5.9 | / 10 |
Users | 5.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A supernatural thriller that addresses questions of life, love and belief against an apocalyptic backdrop. A group of close friends gather for a wedding, but the celebration is shattered by a series of cataclysmic events and enemies foretold by biblical end-times prophecies. The survivors face a horrifying, uncertain future as they scramble for safety, but as their world collapses around them in chaos and terror will they choose real life through faith, or just try to survive?
Starring: Johnny Pacar, Shaun Sipos, Bryan Dechart, Alexa PenaVega, Italia RicciHorror | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Several years ago, a preacher by the name of Harold Camping, now deceased, claimed to have solved Biblical riddle and discovered the exact date for the "rapture," a term which is not explicitly written in the Bible but that is based on passages that suggest the ascension of believers to Heaven prior to the various trials and tribulations that will besiege mankind as outlined in the book of Revelation. When Camping's predicted date of May 21, 2011 came and went without incident, he revised the date to several months down the road in October of that same year. Needless to say, it appears that the status quo remains even several years after, but it is this notion of the modern-day "rapture" that's at the center of The Remaining, a picture chronicling the immediate aftermath of the event as experienced by a handful of young adults who are left behind when God releases the souls of the believers, leaves their bodies behind, and the world falls into chaos. It's similar, then, to the Left Behind series of films, those based off the books penned by Author Tim LaHaye and starring Kirk Cameron (see also the remake starring Nicholas Cage). This film isn't particularly noteworthy, but it's sufficiently gripping and makes for an interesting "what if" glimpse into the beginning of Biblical armageddon.
The beginning of the end.
The Remaining's digital photography, flat and glossy though it may be, translates well to Blu-ray. The image is clean and precise, with well defined details evident not only on close-ups of skin and clothes but also in various bits of damage and debris to urban areas as well as clean, fancy bits at the wedding ceremony and reception. Colors in brighter segments -- the open in particular -- are strongly defined if not a bit flat and unassuming. Darker moments, of which there are many, handle shadow detail nicely enough, though viewers will note some moderately thick banding and light noise in select shots. There's a bit of amateur video scattered throughout the film as well that lacks the precision, stability, and consistency of the general production. Overall, this is a solid transfer, particularly considering the sources and photographic style.
The Remaining's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is stellar. It's active and robust, effortlessly placing the listener in the middle of the chaos. There's good energy to music, a commendable robustness and wide spacing that's equalled by natural, effortless clarity. Even deliberately muddier background nuance beats at the wedding are nicely realistic and play with natural depth and body. Light ambience at the wedding -- chatter, clanking silverware -- help set the stage, but the track's fullness truly shines once the action shifts to the rapture's aftermath. Screaming people, crashes, explosions, and the general confusion and chaos are richly integrated and complexly detailed in many scenes. Information easily moves around the stage and creates a naturally immersive 360-degree field of sonic terror. The track features some quality dialogue reverberation inside a church in chapter nine while loudspeaker announcements and music naturally drift through the stage in a sequence near film's end. Dialogue is firm and healthy with natural center placement. This is a terrific listen that more than anything else helps draw the audience into the film's chaotic world.
The Remaining contains a featurette and a deleted scene.
The Remaining has its moments, which are largely limited to solid production values and a very tangible sense of fear, doubt, uncertainty, and end-times destruction. At the same time, the film lacks better characterization and deeper dramatic relevance. It feels like its purpose is to frighten people into accepting Jesus after the fact rather than trying to show why they should before the end of the world. There are moments when characters do have personal reevaluations about their lives, which only come in the wake of epic tragedy. The movie means well, and it's a relatively fun watch, but it could have been so much more than a curiosity. Sony's Blu-ray release of The Remaining features good video, stellar audio, and a couple of extras. Worth a rental.
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