5.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A highly unlikely band of heroes traverses a post-apocalyptic wasteland to rescue a scientist from the tyrannical Dark One and his army of robots.
Starring: Jennifer DeloraSci-Fi | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
1986’s “Robot Holocaust” is a B-movie that’s not terribly concerned with protecting storytelling balance. The first half of the feature is one long exposition dump, with writer/director Tim Kincaid laboring to create a futureworld where the Earth is ruined, robots rule, and a new hope is offered with a band of warriors trying to defeat a series of villains. There’s much world-building to sort through, necessitating a narrator to help with the heavy lifting, as Kincaid has no throttle when it comes to the speed of new information whipped at the viewer. The second half of the picture is almost completely devoid of storytelling, with the helmer trying to pay off patience with his extended identification game by issuing battle sequences and lengthy shots of travel around a single location. One side of “Robot Holocaust” has everything, the other has nothing. It’s a bizarre effort to begin with, but such top-heavy filmmaking disrupts the obvious fun factor of the low-budget extravaganza.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation secures the limited scope of "Robot Holocaust," which mostly takes place inside industrial locations. The dank setting finds a decent level of detail to enjoy, surveying coarse metal machines and exaggerated costuming, which is made up of fluffier fur, softer leather, and tight spandex. Outdoor encounters retain depth, giving the effort the little expanse it desires. Robot masks are textured, along with human facial surfaces. Colors are acceptable, dealing well with naturalistic surroundings during exteriors, while disco lighting indoors brings out brighter hues, blasting with lighter reds and blues. Delineation is comfortable. Source is in good shape, displaying mild speckling.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix secures the adventurous side of "Robot Holocaust," offering clear dialogue exchanges to help catch up on all the exposition of the first half. Performances are defined, even with artificial robot voices, and surges of rage stay balanced, never reaching distortive extremes. Scoring is softer, with cues supportive but not precise, leaving some of the more triumphant battle scenes lacking in musical power, but this appears to be an inherent issue due to quality of the recordings. Sound effects aren't overwhelming, but metal clangs and explosions register as intended.
There's the subplot concerning Jorn's imprisonment, held by Valaria, who'd rather be twisting around the aforementioned pleasure machine than dealing with invaders. Kincaid tries to keep things R-rated to help out the ogle factor, offering violence and nudity to spice up a viewing experience that slowly deflates, eventually settling on the cast marching around tunnels one too many times, making a once breezy 79-minute sit feel much longer as the helmer tries to lock down some closure to a picture that doesn't really have a beginning. "Robot Holocaust" isn't wham-bang entertainment, which is a shame, but there are appreciable production elements, as Kincaid embraces strange costuming and genre decoration, and he's clearly focused on constructing a fantasy world with next to no money, often succeeding with minor triumphs of design and location.
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