, foreboding, and sometimes grotesque atmosphere. Nevertheless,
Event Horizon is a tense, exhilarating watch, best experienced in the dead of night with the
lights low and the volume high.
Where's the drive-thru?
Event Horizon folds onto Blu-ray with a quality 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. Though this transfer doesn't necessarily jump off the screen with a barrage of realistic, deep, and clear imagery, there is nevertheless a solid level of visible detail, ranging from drops of water on Sam Neill's body after coming out of extended stasis to the caked-on grime seen on the various surfaces of the Clark and Horizon. The image exhibits some spots over the print that are noticeable but never overly distracting. Some of the dark, hazy, interior shots of the Horizon hold up very well, with no immediate visual anomalies. There are a few very minor instances of banding in a few places, but it is never obvious or much of a distraction. The film is rather dark in general, and blacks play an integral role in the look and feel of the film. They could be a bit deeper in some shots, but they hold up rather well throughout. Grain is present but never too heavy, and it is only most apparent over darker backgrounds. Flesh tones always look natural and rich under each lighting condition thrown at them, from the bright, fluorescent lights aboard the Clark early in the film to the deepest, darkest, poorly-lit innards of the Event Horizon. Paramount has delivered a solid transfer that will please this film's fan base.
Event Horizon enters the lossless dimension via a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack. The soundstage feels a bit cramped and limited in range during the pulsating opening theme that plays over the credits. The track picks up during the film; the opening shot of the ship is accompanied by a hefty amount of bass, and various sounds pan around the listening area with ease. Inside the Clark, there is little in the way of ambience. The hum of the engine is heard, but there is never much of a sense of actually being on board. The Clark's bumpy arrival into Neptune orbit in chapter five features plenty of visual rattling and rolling, but the accompanying audio is only moderately aggressive. A series of explosions in chapter seven features a good amount of bass and fine surround presence, both of which support the visuals well. Dialogue sometimes sounds a bit tiny and muffled. A discussion amongst the crew as to the events of the film in chapter 10 seems to show a discernible loss in volume. Later in the chapter, bass pounds away at an appreciably high level. The soundtrack is generally hit-or-miss; the hits are great, and fortunately the misses are only near misses. The track is never a disaster, just a slight letdown in a few places.
Paramount has included a fair amount of bonus materials with this Blu-ray release of Event
Horizon. Leading things off is a feature-length commentary track with director Paul W.S.
Anderson and producer Jeremy Bolt. Both begin by discussing how the film fits in with their
favorite
genres and those that influenced this picture. The track manages to maintain a nice pace despite
a
few gaps of dead air. They discuss the sets, actors, the design of the ships, the visual effects
shots,
small anecdotes, the themes of the film, character arcs, and more. The duo hits all the important
notes, making for a track fans will enjoy a great deal. The Making of 'Event Horizon'
(480i,
1:43:01) is a five-part documentary that is actually longer than the movie. This is a blunt,
informed, and insightful piece that begins with Anderson and Bolt discussing the origins of the
project, the influences on the story, and the focus and originality of the plot. The piece moves
into
discussions on the making of the film, including the casting of the roles and the actor's
experiences on the film, the creation of the more disturbing sequences and the special
effects-heavy shots, changes made from the original cut to the final cut, and plenty more. This is
a
fascinating journey that takes viewers into the filmmaking process. Paul W.S. Anderson comes
off very well in the piece as a passionate and intelligent individual, particularly when discussing
the
changes made to the picture over the course of time. Here's hoping a more definitive cut of
Event Horizon is one day
released.
The Point of No Return: The Filming of 'Event Horizon' (480i, 8:12) is a
four-part feature where Paul W.S. Anderson discusses the making of several scenes.
Secrets
(480i, 10:03) is a series of three deleted and extended scenes, each featuring director
commentary. The Unseen 'Event Horizon' is broken into two segments. The
Un-Filmed Rescue Scene (480i, 2:57) features a series of storyboard images for a scene not
included in the final version of the film. Conceptual Art (480i, 3:52) looks at some early
sketches made for the film. These features are again presented with director commentary.
Concluding this impressive set of special features is the film's theatrical trailer (1080p, 2:29) and
the video trailer (480i, 1:48).
All things considered, Event Horizon is a cut above many standard-fare Sci-Fi and Horror pictures. Despite a few non-fatal flaws, the film is both terrifying and entertaining, holds decent replay value, and most importantly, never becomes too mired in convention. The performances are solid, the direction, cinematography, and score all above average and effective, and the script, while not perfect, translates well to film. These elements make for a fine late-night horror experience that offers a winning combination of visual and psychological horror. Blu-ray fans looking to upgrade from an older home video release should be more than satisfied with Paramount's effort on this disc. It features a high quality transfer, a good but sometimes lacking lossless soundtrack, and a manageable array of bonus materials. The disc is priced just right for a well-done catalogue release, and Event Horizon will make a fine addition to most any Blu-ray collection. Recommended.
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