Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.0 |
| Video | | 4.0 |
| Audio | | 4.0 |
| Extras |  | 2.5 |
| Overall |  | 3.5 |
The Earth Dies Screaming Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 26, 2016
1964’s “The Earth Dies Screaming” is fascinating in the way it uses silence as its primary weapon. It takes about eight minutes before the first line is uttered in the picture, with director Terence Fisher preferring to observe the end of the world through action, studying various horrors and the introduction of the lead character, an apocalypse survivor played by Willard Parker. “The Earth Dies Screaming” eventually gives in to traditional character interplay, but for a moment, it bravely trusts in pure visual storytelling, which is a refreshing way to commence this spare thriller.
Doomsday first arrives with a gas attack, knocking out a good portion of the population, but the survivors have a special challenge to master with the arrival of killer robots who stalk the streets, sweeping up those that remain. “The Earth Dies Screaming” gets considerable mileage out of the mechanical monsters, building evasion sequences around the metal enemy. Threat is soon multiplied by the arrival of white-eyed zombies, adding a horror aspect to an otherwise dry viewing experience. Once “The Earth Dies Screaming” introduces dialogue, it loses traction as a nail-biter. However, Fisher knows what he’s doing here, working through exposition and character introduction to get right back into the fight. Nobody’s watching to hear backstories, they want robot and zombie action, and Fisher is more than happy to indulge.
The Earth Dies Screaming Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The AVC encoded image (1.66:1 aspect ratio) presentation supports the movie's rather limited visual reach, handling close-ups and town stalking sequences with satisfying detail, keeping set decoration and monstrous make-up achievements open for inspection. Cinematography looks balanced, with adequate delineation. Source has its share of speckling and minor scratches, but no overt damage.
The Earth Dies Screaming Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is straightforward but comfortable, leading with dialogue exchanges that preserve dramatic escalation and accents without disruption. Scoring is loud and defined, offering appealing instrumentation. Sound effects are identifiable, handling robot horrors and zombie stomps with authority.
The Earth Dies Screaming Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- Commentary features film historian Richard Harland Smith.
- Animated Image Montage (3:37) collects publicity and BTS pictures.
- And a Theatrical Trailer (2:14, SD) is included.
The Earth Dies Screaming Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Bravely, "The Earth Dies Screaming" knows how to find its highlights and conclude, running only 62 minutes, which is more than enough to satisfy genre demands. It's an engaging picture with amusing design touches and macabre streak. The movie is also an education, clearly inspiring George Romero's "Night of the Living Dead" and "Dawn of the Dead," with "The Earth Dies Screaming" feeling like a prequel at times, showcasing a zombie uprising in a different corner of the world. It's an efficient feature, entertaining and short, sticking to the basics of survival and tentative partnership, keeping the end of times interesting and periodically exciting.
