4.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Ten years on from the events of Monsters, and the 'Infected Zones' have now spread worldwide. In the Middle East a new insurgency has begun. At the same time there has also been a proliferation of Monsters in that region. The Army decide to draft in more numbers to help deal with this insurgency.
Starring: Johnny Harris (II), Sam Keeley, Joe Dempsie, Kyle Soller, Nicholas PinnockHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 91% |
Action | 86% |
Sci-Fi | 84% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
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 (B, C untested)
Movie | 1.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Director Gareth Edwards' Monsters was a well-received picture that earned the filmmaker a couple of large jobs, first on the excellent latest installment in the Godzilla universe and, coming in 2016, the hotly anticipated Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One. With no time on his schedule for smaller films, Edwards handed over duties for the Monsters follow-up to first-time feature filmmaker Tom Green. Monsters: Dark Continent is, regrettably, a shell of the original, a confused, hopelessly empty picture that meanders all over map, regurgitating modern military movie cliché and relegating its title creatures to, largely, background status. The movie aims for a dark and deep exploration of the impact of warfare on modern man but hopelessly falters at every turn, resulting in a movie packed with chaotic battle scenes, throwaway characterization, and depressingly flat story arcs that keep the movie from going anywhere but down the drain.
There be monsters here!
Monsters: Dark Continent features a gritty 1080p transfer. The image takes the typical modern warfare look whereby it's mildly washed out and favors earth tones -- sandy terrains, desert camo uniforms -- almost exclusively, leaving other splashes of bright color far and few between, coming largely by way of small background accents and blood. Details is precise across the board. Faces are complex, heavy uniform textures are intimately accurate, earthy terrain is richly detailed, and basic image clarity excels. Black levels impress, particularly out at night where depth and shadow detail are commendable. The image suffers from no discernible hiccups by way of blockiness, banding, or other maladies. This transfer is easily the best part of the Monsters: Dark Continent Blu-ray experience.
There's a fine line between "aggressive" and "overwhelming." Monsters: Dark Continent crosses it. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack never wants for power or spacing, but at reference levels it's too much with several scenes so punishingly loud that listeners will be left scrambling for the remote rather than enjoying a robust track. There are many general positives. There's no shortage of surround activity. Everything blends into the rears with no effort, creating one of the most efficiently full, and consistently so, soundtracks on the market. Music, gunfire other battle scene basics, and atmospherics consistently roll through the back. Clarity is frequently exacting, too. Gunfire pops with lifelike authority. Bullets impact metal surfaces to terrifyingly realistic effect, effectively placing the listener into the middle of various shootouts. Sirens blare, helicopters zip, ground vehicles rumble and rattle. Voices are often placed away from the center to create a more realistic "he's over there" sensation. General front-center dialogue plays with good, basic clarity and prioritization. But the track can be too much, and often is. Some of the most aggressive moments -- an underground fight between a dog and a small monster -- overwhelms the stage with chaotic din that becomes a garbled mass of sound. Some of the moments that pound out the deepest, longest-lasting bass likewise simply become overpowering rather than sonically effective. The track just tries too hard. It feels over engineered rather than organic. It's impressive when it's on, but listeners will likely be left looking to turn it down rather than become lost in the moment.
Monsters: Dark Continent contains a featurette and a teaser trailer.
Monsters: Dark Continent might entertain prepubescent boys in search of a movie with some modern combat and a few monsters, but it's otherwise an empty, dull film built around recycled characters, shrouded themes, and a wayward focus. The action scenes look good enough and the movie itself plays with a commendably polished and progressional sheen, but it's truly skin-deep and has nothing to offer on the inside. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Monsters: Dark Continent features excellent video, audio that's too aggressive, and a couple of throwaway extras. Skip it.
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