In the Aftermath Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

In the Aftermath Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 25, 2017

1988’s “In the Aftermath” is a curious mix of live-action and animation, with the production bending chunks of the 1985 anime feature, “Angel’s Egg,” to fit a post-apocalyptic tale of exploration and human connection. It’s not an ideal marriage, as the feature often doesn’t know what to do with itself, rarely putting in the effort to connect the disparate displays of artistry, settling on a muddled whole. I extend a hearty congratulations to anyone who can follow this loose stitching of visuals, as “In the Aftermath” doesn’t make any sense, and that seems to be the intent, trusting that those sitting down to watch it are probably high as kites, absorbing this sci-fi/fantasy/doomsday tale with the least amount of resistance.

“Angel’s Egg” is listed as a 71-minute-long movie, but only a quarter of it is put to work in “In the Aftermath.” For reasons that aren’t understood, director Carl Colpaert concocts a frighteningly vague story of connection between the real world, which has been fried by nuclear war, and inhabitants of another realm, with a large egg somehow the key to Earthly rejuvenation. Or something like that. “In the Aftermath” isn’t particularly strong with introductions or exposition, leaving viewers hanging on bold images of animated ships and cities, while the live-action segments are no-budget excursions into deserts, hospital rooms, and an abandoned chemical factory.

In the Aftermath Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation provides a satisfactory look at the limited scope of "In the Aftermath," working with animated and live-action footage. The marriage of style looks fine, as detail is quite helpful, bringing out location particulars and distances, and hazmat suits are textured. Facial nuances are preserved, while anime adventuring is open for inspection. Colors appear intact, favoring a radiation-choked setting that's blasted with orange and yellow. Animation brings out more primitive primaries, but they retain intent. Delineation is comfortable, while anime whites look a little bloomy at times. Source is in fine shape considering the obscurity of the title, with only mild speckling and judder.

In the Aftermath Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't anything special, but it captures whatever "In the Aftermath" is trying to sell, putting emphasis on dialogue exchanges and voiceover, keeping performances clean enough to follow without interruption. It's not a truly crisp listening event, but it's stable. Scoring doesn't have a profound presence, supporting the tone of the effort as expected, with passable instrumentation. Sound effects are pronounced and understood.

In the Aftermath Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this disc.

In the Aftermath Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There are characters involved in "In the Aftermath," but a clear understanding of personality and motivation isn't offered. In the end, the feature is a mood piece for midnight madness exhibition, creating an experience instead of a narrative. For some, this will be enough, but for everyone else, no amount of hoping and praying is going to make "In the Aftermath" coherent.