5.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Passing through a small town, a stranger discovers that a crazed scientist is creating an army of zombies.
Starring: James Keach, Dean Jagger (I), Robert Walker Jr., Doria Cook-Nelson, Michele Marsh (I)Horror | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Crazy doesn’t even begin to describe the viewing experience of “Evil Town.” The picture began life in the mid-1970s under the creative guidance of Curtis Hanson. The helmer eventually left the project, requiring others to pick up the slack, with the original version of the feature released in 1977. Producer Mardi Rustam wasn’t about to let the project die an unprofitable death, returning in the early 1980s to film new footage, editing fresh storylines into the flow of the earlier production, eventually issuing the movie on VHS in 1987.
Presented as "Newly scanned and restored in 2K," "Evil Town" supplies a mercifully cohesive viewing experience during its AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. While one can easily spot the differences between shooting dates from the 1970s and '80s, colors remain vivid, with period fashion supplying a nice primary push, while small town greenery is just as bright, contributing to the rural mood. Skintones are natural. Detail captures interior decoration with home and hospital visits, and facial surfaces enjoy the varied ages of the cast. Delineation is satisfactory, preserving frame information. Grain is heavy with the 1975 shoot, but quite film-like. Source is in terrific shape.
The 1.0 DTS-HD MA mix does very well with the limited sonic scope of "Evil Town." Dialogue exchanges are clear and clean, maintaining performances. Scoring is inherently thin, but the miniature synth push to stir up suspense performs as expected. Sound effects and atmospherics aren't advanced, delivering a modest sense of threat and surroundings.
There are three directors credited on "Evil Town," with Rustam billed separately, and while the endeavor makes a valiant effort to suggest the film is the work of one production team, it's really Rustam's imagination that keeps the feature on the go. He turns to filler often, but his vision for a scary movie using weird science wins out in the end. "Evil Town" isn't thrilling, but it's the rare picture where its construction and history is more fascinating than the final product. One shouldn't watch it to seek chills. It's the sheer moneyman vision for the project that's most compelling.
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