6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A young man encounters a Satanic cult.
Starring: Lilly Brown (I)Fantasy | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
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 verified
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 2.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
1991’s “The Black Crystal” arrives on Blu-ray, making its disc debut courtesy of AFGA, who elect to sell the picture with cover art title font that’s an exact copy of the 1982 Jim Henson/Frank Oz masterpiece, “The Dark Crystal.” It’s a bewildering artistic choice, as the features have nothing in common and share no production connection, sure to leave those expecting to see a Gefling or two greatly disappointed. Instead of high fantasy and exquisite puppet work, “The Black Crystal” (which is titled “The Black Triangle” on the film) offers a no-budget thriller involving ill-defined magic and lengthy scenes of people driving. So much driving. Writer/director/composer/editor/star Mike Conway, who may have some type of automobile fetish, attempts to create excitement in the wilds of Tucson, Arizona with the endeavor, arranging a hunt for a special crystal pyramid involving an Average Joe and the jeans-only cult that wants to kill him.
While originally shot on Super 8, "The Black Crystal" only survives on a videotape master, which is the source for the AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Fine detail isn't available here, but a general sense of frame elements are understood. Color is uneven but not problematic, dealing with primaries on clothing and plenty of rural activity, with greenery appreciable. Blood is also reasonably distinct. Delineation is acceptable for this level of resolution. Source has a few points of damage.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix handles the feature's crude sense of sound recording, offering intelligible dialogue exchanges throughout the listening event. Scoring offers a decently clear synth sound, supporting moods satisfactorily.
"The Black Crystal" is a backyard production, with limited resources to really deliver powerful thriller activity. The last act offers gunplay and chases around Summer Haven, which is diverting enough. Daniel makes his threats and Will and Daphne look to survive the afternoon, and we learn more about these relationships, which helps to diminish the fantastical nature of the premise. As for magic, there's almost none in the feature, with the pyramid largely for show, becoming the MacGuffin as Conway spends more time developing a droopy detective story for Will and his, I guess, irresistible charms. "The Black Crystal" has a few peppy scenes, but these moments are few and far between when there's driving to be photographed and commanding cult power to, for some reason, not visualize.
2000
2018
Screaming Eagles / Rough Riders / Commune of Death
1972
1989
Vinegar Syndrome Archive
1984
Slipcover in Original Pressing
1985
1970
2014
Perdues dans New York
1989
Sangue negli abissi
1990
Special Edition
1986
1992
1982
Death Shot
1973
1982
1989
2015
1986
1987
1992