Redcon-1 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Redcon-1 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 15, 2019

It’s a great, big zombie-infested world out there, and co-writer/director Chee Keong Cheung is trying to do something with it. “Redcon-1” has the disadvantage of being yet another tale of an undead uprising (or viral plague), taking the action to Britain with hopes to shake up expectations with atypical locations and a military approach to monster warfare. There’s ambition to “Redcon-1,” which strives to be a bit more emotionally grounded than the competition, but the helmer has serious issues with editing and cinematography, making things overlong and too shaky-cam, which works to lower viewer interest as the story unfolds.

“Redcon-1” is a blend of tone and tributes, with pieces of “28 Days Later,” “Escape from New York,” and “The Warriors” simmering in the cinematic stew with countless other influences. There’s something there in the People-on-a-Mission tale of retrieval within quarantined areas filled with infected brutes, but the screenplay isn’t economical. It’s attempting to define characters and secure motivations, but there’s little pace, even with blasts of action. At nearly two hours, “Redcon-1” is asking a lot of its audience to hang around with tepid personalities and basic quest/revenge plotting.

Redcon-1 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.40:1 aspect ratio) presentation has a lot of detail to work with, as "Redcon-1" provides zombie hordes for study, picking out the textures of bloodied flesh and dead eyes. Military particulars are tended too as well, with costuming fibrous. Locations retain dimension and decoration, capturing the bombed-out world well. Colors are bright, delivering secure primaries, offering extra attention to deep red bloodshed. Clothing is varied, and greenery is exact, offering a feel for the open world. Skintones are natural. Delineation is strong, preserving frame information. Some mild banding is periodically detected.

Redcon-1 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 Dolby Digital mix does well with scenes of violence, delivering sharp gunfire and growling undead. Surrounds aren't exhausted, mostly used to detail atmospherics and push out scoring cues, which retain a strong synth presence. Dialogue exchanges are direct, supporting accents and emphasis. Low-end has its explosive moments.

Redcon-1 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Behind the Scenes (HD) is broken down into "The Making of 'Redcon-1'" (3:31), "Costume Design" (:58), "Fight Choreography" (1:14), "Training and Weaponry" (2:29), "SFX Application Video" (:48), and "The Lives Behind the Extras" (5:27).

• Deleted Scenes (HD) include "Pre-Title Sequence" (4:42), "Bernsty and Reeves Discuss Religion" (2:23), "Rodrigo and Kira On Watch" (2:04), and "Top 10 Zombies That Didn't Make the Cut" (1:53).

• "Redcon-1" Events (HD) offer "European Film Premiere" (3:19) and "'Redcon-1' Descends on MCM Comic Con Glasgow" (1:03).

• Interview (4:22, HD) is a Skype-based conversation with executive producer Kevin Eastman (co-creator of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"), who shares his fondness for the picture and his support of co-writer/director Chee Keong Cheung.

• And a Trailer (2:11, HD) is included.

Redcon-1 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Redcon-1" is made for people who love their zombie entertainment, and it's filled with blood and guts, keeping violence a priority, refusing to let some scenes of questionable taste stop it in full. "Redcon-1" is a long ride and not very rewarding, but the production is certainly eager to showcase its creative achievements, managing to do something minor with very limited funds.