Rating summary
| Movie |  | 2.5 |
| Video |  | 4.0 |
| Audio | | 4.0 |
| Extras | | 4.0 |
| Overall | | 4.0 |
The Deadly Mantis Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 24, 2019
In the giant movie monster craze of the 1950s, “The Deadly Mantis” must win some type of award for longest wait for total destruction. The 1957
production isn’t one to swiftly arrange a cinematic war zone with its insect invader, with director Nathan Juran (“Attack of the 50 Foot Woman”)
tasked with filling 80 minutes of screen time without overdoing interactions with the titular creature. It’s a sluggish endeavor, but “The Deadly
Mantis” has a curious concentration on military procedure, with Juran perhaps understanding the absurdity of the threat, working to create a
cinematic space where mayhem involving a massive praying mantis could look plausible, highlighting the latest in weaponry and surveillance
techniques.
Craig Stevens, William Hopper, and Alix Talton star in “The Deadly Mantis,” tasked with creating a level of reality to pure fiction. Dramatics are
secured by screenwriter Martin Berkeley, who, perhaps under studio orders, shoehorns in a brief romantic subplot to keep the creature feature
suitably warm for all audiences. However, the rest of “The Deadly Mantis” stays in investigative mode, with the experts examining evidence, traveling
to disaster zones, and maintaining debates in tastefully decorated offices. It’s not necessarily thrilling to watch, but the actors are gifted, working to
make mundane analysis as exciting as it can be.
The Deadly Mantis Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
Presenting a "New 2K scan of the original film elements," Shout Factory strives to give "The Deadly Mantis" a proper presentation after some screw-ups
with previous home video releases. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation handles the look of the feature well, maintaining grain
and detail, giving costumes some touchable textures and facial reactions definition. Sets are open for study, as are special effects, providing a sense of
craftsmanship for the titular menace. Delineation is satisfactory and whites are calm, achieving cinematographic balance. Obviously, stock footage is in
rough shape, but the source is fine overall, without much damage.
The Deadly Mantis Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix carries the limited sonic scope of "The Deadly Mantis" well. It's a comfortable listening event, without distortive highs
for scenes of panic and combat, while some weight is understood for monster movement. Dialogue exchanges are acceptable, detailing performances
with a few minor shifts in volume. Scoring isn't precise, but it fits in with the track, giving horror and military action some emphasis. Mild hiss is found
during the mix.
The Deadly Mantis Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- Commentary features film historians Tom Weaver and David Schecter.
- "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (92:16, SD) is a 1997 episode of the classic television show, with Mike and the Bots taking
on "The Deadly Mantis."
- Still Gallery (7:56) presents publicity stills, poster art, lobby cards, and newspaper ads.
- And a Theatrical Trailer (2:09, SD) is included.
The Deadly Mantis Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Nearly half the film is over before "The Deadly Mantis" starts truly detailing the insect's power and fear factor, and once the movie switches over to
extermination, it comes alive, creating a chance to watch primitive but fun special effects. "The Deadly Mantis" eventually finds a rhythm of disaster
and character activity, but it does take a while before such goodness is unearthed.
