6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 5.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.4 |
A dysfunctional family goes on vacation and discovers an even more dysfunctional Irish town full of zombies.
Starring: David Lombard, Lindsay Goranson, Erica Rhodes, Josslyn DeCrosta, James WarkeHorror | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: LPCM 2.0
English, French, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 2.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Your imagination just has a way of going to some dark places.
Who would have thought that a review of Plague Town would start thusly with a quote
from Seabiscuit:
"Sometimes when the little guy, he doesn't know he's the little guy, he can do great big things."
Indeed, the makers of Plague Town have bested many of the multitudes of big budget, big
studio Horror pictures of
recent vintage. Though certainly not to be confused for a picture with any sort of budget or flashy
production values, Plague Town gets down to the nitty-gritty of Horror filmmaking and,
despite a plethora of obstacles that would otherwise cripple most other pictures, the film excels
because of its foundation in the essence of Horror, never forgetting the core principles that make for
a chilling, disturbing, and magnetic Horror movie.
Yup, they're dead!
Plague Town infects Blu-ray with a lackluster 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer. During the brighter scenes of the film, which encapsulate no more than several minutes of screen time, the image reveals adequate details. The grassy Irish fields don't necessarily look bad, but the transfer doesn't reveal each blade of grass as an individual, nor do they appear as a single green blob. Colors are drab and lifeless, too, the same grasses not at all vibrant, but then again the film takes on a rather dark tone in even the brighter scenes where colors appear washed out as if filtered through a dark lens. Once the darkness dominates the film, details and colors both generally vanish, much of the image taking on a dark blue, brown, and gray tone. The scenes are adequately lit to reveal flesh tones that, in context, appear about as stable and natural as one might expect. Blacks, however, sometimes appear bright and slightly gray, though occasionally the darker, truer black backgrounds swallow the scenery. The transfer also sees some slight contrast wavering and banding. Some grain is visible through most of the film, and the occasional white speckle crops up throughout. Though not a particularly handsome transfer, this one does capture the drab look of the film effectively enough.
Plague Town debuts on Blu-ray with a lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack. The most noticeable aspect of the track is the nice low end that tends to rattle the floorboards in several scenes throughout, coming both from music and sound effects. Countering the lows are a series of creepy, well-rendered highs, the sensation of screams off in the distance, sometimes encircling the listener and reinforcing the frightening atmosphere the film so masterfully creates. In support, subtle ambience spreads across the front; for example, a chilling wind blows throughout the soundstage. Some popular music in the film, a dance beat in chapter three, for example, features a crisp, satisfying delivery of the upbeat notes. However, some sound effects seem slightly detached from the image, lending to them an artificial tone. Dialogue, though generally fine, occasionally plays as slightly muffled. An all around solid track, this one isn't of reference-grade but it suits the atmosphere of the film nicely.
Plague Town creeps onto Blu-ray with a nice selection of extras. First is a commentary track with Director David Gregory and Producer Derek Curl. They discuss casting the film, shooting locations and the abuse they took in the filming of particular scenes, the weather during the shoot, the graphic gore and some of the effects shots, and plenty of other tidbits. The track takes on an engaging tone, the participants happily reminiscing and speaking even on some of the minutia of the film that brings both the track and the film together nicely. This is a recommended listen. A Visit to 'Plague Town' (480p, 28:35) is a solid making-of piece that features cast and crew interviews and delves into the plot, shooting the film, creating the look of the film, the camaraderie of the cast, the gore and effects, and plenty more. The Sounds of 'Plague Town' (480p, 16:09) examines the creation of the film's atmospheric score and unique sound effects. Also included is Scathed (480p, 40:45), one of Director Gregory's student films. Rounding out this supplemental package is the film's trailer (480p, 2:17).
Though by no means a perfect picture, Plague Town represents a breath of fresh air in a genre quickly becoming stale under the deluge of commercially-oriented, teen-friendly pictures packed with tripe clichés and watered-down stories. Plague Town takes the opposite approach, the film bound not by studio politics or even its small budget, but only by the limits of the creative imaginations behind the film. In the end, and despite some problems, the film works thanks to a good story and better filmmaking, the movie effortlessly pulling in the audience and never letting go, even when the plot and ending become obvious. Dark Sky's Blu-ray release delivers an adequate presentation of the film. Though the 1080p transfer doesn't glisten and glimmer, it offers up a suitable viewing experience that befits the film's modest origins. On the other hand, the soundtrack impresses and the included supplements are of good quality and quantity. Recommended for Horror fans looking for something different.
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