6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Horror | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
1991’s “Strays” was produced for the USA Network, with the channel hoping to provide some frights for the Christmas season, turning to the realm of feral cats and their special ways with torment to find necessary suspense. Cats are a common foe for animal attack features, offering a natural menace, especially when imagined as undomesticated villains only out to mark their territory and slaughter trespassers. The screenplay by Shaun Cassidy (the famous pop star from the 1970s makes his writing debut here) makes a game attempt to come up with something familiar yet sinister with the material, playing around with horror cliches as he concocts a rural battle between a pack of felines and an understandably overwhelmed family new to the area, unfamiliar with boundaries. “Strays” is mild when it comes to powerhouse frights, unable to reach beyond the confines of basic cable television and really go for broke when dealing with furry attackers, but Cassidy is working to make something spooky with the material, successfully dreaming up situations that either result in extended showdowns or painful death.
Originally created for television, "Strays" makes a surprising move to Blu-ray, offering an AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation. While there's little cinematic heft to the imagery, the viewing experience is pleasant, offering satisfactory detail throughout, picking up on the villains and their fine fur, while human participants enjoy fibrous costumes and textured skin surfaces. Household interiors are compelling, with a full read of decoration, and attic/cellar spaces preserve their threatening appearance with spider webs and jagged metal edges. Colors are enjoyable, retaining the woodsy look of the house, also showcasing bright greenery. Clothing includes period hues, and Busfield's red hair is intact. Cat appearances are also varied. Delineation is strong, maintaining frame information in dark stretches. Grain is film-like. Source is in good shape, without significant damage. Some light banding is detected.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix secures the essentials of the "Strays" listening event, presenting defined dialogue exchanges, which explore domestic routine and increasing survival panic without losing consistency. Scoring is also appealing, with decent instrumentation to best support suspense sequences. Sound effects are defined, exploring rainfall and, of course, feline intimidation, with growls and hisses enjoying louder volume to generate unease.
Director John McPherson delivers a good portion of attack sequences, saving major damage for the final act, which finds Lindsay weaponizing water to defend the house from Boss Cat and her soldiers. There's a slight mean streak to the production, which isn't above utilizing child endangerment for cheap scares, which dampens some of the movie's fun factor. However, such ugliness doesn't define the viewing experience, quickly returning to more traditional offerings of domestic defense and unfortunate demises. There are more thrills than frights in "Strays," and while it doesn't go bananas due to broadcast limitations, there's a fair amount of violence to enjoy. Performances are quite good as well, finding Quinlan committing to panic as Lindsay scrambles around in survival mode, locating unexpected ways to battle cats. And while Busfield has the less active part, his thespian liveliness is welcome, creating a defined personality when cliché was expected. "Strays" isn't advanced in development or execution, and it could deal with a general rethinking of its second act, but the effort is enjoyable, as most pictures concerning a cat uprising are.
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