6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
In the aftermath of his girlfriend's mysterious death, a young man awakens to strange horns sprouting from his temples.
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Juno Temple, Heather Graham, Joe Anderson (VI), Max MinghellaHorror | 100% |
Mystery | 8% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Sometimes when you go through hell, the only way out is to walk deeper into the fire.
Inside every man is an angel and a devil, creatures of great ferocious strength capable of incredible feats of love or dastardly deeds of terror.
Sometimes it takes both to make a man and lead him to towards his destiny. Horns, the filmed adaptation of the novel of the same name
penned by Joe Hill, tells the story of a young man accused of murder and the "gift" he is given to help lead him to the true killer. The film's director,
Alexandre Aja (High Tension, The Hills Have Eyes, Piranha 3D), is no stranger to splatter-ific gore, and while his
Horns certainly sees some intensely bloody moments, the film feels a bit more dramatically centered than the typical gore-fest, even if it's
pushed forward by a strange combination of high novelty and recycled tripe. The film ranges from intensely interesting to ridiculously cliché, from
mildly watchable to edge-of-seat entertaining. It's a shame it's as uneven as it is considering a world of opportunity to dig deep into interesting
characters pushed by supernatural happenings who are ultimately driven by boring characteristics that wash away most of the novelty the film so
gloriously constructs through much of its runtime.
Hook 'em horns!
Horns grows onto Blu-ray with a fantastic 1080p transfer. The digital source nearly replicates the feel of film, rarely appearing overly glossy, excessively flat, or in any way truly inorganic or sterile. Details are precise, whether woodland foliage (both day and night), facial lines and skin texture, clothing details, and even the horns prosthetic which reveals the intricate, terrifying details in excellent clarity across every close-up shot. Colors are rich and even with particular emphasis on the way red neon beautifully contrasts against darker nighttime backdrops in a few shots of the illuminated diner that plays a key role in the movie. A lengthy diffused flashback notwithstanding, the color palette is consistent and brilliantly natural. Skin tones appear accurate and black levels are satisfyingly deep and pure. The image shows no major signs of noise, banding, blockiness, or other maladies. Aside from a few softer edges this is a healthy, vibrant 1080p transfer from Anchor Bay.
Horns arrives on Blu-ray with a confident and professional DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Music is commendably aggressive yet balanced and clear at the same time, with a healthy low end that brings a tangible heft to the stage. The music also flows into the rear speakers for a welcome surround experience. Atmospherics are excellent, whether gentle exteriors, slightly more aggressive interiors at a bar and a diner, or drenching rain falling in chapter nine. The track provides a few heavier directional-specific elements, such as when a motorcycle audibly zooms through speakers. Several action effects, in particular some heavy shotgun blasts and exploding cherry bombs, are delivered with sufficient heft and presence. Dialogue delivery is firm, lifelike, and focused in the center channel. This is a terrific sound presentation from Anchor Bay.
All that's included is The Making of 'Horns' (1080p, 18:48), a basic overview piece that focuses on plot, the film's tone and its varied styles, casting, performances, sourcing the film from the original novel, visual effects, and working with snakes on the set.
Horns will pull its audience in from the outset, pique one's curiosity as the story unfolds, and lose a good bit of its momentum when it becomes a hybrid of interesting novelty and dramatic cliché that fits the story but nevertheless feels out-of-place and wholly unimaginative. There's a brilliant story here, one with a world of dramatic interest and room for endless interpretation and discussion, but it devolves into a fairly routine little movie that's propped up by its angle. It's still a fascinating watch and the good does manage to outweigh the bad, but Horns is a classic case of a good movie that could have been so much more. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Horns features pristine video, excellent audio, and one supplement. Recommended.
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