6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
It is the year 2022. A mysterious systems failure causes the crew of a spaceship to be stranded on the dark side of the moon, while rapidly running out of fuel and oxygen. They are surprised to discover a NASA space shuttle floating in space, and board it in the hope of salvaging some supplies. One by one, the crew is possessed and killed, and it is up to Paxton Warner to find the links between the dark side of the moon, the Bermuda Triangle, and the Devil himself.
Starring: Robert Sampson, Will Bledsoe, Joe Turkel, Camilla More, John DiehlHorror | 100% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo verified. 2 "separate" set-up options on disc = "2.0 Stereo" & "Vintage Audio Mix"
None
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Legend has it that if you put The Dark Side of the Moon in your Blu-ray player, press Play but keep the sound turned off, and then boot up a CD of the original soundtrack of The Wizard of Oz to start at exactly the same time, the two properties line up in incredible, almost magical, ways. That’s right, isn’t it? Of course, I joke, but The Dark Side of the Moon’s very title is obviously going to remind a lot of people of Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon, despite a complete lack of connection between the two other than their titles. The Dark Side of the Moon was evidently a straight to video release back in 1990, when the film's timeframe of 2022 probably seemed far enough way to feel "futuristic". 2022 is considerably closer now, making some of the film's plot points, like common space travel, seem a little, well, optimistic.
The Dark Side of the Moon is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of MVD Visual and Unearthed Classics, an imprint of Unearthed Films, with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. The back cover of the release touts a "newly restored 4K transfer" without providing any other technical specifications. This is often quite striking looking, with good detail levels in more brightly lit moments, and some really good fine detail levels in any number of extreme close-ups. The palette is nicely suffused, and some of the minimal effects, including lots of reptilian like eye inserts, can look rather creepy. There is a lot of very dimly lit material in this film, and detail levels understandably lessen in these moments. There are passing issues with crush in some of the darkest moments. Grain is in evidence throughout the presentation, but the encode seems to be somewhat variable, with occasionally slightly pixellated, even shiny, looking grain. Despite whatever "restoration" this underwent, eagle eyed videophiles will still spot occasional signs of age related wear and tear, though nothing that I personally would term major in any way. My score is 4.25.
There are two LPCM 2.0 tracks available on this release, one listed as "vintage", which has noticeably more anemic amplitude as well as more evident signs of age related wear and tear. What I am assuming is the restored track is the disc's default, and provides a nicely energetic accounting of the film's soundtrack, which, like the entire production, was probably hobbled by less than fulsome funding. The synth laden score washes quite nicely through the soundstage, and dialogue and effects are delivered cleanly and clearly without any problems whatsoever.
The Dark Side of the Moon is kind of unashamedly lo-fi, but for fans of this kind of entertainment redolent of the VHS era, the film gets the job done and provides a couple of okay jolts along the way. Unearthed Classics has provided a release with generally strong technical merits and some enjoyable supplements, for those considering a purchase.
1966
1964
1989
2001
1999
2018
1959
2000
Standard Edition
1953
2015
Enemy From Space
1957
Special Edition | The Creeping Unknown
1955
1953
Monsters from the Moon
1953
Space Mission to the Lost Planet / Vampire Men of the Lost Planet
1970
1959
2K Restoration
1958
10th Anniversary Special Edition
2008
1957
Warner Archive Collection
1951