Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		3.5

Prospect 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman June 6, 2021

As is disclosed virtually daily in any number of theatrical and/or Blu-ray releases, independent filmmakers relatively new to their craft often decide to make their feature debuts in the horror idiom, for a number of understandable reasons. Typically horror films can be shot on miniscule budgets, and aside from fake blood and maybe a prosthetic or two don't need unmanageable effects work, and they also seem to have a built in audience which is already accustomed to seeing productions that frankly may not always be "ready for prime time". In that regard, it's kind of interesting that co- writers and co-directors Christopher Caldwell and Zeek Earl have chosen to make their feature film debut in the arguably considerably more ambitious idiom of science fiction. As the two get into in some of the supplements included on this release, they still had to contend with what a "mainstream" filmmaker might think of as a laughably small budget, and for that reason the film doesn't really concentrate on mind blowing special effects, instead focusing on a perilous relationship between a gaggle of people more or less stranded on an alien planet. The result is interesting conceptually and it certainly deserves kudos for not really betraying its "indie film" status (meaning, it's rather artfully produced, overall), but the underlying narrative is both derivative and frankly downright confusing in terms of its arcane verbiage, which kind of reminded me of some of the more labyrinthine vocabularies that often accompany science fiction tinged anime offerings, where both mundane, everyday items and metaphysical concepts are given their own idiosyncratic words.

Prospect received a standalone 1080 release in 2019, and for those interested in a plot recap, I refer you to my colleague Brian Orndorf's Prospect Blu-ray review of that edition. I'd only echo Brian's mention that this film kind of becomes a "space western", with a putative hunt for "gold" and with competing interests and alliances shifting between the principal characters as they engage on that quest.

Prospect 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 Blu-ray.

Prospect is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Gunpowder & Sky with a 2160p transfer in 1.89:1. The IMDb lists a couple of Red models capturing at up to 8K source resolution, but omits what resolution the DI was, though some other online data suggests a 4K DI, which I find more than reasonable given the overall detail levels this presentation offers. I echo Brian's sentiments about the appearance of the 1080 version, which was often hazy with almost gray, milky looking blacks. The 4K UHD version offers a considerably more nuanced palette almost from the get go, with much better suffusion even in some of the production mastheads, and, once the film itself kicks in, noticeably deeper and more authentic looking blacks. The increased resolution makes the digital grain more apparent even against relatively more burnished backgrounds, and it really tends to be more noticeable in this version against some of the brighter backgrounds, or even with the yellow lettering of the title card. At times this can veer toward noisy territory, if only slightly. The increased resolution also made me more aware of some of the apparently deliberate focus pulling that repeatedly goes on, where individual segments of the frame can pass in and out of clarity for a second or two. In more general terms, though, clarity is on the whole improved across the board in this 4K UHD version, to the point that I'm not so sure some of the "handmade" costumes and props benefit, since more of the lo-fi handiwork can be spotted now. HDR has added all sorts of interesting new highlights, including some brighter oranges as the two initial characters attempt a landing, or even later, when one of those two returns and in the inside of the spaceship attains more of a peach-ish hue. A lot of the forested material looks slightly more yellow-green in this version than in the 1080 iteration. There are some occasional problems, some of which are perhaps due to the compositing of the "dust" effect. At shortly past the one hour mark, for instance, there's some supposedly pinkish debris floating through the air that tends to look pretty noisy and even pixellated.

Prospect 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Prospect features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 which is decently immersive given the film's lower budget which shies away from big, showy special effects. There's still some convincing rumble and ambient echo in the cavernous parts of the spaceship early on, and the film's kind of ethereal score by Daniel L.K. Caldwell, which kind of reminded me of groups like Lesiëm at times, really wafts through the surround channels almost hauntingly at times. The glut of outdoor material, shot in Washington state, also provides good opportunities for well placed ambient environmental sounds. While dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly for the most part, there are occasional hurdles encountered when various characters are speaking with their space helmets on. Optional English subtitles are available.

Prospect 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This limited edition contains the following supplements on its two discs.

4K UHD Disc

• Commentary Track with Filmmakers Christopher Caldwell and Zeek Earl can be accessed under the Audio Setup Menu.

1080 Disc

• Commentary Track with Filmmakers Christopher Caldwell and Zeek Earl can be accessed under the Audio Setup Menu.


• 2021 Retrospective Interview with Filmmakers Christopher Caldwell and Zeek Earl (HD; 34:31) also includes some snippets of behind the scenes footage.


• "Prospect" Short Film from 2014 (HD; 13:58)


• Behind the Scenes Featurette (HD; 4:33) was included on the previous Blu-ray release. See Brian's review for some interesting information.


• Deleted Scenes

  Channel Rat (HD; 3:08)

  
  

  Leroy (HD; 4:01)

• Inside Prospect

  Helmets of Prospect (HD; 1:16)

  
  

  The Drop Pod (HD; 1:17)

• Scene Analyses

  Merc Camp - with Costume Designer Aidan Viddi (HD; 7:12)

  
  

  Dust VFX - with Visual Effects Supervisor Ian Hubert (HD; 3:16)

  
  

  Spaceship VFX - with Visual Effects Supervisor Ian Hubert (HD; 4:45)

  
  

  Cee Pod Interior - with Production Designer Matt Acosta (HD; 2:50)

  
  

  Ezra's Arrival - with Production Designer Matt Acosta (HD; 5:15)

• Trailers and Spots

  Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:35)

  
  

  Teaser Trailer (HD; 1:03)

  
  

  Bumpers (HD; 00:17)

  
  

  Spots (HD; 00:18, 1:04)

Additionally, the keepcase includes an ostensible pamphlet about Aurelac Prospecting and getting rich on the Green Moon.

Prospect 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's a lot to admire about Prospect, but a bit more clarity in the screenwriting department might have given this more of a visceral (and comprehensible) impact. The "space western" element is decently handled, though it does get tiresome watching people just sit there and point guns at each other after a while. The film really quite artfully utilizes an apparently shoestring budget to often rather impressive effect. This edition offers more copious supplements than the previous 1080 release, and the perhaps surprisingly robust 4K UHD version definitely improves on both overall detail levels and especially the palette, most noticeably in terms of black levels, for those who are considering a purchase.