6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.0 | |
Overall | 2.0 |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
English, English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 2.0 |
Note: This film is available on Blu-ray as part of Killer
Crocodile.
The internet can often be a wild and woolly place, but it can also occasionally offer a tidbit or two of humor. In doing background research on this
release from Severin Films, I discovered that more than one person had actually taken the time to compile lists of "killer crocodile" films, a subgenre I
frankly may have been dimly aware of due to having seen Alligator at some
point in my misspent youth, but which I never really paid that much attention to. Killer Crocodile and its sequel, the imaginatively titled
Killer Crocodile 2, don't waste a lot of time on overly nuanced plot mechanics or character development, but that may actually only add to
their weirdly visceral qualities, as both films seem at least somewhat aware of how ridiculous they are. In that regard, there's probably a drinking
game to be fashioned around how often people either fall, are pushed, or simply dive into jungle waters that are inhabited by a mutant (and evidently
very hungry) crocodile, a recurring motif in both films that may actually provoke a bit of laughter after a while.
Killer Crocodile 2 is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Unfortunately, the back cover of this release seems to reference only the first film when it mentions a 2K scan from the original negative, and my hunch is this was sourced from either a secondary element, or alternatively if it were sourced from the negative, that negative may not have been especially well curated. This is overall a softer and less fulsomely detailed presentation than the first film, though at times fine detail is quite commendable, including in some fleeting close-ups of this film's marauding beast. The palette looks just a trifle wan throughout, though some of the outdoor material still pops appealingly enough. As with the first film, some of this film's darker scenes can look noticeably more roughhewn to the point that they appear slightly noisy at times, but otherwise grain resolves without any major issues.
Killer Crocodile 2 features DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono tracks in either English or Italian. Both of these tracks have some minor hurdles that weren't quite as much in evidence on the first film's audio options. As with the first film, the Italian track here sounded just slightly hotter to my ears, to the point that some of the low end synth washes in the score can crackle just a bit. There's some noticeable background hiss throughout the English language track, and recurrent popping and cracking on the Italian language track. All of this said, dialogue makes it through the gauntlet of age related wear and tear fine. Optional English subtitles for both the English and Italian language tracks are available.
Killer Crocodile 2 just doesn't seem to ever work up much energy, and there are times you can almost feel the cast collectively emanating a "can we just relax and enjoy the sun for a while" ambience. As with the first film, the creature effects are actually pretty good, though the mutant croc is typically only seen in very brief interstitial moments. This second film has somewhat dowdier video quality, and the soundtracks of both languages also encounter a few hiccups, though nothing I'd term overly problematic. The feature length documentary on Giannetto de Rossi is really quite interesting, though, for those who are considering making a purchase.
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