6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A group of five people working to stay alive in a post-apocalyptic future discover what they think is a safe, abandoned farmhouse, but they soon find themselves fighting to stay alive as a gang of bloodthirsty predators attack.
Starring: Dominic Monaghan, Shawn Ashmore, Shannyn Sossamon, Ashley Bell, Michael EklundHorror | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
I just wait to die.
A WWE Films production with no wrestlers? A mega-corporation takes a big step -- but not so much of a big risk -- with The Day, a drained
and dour end-of-times tale about a group of survivors battling another collection of survivors because, well, that's what people do in the apocalypse,
apparently, especially when they're hungry. For anyone who hasn't been paying attention, doom and gloom and end times are all the rage these
days, be it in the form of zombies,
economic collapse, war, the Mayan calendar, name-any-upheaval. End times is making ends meet for countless outlets, whether Hollywood pictures,
gun shops, or
preparedness merchants. Perhaps what's so interesting about tales of survival and togetherness in the most challenging of times is that they can
inspire or disgust in a flash, separately or even together at once. The Day does a little bit of
both, but mostly hones in on the latter by painting a fairly hopeless picture wrought with gloom and violence and mistrust and broken relationships.
It's not as intense as The Divide or as unforgettably polished and dreary as The Road, but The Day works as a serviceable film and a
worthwhile dosage of doom and gloom for anyone interested in a little dispirit in their lives.
Take aim.
The Day's dreary and lifeless visual stylings don't translate into high definition eye candy, but Anchor Bay's 1080p transfer is at least faithful to the filmmakers' vision. The image opens with absolutely no color and livens up only slightly as the titles appear. Weeds and grasses capture a bit of life in the form of a yellowish tinge, while wooden gun stocks also take on a bit more color and brightness compared to most other surroundings. Otherwise, color is largely nonexistent, limited to pale, basic shades that are so light they rarely stand apart from the gloom. On the other hand, detail is quite good, even under the absence of bright light and brilliant colors. Facial lines, tattered clothes, worn woods, and other basic elements capture adequate textural accuracy. Blacks often look a bit washed out, but their appearance remains in-line with the film's intended visual style. Likewise, flesh tones are pale but by design. Light banding and occasional softness both appear at times, but not to any significant detriment to the transfer. Viewers won't turn to The Day for visual dazzle, but most should be satisfied with what is a faithful transfer of a gloomy movie.
The Day dawns on Blu-ray with a high yield, highly enjoyable Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. From the start, listeners will enjoy involved and steady surround usage. Blowing wind sends gusts and debris around the stage to natural, almost spooky effect. Rain gently saturates the stage a bit later, coming down steadily through every speaker. Music enjoys similar spacing and accuracy; heavy notes notably send a foreboding sense of dread through the stage, and a few good, positive rumbles from the low end aid in setting a critically dark and disturbing atmosphere. A heavy, blaring, and consistent alarm bell rips through the stage with frightening power and realism, making for a fine sound sequence and also a contextually chilling use of piercing sound. Gunfire suffices in energy and accuracy, and dialogue is consistently clear and delivered from the center channel. This is a very good sound presentation, one that captures the lifeless environment and the hellish effects of it with striking precision.
The Day's primary supplement is a filmmaker commentary track.
The Day won't go down as the great reference end of the world Action movie, but it certainly tackles its niche well enough and delivers a fairly intense moviegoing experience, at least for those who enjoy their movies gray and their futures hopeless. The Day does everything well but nothing so well as to make it all that memorable. Phony digital gore and occasionally bland acting hurt the film, but it's saved by high intensity, a quality atmosphere, and a straightforward, no-frills tale of violence and survival. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of The Day is disappointingly short on extras, but the A/V presentation is just fine. Core genre fans will want to pick this one up. Recommended to anyone familiar with the acronym TEOTWAWKI.
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