Ghost Machine Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.0

Ghost Machine Blu-ray Movie Review

I'm just a ghost in this machine. I'm just a shadow upon this RAM. As quietly as a hologram I haunt this motherboard.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 3, 2012

This game is no game.

The military's new high tech virtual reality simulation does more than show users simulated 3D environments. It's so sophisticated it actually places them inside a virtual world, a world with which they may seamlessly interact and in which they feel the rush of combat. Video game nerds Tom (Sean Faris) and Vic (Luke Ford) are "borrowing" the gear for "geek's night out" with their gamer pal Benny (Jonathan Harden) and security guard friend Taggert (Richard Dormer). They set up inside an abandoned prison that becomes a battlefield in which the guys act out a little wartime role playing. Unfortunately, their virtual playground becomes a living nightmare when a dark entity infiltrates the game and sets out to murder the boys. Can they, with the help of sexy soldier Jess (Rachel Taylor), stop the program before it's too late?

Yes, this movie has a heartbeat!

Sci-Fi/Horror/Military Action fans who also happen to be video gamers will enjoy Ghost Machine on a fundamental level -- there's plenty of tech, gunplay, a few scares, a smattering of gore, and even a few seconds of PSP and PS3 action thrown in for good measure -- but such audiences are probably the only ones who will like, let alone appreciate, what Director Chris Hartwill's film tries to do. In essence, it's a cool idea of virtual reality taken to the next, logical level and given a Horror/Suspense twist. It's a largely unremarkable picture beyond idea and atmosphere -- it lacks high-end acting and a whole lot of polish -- that could have been much better but thankfully isn't all that bad. It's a serviceable time killer in the tradition of movies like Evolver, and viewers with expectations down around that level should have a bit of fun with it.

Ghost Machine Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Ghost Machine's HD video photography offers a glossy but very clean, crisp, and well-defined presentation. Details suffice all around. Clothing textures are particularly sturdy and revealing, but the photographic style does tend to leave faces and surfaces somewhat smooth and absent that real nitty-gritty tactile texturing. Colors satisfy, generally, though flesh tones favor a ghastly, bright appearance. On the flip side, black levels are suitably sturdy and deep. It's not a stunner, but Anchor Bay's transfer will do for a lower end flick.

Ghost Machine Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Ghost Machine rattles around speakers with a fairly impressive Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Though music is sometimes rather uneven in terms of presence, power, and clarity, particularly near the beginning, the latter parts of the movie improve. There, the track delivers crisp, spacious, powerful, and fairly authentic gunfire. A bit of ambience plays around the front, from light sound effects to heavy environmental rumbles. Dialogue plays clearly and evenly through the center. This is a fine presentation that won't dazzle hardcore audiophiles but that does satisfy on a base level. All in all, the presentation works quite well in conjunction with the film.

Ghost Machine Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of Ghost Machine contains no supplemental content. In fact, no menu is included, either of the top- or pop-up varieties.

Ghost Machine Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In essence, Ghost Machine is sort of like a geek/gamer/gadget guy or gal's fantasy and horror all rolled into one. The film lacks precision but does impress as time killing cinema that rises above "drivel" but falls short of "excellence." Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Ghost Machine offers satisfactory high definition video and audio but lacks supplements. Worth a rental or a cheap purchase.