Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Frog Dreaming Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov March 13, 2019

Brian Trenchard-Smith's "Frog Dreaming" a.k.a. "The Quest" (1985) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Australian label Umbrella Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include various vintage promotional materials; exclusive new audio commentary by director Brian Trenchard-Smith, editor Brian Kavanagh, costume designer Aphrodite Kondos, and director Mark Hartley; new video interviews with actors Henry Thomas, Rachel Friend and Tamsin West; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

"First you dance with the Devil. Then you find out about Donkegin."

Yes, there are more than a few stylistic similarities between Frog Dreaming and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, and Henry Thomas definitely uses his charm in some familiar ways when he goes to work to impress. But does it really matter? Ultimately, Frog Dreaming chooses its own path and delivers a very different range of thrills. It just so happens that it attempts to appeal to the same audience that E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial targeted, but this isn’t enough to declare that it is some kind of a foreign semi-copycat.

The location is a small town somewhere in the Outback where American teenager Cody (Thomas) lives with his guardian Gaza (wonderful Tony Barry). They treat each other as equal and as a result have a wonderful relationship.

On a hot summer day, Cody accidentally discovers an old mine that was flooded and abandoned by the people that once managed it. Amongst the debris, the boy then recognizes the scattered personal belongings of a local outcast and when he begins searching for him realizes that the place does not appear on any of the maps that are being used in town. While trying to figure out why, Cody learns from a few aboriginals that it could be because the place is considered the home of Donkegin, an ancient demon, which only the bravest warriors have seen and lived to tell about.

A few days later, Cody and his good friend Wendy (Rachel Friend) transport a primitive diving suit to the old mine and he instructs her how to control the small power generator that sends air to it. Cody then jumps in the muddy water and goes straight to the bottom of the mine to look for the mysterious Donkegin. Not long after that the noise from the moving air awakens Donkegin and he falls in some sort of a trap. When Cody does not come out of the muddy water the terrified Wendy rushes back to town and tells everyone that her friend has died in an awful accident. Eventually, Gaza, the town’s sheriff, and a small rescue team arrive at the flooded mine to figure out a strategy to recover Cody’s body. However, when two professional divers enter the muddy waters, Donkegin comes alive.

Brian Trenchard-Smith directs Frog Dreaming in a confident but also relaxed fashion that is arguably the main reason why the mystery that is at the heart of the film does not disappoint. There is a decent buildup with an attractive atmosphere but conventional logic is never brushed aside, which is why when eventually the mystery of the old mine is solved everything instantly begins to make perfect sense.

The absence of any expensive special effects helps the film’s credibility as well. It makes it easier for Cody and his friends to look authentic and essentially react in ways that most teenagers would if they were in a similar position. The fear of the unknown is the only catalyst behind the dark magic that the film promotes and as such it is awfully difficult to dismiss. This is basically it, and once it becomes obvious that it is all that Trenchard-Smith wants to prove it becomes very easy to appreciate what he and the cast are doing in the film.

The more memorable footage from the flooded mine benefits a great deal from some excellent music themes the late Brian May composed. (May’s credits include such beloved genre films as Mad Max, The Road Warrior, and Turkey Shoot).

Frog Dreaming Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Brian Trenchard-Smith's Frog Dreaming arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment.

The release is sourced from a very handsome remaster. I don't know when it was prepared, but it looks very healthy and has the type of solid organic qualities that we expect to see when these types of older genre films transition to Blu-ray. In terms of clarity and depth there really is a lot to like here, and if you view your discs on a larger screen or project, you will be pleased to hear that the density levels are also strong. In fact, this is probably the only area where I believe that some meaningful improvements can be made, but I already like the type of quality the remaster ensures a lot. Colors are stable, healthy, and nicely balanced. Some small nuances could be expanded and improved, but the overall balance is indeed very convincing. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Image stability is good. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).

Frog Dreaming Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The lossless 2.0 track is excellent. When I projected the film, I actually raised the volume on my system quite a lot because I was very surprised that the film had such a nice soundtrack -- then again, it was composed by Brian May, so it is not exactly shocking -- and thought that its quality was very solid. On the other hand, I am a bit surprised that there isn't a 5.1 mix because the film's native sound design does plenty of interesting things with various random sounds and noises. Either way, you don't have to worry about any age-related imperfections because there are none.

Frog Dreaming Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

NOTE: All of the supplemental features on this Blu-ray release are perfectly playable on North American Blu-ray players, including the PS3.

• Trailer - an original remastered trailer for Frog Dreaming. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).

• Extended Interviews From Not Quite Hollywood - in this archival interviews, writer/co-producer Everett DeRocher, actor Henry Thomas, and director Brian Trenchard-Smith discuss the shooting of Frog Dreaming, the visual style of the film and the specific type of atmosphere it promotes, the initial production troubles, the finale, etc. The footage was shot for Mark Hartley's documentary Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! i 2008. In English, not subtitled. (33 min, 720p).

• The Depths of a Legend: Looking Back on Frog Dreaming - in this new featurette, director Brian Trenchard-Smith visits Henry Thomas at his home in Oregon and the two recall their work on Frog Dreaming. In English, not subtitled. (29 min, 720p).

• The Go Kids: Looking Back on Frog Dreaming - in this new featurette, actors Rachel Friend and Tamsin West recall their initial impressions of Henry Thomas, a hilarious Halloween 'incident', the shooting of Frog Dreaming, etc. In English, not subtitled. (17 min, 720p).

• The Dream Quest: Shooting Locations Revisited - a new program that offers before-and-after looks at some of the key locations that are seen in Frog Dreaming. With music. (6 min, 720p).

• Image Gallery - a large collection of storyboards, international VHS and theatrical art, behind the scenes and production stills, Cody's bunyip story outline, audience questionnaires, and ephemera. (1080p).

• Commentary - this brand new audio commentary features director Brian Trenchard-Smith, editor Brian Kavanagh, costume designer Aphrodite Kondos, and director Mark Hartley (Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!. The commentary is an outstanding trip down memory lane with plenty of very detailed descriptions addressing different phases of the production process (with some very interesting comments about UAA), the casting choices that were made, the film's special ambience, the marketing campaign and the failed negotiations with Disney, etc. The commentary was recorded exclusively for Umbrella Entertainment's Blu-ray release of Frog Dreaming.

• Cover - reversible cover with the U.S. title of the film, The Quest.

Frog Dreaming Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A short text on the back cover of this release highlights the fact that Frog Dreaming was inspired by The Goonies and E.T., and I think that it is good to have it because it should help people that are unfamiliar with the film get a pretty good idea what type of entertainment to expect from it. However, I also think that Frog Dreaming has an identity of its own and does not exactly rehash the same tricks and thrills the American blockbusters promoted. I was very pleasantly surprised, and to be honest enjoyed the film a lot more than I thought I would. This new release from Umbrella Entertainment is sourced from a very solid remaster and has a great selection of bonus features. I listened to the exclusive audio commentary in its entirety and also enjoyed a lot the new program with Rachel Friend and Tamsin West. Great work, Umbrella Entertainment. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.