Rating summary

Movie		1.0
Video		0.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		1.5

The Necro Files Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman July 6, 2022

Indie, ultra low budget horror seems to be not just a way for ardent would be auteurs to break into the movie making business, but then to actually get their stuff released for home video. I have had an actually kind of staggering array of horror films pass my review queue over the many years I've been doing this that have come from such entrepreneurial folk, and it always kind of amazes me that even when their efforts may not be technical marvels, somehow they have their act together enough to get a film finished and then, perhaps even more amazingly, get it on Blu-ray (in this instance). Some may feel that the evidently intrepid spirit of one Matt Jaissle might not be that amazing, given the fact this release itself has pull quotes on the back describing the film as "a jaw droppingly gory trash fest" and "really sick and twisted".

Jaissle is on hand insisting this film is meant as a "parody", and in fact there are at least glimmers of humor here, but perhaps more so in the sequel also included on this disc as a bonus item. As it stands (and/or flies, as the case may be), The Necro Files is simply never very funny, though it has a goofy enough ambience that gore hounds may get a kick out of it due to the prevalence of some very squishy looking practical effects. The "plot" (such as it is) follows two unbalanced Seattle policeman on the hunt for a resurrected serial killer who has returned as a zombie. Suffice it to say that when human entrails are not littering the frame, there is copious female nudity (actually within about the first five seconds of the film, and then continually), as well as an emphasis on certain kinky sexual behaviors.

The Necro Files Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Necro Files is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Visual Vengeance and Wild Eye with an AVC encoded 1080i transfer in 1.78:1. This is a pretty shoddy looking enterprise by any standard, with the limitations of Jaissle's Super VHS format probably only exacerbated by some compression issues that may themselves have been exacerbated by the decision to put two admittedly fairly short films and a glut of supplements on a BD-25. You can go down the list of anomalies we regularly cite in our reviews, and you'll see them here, including almost comical stairstepping (and/or "jaggies", some of which you can clearly see in some of the screenshots I've uploaded to accompany this review), aliasing, moire and some actually kind of impressive (if that's the right word) macroblocking and even pixellation. Detail levels are almost hilariously absent at times, especially in wider framings. Some of the more brightly lit material that features close-ups is at least relatively decent looking. A kind of funny sidebar here is that Jaissle talks in some supplements about wanting to try to shoot on video since the technology had improved by 1997 to the point that "film appearance" add ons could be tackled in post, and give things a more naturally cinematic look. Jaissle might want to ask for his money back on whatever "film appearance" package he opted for on this project.

The Necro Files Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Necro Files' DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track fares considerably better than the video side of things does, but the film's extremely lo-fi ambience means there's not a lot of nuance to the sound design. Dialogue, screams and grunts are all delivered with reasonable fidelity, and the synth laden score by Jaissle actually sounds surprisingly full bodied. Optional English subtitles are available.

The Necro Files Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary with Director Matt Jaissle


• Commentary with matt Desiderio of Horror Boobs and Billy Burgess of the Druid Underground Film Festival


• A Chat With Director Matt Jaissle (HD; 6:41) finds the leading light behind the film talking about it in a cemetery, of course.


• Matt Jaissle Super 8 Shorts (HD; 12:47)


• The Necro Files on Chilean Talk Show (HD; 4:05) is one of the weirdest little snippets imaginable, probably made even more enjoyable (?) if you don't understand Spanish.


• Dong of the Dead: The Making of The Necro Files (HD; 19:49) has some fun interviews and background info.


• Original Producer Trailer (HD; 1:10)


• Visual Vengeance Trailer (HD; 1:29)


• The Corpse - Super 8 Short (HD; 8:57) is another Jaissle opus.


• Necro Files 3000 - 2017 Sequel (HD; 1:02:05) is probably at least as weird as the original, but at least sports much better looking video.


• Necro Files 3000 - Original Trailer (HD; 1:57)

Additionally, packaging features a reversible sleeve featuring original VHS art and a slipcover. The keepcase houses a number of, um, unusual items, including the official condom of The Necro Files, helpfully labeled with a warning that it's not for human use (this raises a whole host of questions), a retro VHS sticker set, a two sided insert and a collectible mini poster.

The Necro Files Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's some undeniably wacky stuff in The Necro Files, but it's perhaps salient to note that this film features almost complete credits at both the opening and closing of the film, as if Jaissle and his team had to come up with something to get things to near feature length. This plays like an amateurish riff on The X-Files, but the "truth" in this instance is that the film is simply not very good. Necro Files 3000 is actually decidedly funnier in my opinion and maybe should have been the marquee attraction here. Video is pretty lamentable looking by any standard, but audio is decent and the supplements actually quite enjoyable, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.