The Moogai Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

The Moogai Blu-ray Movie Review

The Moogai is a regional horror. The Aboriginal horror production explores themes of lost children during the past trauma and history of the Aboriginal people. Produced by Kristina Ceyton (Bring Her Back, The Nightingale), Samantha Jennings (Talk to Me, Of an Age), and Mitchell Stanley (We Are Still Here, Servant or Slave), The Moogai is well worth discovery for fans of eerie and unsetting horror with an emphasis on dramatic-storytelling.

The tale explores the lives of the aboriginal and their journey. Sarah (Shari Sebbens) and Fergus (Meyne Wyatt) are a young Aboriginal couple who are still working on building their beloved family. The couple has just given birth to their second baby. Yet the time of childbirth and family growth becomes more disturbing when Sarah begins to see strange and malevolent spirits whom she becomes convinced are trying to take away her baby – perhaps in part because of the history of aboriginals losing their young children due to the terrors of the nation’s past. Fergus is unable to see the monsters but does what he can to help out. As Sarah becomes more overwhelmed with fear, the spirits continue to come after her and her child. Can Sarah save her child?

Shari Sebbens and Meyne Wyatt provide decent performances in the leading roles. Both actors have a good time with their respective roles. The supporting cast of characters include Agnes (Precious Ann), Young Ruth (Aisha Alma May), Mabel (Mary Bell), and Little Joey (Akaylan Jon Lloyd). The supporting players also have fun with their parts and bring something notable to the production. For a smaller budget horror production, the actors do decent work with their respective roles.

Featuring a score composed by Steve Francis (The Turning, The 15th Station), The Moogai is a solid score and one that adds a sense of intrigue to the filmmaking. Francis does a solid job as composer and the score certainly adds some fantastic depth to the production. Fracis has fun with the aboriginal style horror filmmaking.

The cinematography by Sean Ryan (How Can I Help You, Stolen Glances) is a compelling element of the film. The lush cinematography is visually compelling and adds something special to the table. The film features a high quality and polished aesthetic that helps to set it apart from other indie horror films. Showcasing the dark tapestry of the horror elements, the cinematographer did a superb job with the feature.

Edited by Simon Njoo (The Babadook, The Nightingale), The Moogai is a solid effort from an editing standpoint. Njoo is a talented editor and someone with a keen sense of style. The editing flows throughout and the pace is well-done. The filmmaking is all the better as a result.

The production designs by Bethany Ryan (Talk to Me, You Won't Be Alone) are certainly impressive and add to the mysticism of the filmmaking. Ryan did a good job highlighting the Aboriginal lifestyles. An impressive production aesthetic helps the film to unfold well.

Featuring art direction by Madeleine Pike (Year Of, Troppo), The Moogai is well-done from a production standpoint. It is always compelling in regards to the creative art direction. Pike did terrific work and the efforts add a lot to the filmmaking.

The costume designs by Joanna Mae Park (Adore, Penguin Bloom) are compelling. The costumes add a lot of warmth to the filmmaking. Park did great costumes for the entire cast of characters.

Written and directed by Jon Bell (Mystery Road, Redfern Now), The Moogai is a well-done regional horror film. The Aboriginal element adds a lot to the filmmaking – exploring a dark history of the Aboriginal people through the nation’s history of mistreatment of young Aboriginals. The horror filmmaking works well and it adds plenty of suspense for genre fans. Well worth seeing.

Bell provides The Moogai with numerous scenes depicting the horrors of the setting and unsettling qualities of the story. There are many fast-paced scenes with a creepy-crawl aspect that are also impressively done. As a filmmaker, Bell wants audiences to go on a thrill ride as much as he wants the horror filmmaking to make an impression. As a result, The Moogai often feels like as much a thriller as a regional-horror. The Moogai is certainly going to appeal to fans of regional horror who appreciate a unique take in the horror genre.

The Moogai Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Umbrella Entertainment, The Moogai is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.39:1 widescreen. The high-definition presentation is crisp and engaging on the release. The transfer showcases wonderful depth and the fine detail in the transfer is well retained. Color reproduction is excellent throughout and there is a worthy sense of "pop" to the colors that makes the presentation all the more enjoyable.

The release provides some of the benefits of physical media and the Blu-ray format. The high-definition transfer provides a robust presentation quality that is undeniably enjoyable for the format. Streaming video services typically provide lower video quality compared to physical media. There can be some differences – streaming often runs into variables with internet connection speeds, plan speeds, data caps, streaming service tiers, weather issues, and other outside variables. There can be a dependable quality to physical media – one simply has to put on a disc and can begin enjoying an enormously high quality presentation of a feature film without outside playback issues to worry about.

The Moogai Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound. The lossless surround sound presentation is crisp and engaging on the release. Dialogue is well reproduced. The clarity is exceptional throughout. The score is well emphasized on the release. The eerie sound effects and soundstaging works wonders, too. The release provides a terrific presentation that will please fans.

One of the hallmarks of physical media and the Blu-ray disc format is the lossless audio encoding. Streaming video services only provide lossy (non-lossless) audio quality. For home theater fans and audiophiles alike, the physical media format has a distinct advantage in offering superior audio – an enormously wonderful aspect of the release. The lossless audio provides true theater quality audio – exactly the same high-end audio as one gets in a movie theater.

The Moogai Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Umbrella Entertainment exclusive limited-edition version includes a gorgeous o-card slipcover. The slipcover features compelling key artwork on the front and back of the slipcover. In terms of the release packaging alone, Umbrella knocked it out of the park.

The release also provides a nice booklet featuring behind-the-scenes experiences. The booklet includes a plot synopsis, production notes, cast information, additional writing, a section on writer-director Jon Bell, and additional writing. A well-done booklet that adds considerable value to the package overall.

The Moogai Behind the Scenes Featurette (HD, 5:22) explores the making-of the feature and although it is a brief featurette it is still something fans of the film will appreciate.

Trailer (HD, 2:10)

The release could have perhaps used a more extensive supplemental package. The release would have been a bit better and more intriguing with audio commentary, cast/crew interviews, roundtables, and other similar extras included. As it is, the package is somewhat sparse in terms of on-disc extras with only the lone behind-the-scenes featurette and theatrical trailer adding some extra on-disc content.

The Moogai Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Moogai is a compelling regional horror feature. The Aboriginal storytelling is something that adds a unique component to the production. The eerie and unsetting horror feature has a lot of merit.

An impressive cast leads the film. A gripping horror film. Writer-director Jon Bell (Mystery Road) made something special here and it certainly will appeal to genre fans.

The Blu-ray release provides an impressive high-definition presentation, lossless audio encoding, and a small selection of bonus features. The release also includes a gorgeous o-card slipcover and a nice booklet, too. The booklet adds a lot of value to the overall package. Recommended.