6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.1 |
Michael King, who doesn't believe in God or the Devil. Following the sudden death of his wife, Michael decides to make his next film about the search for the existence of the supernatural, making himself the center of the experiment - allowing demonologists, necromancers, and various practitioners of the occult to try the deepest and darkest spells and rituals they can find on him - in the hopes that when they fail, he'll once and for all have proof that religion, spiritualism, and the paranormal are nothing more than myth. But something does happen.
Starring: Shane Johnson, Ella Anderson, Cara Pifko, Dale Dickey, Tomas AranaHorror | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The Possession of Michael King nobly strives to, at least, put a different kind of spin on the "found footage" movie. Rather than simply happen to record the unexplainable, the title character sets out to either prove the existence of the paranormal and the satanic or to put to rest once and for all rumors of devilish intrusions and demonic possessions when such evil spirits are called upon through ritual. While the film never quite escapes the basic flow of its genre contemporaries, it's enjoyably disturbing nevertheless and, despite leaning on some crutches, at least gives the appearance of novelty in several key junctures. For a genre as tired as this one, The Possession of Michael King does well to reinvigorate it, if only in spurts and not to any sort of monumental success that would drive it to the head of the Horror movie class.
Um...ouch?
The Possession of Michael King arrives on Blu-ray with a good 1080p transfer. The image is sourced from higher end cameras that are several steps above the normal low-grade sources often seen in "found footage" type films. First, image clarity is generally outstanding and details are strong. Whether skin textures -- both natural lines and the gory aftermath of deep cuts -- or clothing lines or general background details, the transfer presents the viewer with a clear, well defined view of the entire frame. Colors are satisfactory, whether talking about green grasses or bloody reds. Black levels are fairly strong with only a slight waver back and forth between crush and excess brightness.
The Possession of Michael King scares up an excellent Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Those shrieking, high-pitched "Horror" sound effects are presented with striking stage presence, a piercing, skin-tingling sort of aggression that, if nothing else, puts the sound system through its paces. The track features no shortage of well-defined surround effects. Beyond basic environmental elements there's a plethora of loud and spooky audio effects that pull the listener into the middle of the madness. Dialogue delivery is focused and accurate in its center channel delivery.
This Blu-ray release of The Possession of Michael King contains no supplemental content. A DVD and a UV digital copy code are included in the case.
The Possession of Michael King doesn't quite reach the same level of success as another of its "possession/transformation" contemporaries in Afflicted, but it comes close. Despite a few necessary and a few unnecessary tussles with tired genre cliché, the movie works surprisingly well in total, sandwiching a strong first act and an incredible third around a lethargic middle. It's well acted and nicely photographed, not to mention complex in key visuals but generally simplistic in terms of delivery. This is a credible Horror picture that may not redefine its genre but that does nudge it in a different, and better, direction. Anchor Bay's featureless Blu-ray offers solid video and excellent audio. Recommended.
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