6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
What secret lurks 20,000 feet below the waves in the paranormal realm called The Bermuda Triangle? That’s the question a scientist, his students and a young man haunted by nightmarish memories of his Bermuda childhood ask themselves. The answer involves a beauty who has sold her soul for eternal youth a. And a giant sea turtle that leaves death in its wake.
Starring: Leigh McCloskey, Carl Weathers, Connie Sellecca, Julie Woodson, Ruth AttawayHorror | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1, 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A fitfully engaging TV movie from a decade full of 'em, Tsugunobu Kotani's The Bermuda Depths (1978) was written by Arthur Rankin Jr. and produced by Rankin/Bass -- yep, that Rankin/Bass -- and first aired on ABC before earning a short Japanese theatrical run. Hypnotic and hazy, it's the kind of film that's easy to get lost in and, if you managed to catch it back then, The Bermuda Depths has likely lingered deep in your brain as a vague, unformed memory. Not because it's especially great, mind you, but the film's odd combination of dream-like drama and campy, low-budget thrills at least helps it stand out from the crowd. And if that's not enough for you, Apollo Creed wears a crop top.
So, Magnus might be in love with a turtle? Hey, it happens.
To its credit, The Bermuda Depths delivers plenty of intrigue almost effortlessly, letting its dreamlike atmosphere and deliberate pace do most of the heavy lifting. In short, it's a mystery you actually want to see get solved. Where it runs into trouble, however, is the dialogue and supporting performances, which aren't anything special -- some of these lines and interactions are B-move grade at best, with the worst of them stopping the film's hypnotism dead in its tracks. Yet The Bermuda Depths comes awfully close to "more than a TV movie" at times if only for its admirable execution, which injects a decent amount of style and substance into what might otherwise be a linear, vaguely compelling small-town mystery. The bittersweet final act also maintains a certain degree of mystery while refusing to answer questions that other films might have tied into a too-neat bow. Don't get me wrong: as a whole The Bermuda Depths is rarely more than "pretty good" and its dated effects (which include miniature work done by the team behind Ultraman) squash the illusion of a few third-act scenes, but these era-specific charms kinda-sorta work in its favor.
The Bermuda Depths was the second of three shared collaborations between Rankin/Bass and Tsuburaya Productions (the others being The Last Dinosar and The Ivory Ape), and the first
to reach Blu-ray courtesy of Warner Archives. It absolutely shines from a visual standpoint, as this 1080p transfer comes from a sparkling new 4K
scan of the original camera negative... and in addition to two different visual presentations of the film (the open-matte version seen on TV, plus a
1.85:1 version only shown in Japanese theaters), we also get an audio commentary. This is absolutely terrific treatment of a title that,
appropriately enough, might otherwise be nothing more than a distant memory.
Not many vaguely remembered made-for-TV movies get the full 4K restoration treatment, and for that reason The Bermuda Depths stands head-and-shoulders above most productions from this era. Warner Archive's 1080p transfer features a flat-out beautiful image that showcases the terrific outdoor footage shot on location in Bermuda, giving it an appearance that likewise stands out in a crowd.. Color depth and image detail are fantastic with no shortage of screenshot-worthy compositions, from the impossibly blue skies to crystal-clear waters, beautiful close-ups of Connie Sellecca as adult Jennie Haniver, her secret cove, and of course Carl Weathers' denim cutoffs and Speedo. Barely a minute goes by without a freeze- frame-worthy moment as this Blu-ray handles the disc compression perfectly -- even with two different aspect ratios on one disc, it runs at an extremely high bitrate and rarely showcase anything but a perfect image. A few effects-related shot exhibit noticeable softness and focus issues, but I appreciate that Warner Archive, as usual, has chosen to preserve their original appearance rather than attempt artificial sharpening or other processing tricks. Film grain is fine throughout, along with light but not distracting noise during the darkest indoor scenes. Overall, it's more top-tier work from the studio and easily the best this film has ever looked.
Warner Archive also recently uploaded a few videos showing off their new transfer, including the four-minute opening sequence in both 1.33:1 and 1.85:1 aspect ratios, plus an Oscar-worthy performance by Carl Weathers.
The Bermuda Depths' basic but capable soundtrack is well-represented on Warner Archive's solid DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix, which balances sound effects and the terrific original score with ease. Dialogue is mostly clean and clear, even when the boat's motor rattles and churns away during on-board conversations. A few dodgy moments of ADR are present and mixed well with audio captured on location, resulting in a clean and satisfactory presentation that likely sounds way better than it did coming through your console TV speakers more than four decades ago.
Optional English (SDH) subtitles are offering during both the 1.33:1 and 1.85:1 versions of the film.
This Blu-ray ships in a standard keepcase with original one-sheet poster art and two bonus features.
Tsugunobu Kotani's The Bermuda Depths is a dated but very memorable made-for-TV production from the late 1970s that likely scared or at least bewitched young audiences hoping to catch a glimpse of its attractive leads. The film's hazy atmosphere and leisurely pace manage to create a potent backdrop even when the script can't quite keep up, and its charmingly low-budget effects are just icing on the cake. Even so, it's not for everyone... but even newcomers that are halfway interested will probably have a good time. They'll also be charmed by Warner Archive's ridiculously great Blu-ray package, which serves up an absolutely outstanding 4K-sourced restoration, two different aspect ratios, and even a brand-new audio commentary. This one's easily recommended, especially to established fans.
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