6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
What did the world look like as it was transforming into the horrifying apocalypse depicted in "The Walking Dead"? This spin-off set in Los Angeles, following new characters as they face the beginning of the end of the world, will answer that question.
Starring: Kim Dickens, Lennie James, Cliff Curtis, Frank Dillane, Alycia Debnam-CareyHorror | 100% |
Supernatural | 58% |
Melodrama | 23% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Four-disc set (4 BDs)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
In some ways, it's difficult to fathom that Fear the Walking Dead has emerged as a serious hit spinoff of the original The Walking Dead. For one thing, those are massive shoes to
fill. For another, Fear's first season was uninspired and didn't bode well for the future of the show.
But
over time, the show has slowly evolved to take on the identity of its predecessor: a fearless and bold march through the nasty world of the living
dead
where society has crumbled and humanity has collapsed along with it. Recent seasons have performed a fair bit of redemptive work, and while little
in
Fear has topped The Walking Dead at its peak (i.e. all of the early and middle series run), it has certainly gained some traction,
and
some admiration, along the way. Does that upward trend continue in season seven?
Nope.
Newcomers are encouraged to start back at the beginning (which wasn't very good) and work their way through subsequent seasons (which
improve only to drop off again) and return to a lower standard in season seven. Every season is available on Blu-ray and linked below:
Aesthetically, season seven is every bit the gritty beauty that defines The Walking Dead universe, and Lionsgate's 1080p transfer captures that look with grace and accuracy. The picture has a certain rawness about it, which is reflective of the nuked and zombie infested landscapes. It's meant to look grim, and grim it does indeed look. As such, colors lack flavor and boldness. There's a dull gray look to the season, and even when some colors appear more pronounced, they are never so vivid as to break the illusion of hopelessness and despair. Skin tones are likewise a bit on the pale and gray side as well. Black level depth is excellent, though. Details are very strong. While not naturally so sharp as some other content, the image certainly never backs away from revealing crisp, high end facial detail and icky zombie makeup and gore effects with all the squeamish clarity one could want. Tattered clothing and worn-down world objects and accents are also nicely defined. Light noise is present at times, but there are no major source flaws or encode issues of which to speak. This looks like season six, and that is a good thing. Visually, this is Fear the Walking Dead in its wheelhouse.
The included Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack is certainly efficient if not slightly underwhelming, mostly due to variances in surround usage. Strong gusty winds blow about in the opening moments of the season's opening episode, though without the sort of immersive and substantial surround engagement one would expect hear. Still, the net effect is decent, as is the sound of burning fires a few moments later, but again that lack of intense surround negotiation leaves things wanting, sonically. Surrounds do pick up zombie moans here and there, as well as a downpour 20 minutes into episode one, and of course various action scenes offer some engagement, but the track certainly lacks consistency throughout. Still, even a bit more front heavy than ideal, clarity is good and front end stretch is satisfactory. Musical definition and width leave no real room for complaint, and dialogue is clear and well prioritized from a natural front-center position.
This four-disc set of Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Seventh Season contains two commentaries on disc one and a third on disc four.
That's all. No DVD copy is
included with purchase. Lionsgate has bundled in a digital copy code. This set ships with a non-embossed slipcover.
Disc One:
In the opening moments of episode one, a character finds himself mentally broken and battered, unable to face life anymore in a world that has been nuked on top of everything else. He chooses death and doesn't move when a zombie gets him in its sights. He is saved at the last moment by a third party. That scene is Fear the Walking Dead's seventh season in a nutshell. It's ready to be done, but outside powers deem it's not quite time. Season eight is scheduled to be the end, and mercifully so. Fear, despite some good efforts here and there, has never been able to capture the depth and complexity of its predecessor, and season seven is the most ridiculous and incoherent yet. Lionsgate's four-disc Blu-ray set does deliver rock-solid video and audio. Supplements are limited to a trio of commentary tracks, and it's a surprise it even earned that. For series and franchise completists only.
2015
Special Edition
2015
2015-2023
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020-2021
2023
2017
2010
2018
Slipcover in Original Pressing
1990
2019
2005
2012
1997
Collector's Edition
1985
Ben & Mickey vs. The Dead
2012
Ultimate Undead Edition
2009
2015
1968
1978
Les Raisins de la Mort
1978
2018
2016
1994
2014
2018