The Block Island Sound Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Block Island Sound Blu-ray Movie Review

Atmospheric, low-budget horror done well...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown January 9, 2025

The Block Island Sound has stirred up quite a bit of critical interest of late. But it's also a film that's divided audiences and critics, with reviewers impressed by its atmosphere, tension and sense of mounting, looming dread (you're not going to find much of a mold-break here) and many a viewer claiming it's overhyped, boring and much ado about nothing. Shot on a shoestring by brothers Kevin and Matthew McManus, it struck me as a smart, unnerving little indie that knows how to utilize its budget, milking every dollar for all it's worth. But it is a slowburn, acid-paced light on thrills thriller with no discernible beastie. Much like the original Blair Witch Project, the film builds towards something sinister you'll never actually see, and knowing that going in is probably the best gift I can give anyone reading this. For those who have properly adjusted expectations, long for something different to emerge from the seven horror seas, and are willing to shut off the lights and invest some patience in pseudo-Lovecraftian, vaguely apocalyptic terror, a diamond in the rough awaits.

When his father Tom (Neville Archambault) disappears from his boat after developing strange behavioral changes, only to wash ashore drowned days later, his son Harry (Chris Sheffield) struggles to understand what happened. His sister, Audry (Michaela McManus), who works for the Environment Protection Agency, helps in his unofficial investigation as his mental health suffers, particularly when he begins to have "encounters" of some sort with alarming phenomena anytime he takes his father's boat out to sea near Block Island; the same place where his father initially disappeared. Accompanying Audry is her co-worker Paul (Ryan O'Flanagan) and her young daughter Emily (Matilda Lawler, a natural), though neither are prepared to come face to... something with whatever is out on, above or below the water. As Harry and his sister continue to grapple with their father's death and his increasingly bizarre claims, they learn similar events are being reported all over the world, bringing them back to the sea again and again; Harry almost as if a will higher than his own is compelling him onward, Audry out of love and concern for her brother. The film also stars Jim Cummings, Jeremy Holm, Willie C. Carpenter and Heidi Neidermeyer.

To read the rest of my review of The Block Island Sound, click here.

The Block Island Sound Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Block Island Sound features a 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer that's faithful to cinematographer Alan Gwizdowski's intentions and the McManus's vision of horror on the open sea. The film gets dark, very dark, but delineation doesn't falter, allowing the shadows to serve the unease rather than limit it. Clarity remains excellent throughout regardless of whether the sun is high or set, boasting crisp, clean edge definition and exacting fine detail and textures. Take one look at the hairs of Tom's reddish mane, the wrinkles creasing his face, the bulging veins beneath his skin, the heavy textiles of his sea-clothes and tell me I'm wrong. The standard Blu-ray picture isn't quite as revealing (no surprise there), nor are its colors as rich. However, the palette is no slouch either. Cold but exceedingly natural, the icy hues are home to vivid primaries punctuating the wintry seas and shores, black levels that are deep and unnerving, and contrast that's consistently satisfying. I also didn't catch sight of any significant compression artifacts, macroblocking, errant noise or other issues that might have mucked up the proceedings. The only thing I did take note of, compared to the 4K image, is that the 1080p transfer does have a slight issue with banding when harsh light is set against the darkness of the ocean. It's extremely minor, and nearly imperceptible, but worth mentioning all the same. Regardless, this is low-budget horror with a high-quality digital transfer. Other than aesthetic choices, you won't find much to complain about here.

The Block Island Sound Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Though quieter than you might expect, The Block Island Sound's lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track knows how to amp up the horror with the howl of wind, the roar of the ocean, the crashing of waves, and the eerie sounds that accompany whatever phenomena Harry encounters. LFE output is strong and sturdy, acing its assignments with ease. Rear speaker activity is effective and enveloping, using precise directional effects and plenty of ambient know-how to create a Rhode Island seascape that's as believable as it is immersive. Dialogue is terrifically prioritized too, without sounding overly "dropped" into a more chaotic or frightening scene. There are a few issues in terms of overall fidelity but I suspect the film's sound design is the culprit, not its lossless audio track.

The Block Island Sound Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary (HD, 3 minutes) - Kevin and Matthew McManus. The commentary is found under the audio menu, rather than the special features menu.

• A Practical Apocalypse (HD, 3 minutes) - Crafting the story, with directors Kevin and Matthew McManus.

• Finding the Cast (HD, 9 minutes) - A casting featurette.

• Filming on the Water (HD, 7 minutes) - Not the easiest location but one that was necessary to the film.

• Special Effects on a Shoestring (HD, 8 minutes) - Though light on VFX, the film still required moments that couldn't be achieved fully with in-camera effects. McManus leads us behind the scenes to learn about the process of capturing a lot for a little.

• Los Angeles Behind-the-Scenes: Super 8MM (HD, 2 minutes) - Test footage.

• McManus Family Home Movies (HD, 6 minutes) - Homemade short film clips from childhood.

• Teaser Trailer (HD, 1 minute)

The Block Island Sound Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Block Island Sound won't work for everyone -- critics are consistently impressed while audiences are divided right down the middle -- but it's a stab at low-budget horror that doesn't take place in a forest (the go-to locale du jour in indie horror) and its mysteries hold to the end. If you crack the code too early, you might call it predictable and tiresome but I was in it till the very end, and more than satisfied as a result. The performances held my attention, the phenomena creeped me the hell out, and the endgame sent the hairs on my neck skyward. The film's standard Blu-ray release holds its own next to its big 4K brother, with an excellent video presentation, strong DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, and a decent complement of extras. Recommended.