Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

The Nest Blu-ray Movie Review

Nestle in with this fun throwback Horror flick.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 28, 2013

Don't leave food out.

What makes for the best Horror movies? Is it unbelievably unstoppable masked killers, supernatural mayhem, or aliens? None of the above. Try the everyday, ordinary things suddenly made nastier, more menacing, somewhat intelligent, and very deadly. Director Terence H. Winkless' (Not of This Earth) The Nest takes arguably the most reviled living thing on the planet -- the cockroach -- and turns it into a nasty little scary movie villain that finds its strength in numbers and its orders from some really grotesque "things" that, as good Hororr flicks are apt to do, are reserved for the big finale. It's sort of like the Arachnophobia of cockroach films or Starship Troopers on a major diet. This is fun little grisly Horror picture, a classically inclined "small town infestation" picture that moves quickly, churns the stomach just enough, and never deviates from a collision course of big scares clashing with a healthy dose of nasty fun.

I'm human, don't shoot!

Sheriff Richard Tarbell (Franc Luz) is awakened to technical difficulties at the radio station, reports of strange calls from all over town, and a cockroach in his coffee. He's just reunited with Beth (Lisa Langlois), an ex-lover gone for four years and daughter of the town's mayor (Robert Lansing) who has secretly been working with the Intec Corporation on mutant roaches. Unfortunately, it doesn't take long for the town to descend into chaos. Animals are found skinned alive and the meat at the local supermarket mysteriously vanishes overnight, only the bone and tiny black shreds left behind in the wrap. Richard is able to identify the black objects as roach droppings. Quickly, the town is overrun and people are killed at a hectic pace. Richard and Beth must scramble to uncover the truth, discover the secrets of the roaches, and put an end to their reign of terror over a sleepy small town that doesn't deserve such a terrible fate.

The Nest doesn't do much to differentiate itself from other likeminded pictures; it's a straightforward experience but a film worth watching nonetheless. It does everything well enough and nothing poorly, a solid all-around little film that's certainly not for the squeamish but that gets a lot of mileage out of a simple premise and a basic setting. The film does a fine job of establishing its small-town atmosphere, just the sort of intimate, cozy little place ripe for a whole lot of havoc. There's a nice array of basic but adequately defined characters, molded just well enough to give the movie a base of sympathy so that it's easier to root for the humans rather than the bugs. Many of these sorts pay so little mind to the characters, or make them so unlikable, that the movie is better enjoyed cheering on their deaths. Not so here; there's the obligatory "he/she just has to die" sort, but for the most part these are good, sympathetic folks given adequate back stories and enough likability to hope they make it, even if it'll probably scar them for life. The actors do a fine job of building their characters and relationships and also selling the legitimacy and sense of realism within the picture. By the time it gets to the over-the-top conclusion, viewers will be fully on-board with the premise and the characters, whereas the creatures are just a small (or big, as the case may at times be), ugly hurdle for them to overcome.

The Nest also enjoys the benefits of a very good cadence, getting things going right away with a roach in coffee (more than Folgers in that cup!) and keeps on building, making itself ever more deliciously ridiculous by increasing the infestation, upping the gore, and heightening the suspense until all hell breaks loose in a frenetic and grotesque final act. For as slimy and nasty as some of those visuals along the way may be (skinned animals, severed limbs) and at the end (whatever the heck that thing is), they're extremely well done, very convincing in a "lose your lunch" sort of way. While hunger may be at premium when the film is over, audiences in the target group will leave satisfied with the experience; The Nest works its magic very well, choosing a straightforward approach that linearly intensifies and never slows down, even in character development moments. It's not the greatest Horror movie ever, but it settles into routine and does its thing full steam ahead. It knows its place, its audience, and its limits and delivers a juicy and fun little picture that Horror buffs will want to watch.

The Nest Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Nest builds up on Blu-ray with a very good high definition transfer. This is one of the best to come out of Shout! Factory's Scream label; it's certainly a bit soft in the early goings, but the image sharpens up nicely after the opening titles. Make no mistake, this isn't the textbook razor-sharp or crystal-clear transfer, but the aging material looks rather fine all things considered. Light grain remains, and general details are stable and clear. Colors aren't too terribly brilliant, but they're even and accurate, never too warm and with no heavy bleeding out of the edges. Flesh tones are generally true, with perhaps a very slight warm push in some scenes. Black levels are slightly washed out in spots. The print is very clean; there are no evident scratches or dirt to be found. Banding, edge enhancement, blocky backgrounds, and other unwanted intrusions are largely absent. All in all, this is a very good transfer from Shout! Factory.

The Nest Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Although the menu promises a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack, The Nest actually features only a pair of DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtracks. Nevertheless, the presentation as-is performs admirably enough, even limited to the front end of the stage. This is never a robust track, but it does offer stability, good clarity, and a nice presence across a rather wide front end. The collective crackle and hiss of cockroaches comes across as rather sharp and muddled, but general sound effects are clean and accurate enough. Light ambience helps define a few scenes, but the track never absolutely immerses its audience into the moment. A hefty explosion late in the film and a heartbeat-like thumping manage a decent enough bottom end. Dialogue is clear and focused. It won't set any new catalogue Horror standards, but this is a serviceable track from start to finish.

The Nest Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Nest contains only one supplement, an audio commentary track with Director Terry Winkless. Winkless offers a very informative, relaxed, and friendly commentary, covering shooting locations, filmmaking secrets, dealing with cockroaches and the general challenges of making a "cockroach movie," the cast's work, personal touches in the film, and plenty more. Fans will enjoy this track. A DVD copy of the film is also included.

The Nest Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Nest serves up a straightforward, no-frills sort of Horror experience, and that's a good thing. It does everything well but nothing spectacularly. It's well scripted, nicely acted, moves by at an even pace, and starts with chills and ends up with some intense Horror special effects that are over the top but a lot of fun and a natural progression for the movie's buildup towards whatever that thing is. The movie manages to create a good atmosphere and a fine character roster along the way, leaving viewers to cheer on the good guys rather than the creepy-crawlies. It's the perfect little mindless Horror film that settles comfortably into the tradition of some of the genre's best. Shout! Factory's Blu-ray release of The Nest features solid video, decent audio, and a commentary track. Recommended.