6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.3 |
The spirit of a long-dead prisoner returns for revenge, haunting the prison's new governor.
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Chelsea Field, Lane Smith, Lincoln Kilpatrick, Tommy 'Tiny' ListerHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 13% |
Supernatural | 12% |
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 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 2.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Some things just won't stay buried.
The "atmospheric" Horror movie isn't always better than the straightforward genre film in which some maniacal, unstoppable slasher murders a bunch
of people, but when it's done well it certainly gives those sorts a run for their money. Prison is a fine little film, a small genre gem that takes a
very simple premise and a really scary location and marries them in a movie that's just as creepy, intense, and chilling as any other of its kind. In
essence, this is a "haunted house" movie set in a prison rather than some old hilltop mansion, and there are hundreds of potential victims with no
means of
escape rather than an intimate gathering of would-be victims with probably less in the way of street smarts and survival instincts than this, or any,
prison's
inmates. The usual elements are at play here -- the unexplainable killings, weird noises, general unpredictability, and a slow growth towards a violent
and frenetic finish -- but they're given a heightened sense of peril considering all of the unique little elements at play in the "dilapidated prison" setting.
This is a fine, classically styled Horror picture that should satisfy genre fans in search of a balanced and memorable little film.
Danger freed.
Prison arrives on Blu-ray with a rather good-looking high definition presentation. It's fairly soft and fuzzy to open -- the execution sequence feels almost dreamlike, which, in fact, it turns out to be -- but the film sharpens up nicely afterwards. This is never the pinnacle of Blu-ray clarity and perfect detailing, but Shout! Factory has produced a good, clean Blu-ray, one that's gently filmic with a light grain overlay. Details are always adequate, and very good in the brighter scenes out in the prison's courtyard. It captures the old, battered, roughly textured walls quite nicely; the same may be said of denim jeans, prison shirts, and general facial details. Things can get a little murky in darker shots, but the general stability more than satisfies in such scenes. Colors follow suit; they're at their brightest and most balanced in well-lit scenes, and basic shades hold their own in the prison's bowels. Black levels are fairly even and accurate throughout, ditto flesh tones. There's very little in the way of wear and tear; a few vertical lines are really the only eyesores here. Edge halos are few and other unwanted attributes are also minimal. This isn't the best Blu-ray catalogue transfer to date, but it's a solid one that fans of the film and genre aficionados both should enjoy.
Prison's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is disappointingly inconsistent. It begins well enough with an obvious cinematic flair, a rather big presentation with good spacing and clarity of an enjoyable, classically styled genre score. The track also makes good use of the entire stage in placing positive, distinct sound effects here and there, like a ringing telephone off to one side or precisely placed ambient effects throughout the prison. Unfortunately, such are the highlights of the track; it begins to wobble, lightly at first and more prominently later in the film. The track plays with a general unevenness to it. Wide, reverberating footfalls in the empty prison sound a bit detached in one early scene, and a dialogue exchange at the same time sounds rather shallow. That shallow dialogue remains through much of the movie; it's almost lost in a few scenes and never quite as prominent and accurate as it might should be. A big wall of a wind-like sound in chapter three lacks precision clarity but does offer some heavy low end power. There's a good heft to thunder and machine gun fire late in the film, but again there's an evident absence of crispness and clarity. All around, the track feels rather uneven. It's good enough to get listeners through, but it's far from perfect.
Prison's supplemental section is dominated by a solid commentary track and a wonderful "making-of" retrospective piece. A DVD copy
of the film is
also
included in the case, and Scream Factory has also produced reversible cover art.
Prison is an electric movie -- literally -- and one that tells a good, basic tale of supernatural revenge in the confines of a dreary, inhospitable prison. It's well acted and photographed both, but the production values and work on either side of the camera are largely dwarfed by the imposing figure of the prison itself. Certainly Renny Harlin does well to make it a character in its own right, and Prison is indeed shaped primarily through its namesake, a big, imposing figure that seems to grow ever smaller as the violence and terror mount. This isn't the pinnacle of the Horror genre, but it is a solid, dependable scary movie that shows the power of atmosphere in genre moviemaking. Shout! Factory's Blu-ray release of Prison offers good video, mediocre audio, and a fair assortment of extras. Recommended.
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