5.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Happy Madison, Adam Sandler's production company, gets a little less funny with this terrifying trip. In 'The Shortcut', a pair of brothers decides to take the road less traveled, but they discover the dangers of this new route.
Starring: Drew Seeley, Shannon Woodward, Dave Franco, Katrina Bowden, Raymond J. BarryHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 66% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Come on, it's just a shortcut.
Horror movies have always seemed to be the low grade earners when it comes
time to deal out yearly report cards for movies. For every The Shining that's
lauded for all the right reasons -- a great story, tight direction, marvelous acting -- there are many
hundreds more Horror films that fail to earn even a shred of respect from the more picky and
haughty of critics and fans. It stands to reason, then, that direct-to-video Horror films -- those
that are made so cheaply and with such low production values and expectations that they don't
even warrant a theatrical run -- are probably considered almost cinema anathema by most, and
not for some unfounded or unjust reason. If studio Horror films lack originality and ingenuity in
favor of outrageous violence, then the rip-offs and low-end pictures that try and capitalize on the
bloodlust of
ravenous genre fans must by definition be bottom scrapers with no discernible value. There's
always an exception to the rule, and The Shortcut is just that. No, it's not the DTV
equivalent of The Shining, but for a budget-minded
Horror flick that stays the course; knows its place; and doesn't settle for an abysmal plot, awful
acting, or zero atmosphere, it's not at all a dull watch, even if it is mostly inconsequential fare.
Two young men, trapped helplessly behind a Blu-ray.com watermark...
Starz/Anchor Bay brings The Shortcut to Blu-ray with a fairly handsome 1080p, 2.40:1-framed transfer that's not going to compete with the likes of a big-budget Action movie given the royal high definition treatment but instead delivers a consistently satisfying presentation that's about as good as this budget-minded film and release is going to get. The picture opens with a 1940s flashback sequence that sees some crushing blacks but is otherwise stable if not slightly soft around the edges. Several flashback scenes to the 1940s and 1950s take on a slightly colder, paler, and washed out appearance, but such is the filmmakers' intention and not a glitch in certain scenes during the movie. The modern-era segments, which comprise the bulk of the picture, sport a bright and glossy sheen that's virtually free of noise and deliver crisp detailing and strong colors across the board. Whether outdoor terrain or the various objects scattered about school and home interiors, this transfer showcases many of the smaller nuances that make high definition transfers stand out from their standard-def counterparts. Colors are particularly vibrant but not excessively or unnaturally so, and black levels in these segments fare better than their flashback counterparts. Flesh tones appear neutral throughout, too. For a budget release of a "never-heard-of-it-before" DTV Horror flick, The Shortcut looks very good on Blu-ray.
The Shortcut doesn't take the longer road to Blu-ray, choosing to forego a lossless or uncompressed presentation in favor of a somewhat less proficient Dolby Digital 5.1 presentation. The film's musical presentation is handled with a workmanlike efficiency, the notes playing as fairly clean but with a hint of shallowness and an underpowered posture that will leave listeners wanting more. Dialogue suffers from the same fate, playing as abundantly clear but lacking in absolute precision and power at reference volume. Atmospherics are handled well enough though mostly across the front; a symphony of nighttime insects and rustling leaves create a fair atmosphere in one early sequence, though some heavier effects -- rattling chains, gunfire, and other action-oriented elements -- play with a bit more precision and power than the lesser but no less important environmental ambience. Surround speakers are sparsely engaged, but then again, the movie doesn't seem to have all that many scenes screaming out for a more pronounced back-channel presentation. All said, The Shortcut would benefit from a lossless presentation, but the Dolby Digital track is good enough to get the job done.
The Shortcut offers no extras.
Nothing here says "classic," but nothing says "DTV" either. The Shortcut is just fine for what it is, a midlevel Horror movie that's really not all that scary but that does feature solid character development and a fair story, both of which manage to hold the audience's interest even though the picture is noticeably lacking in blood and guts. Hardcore genre fans that are more accustomed to the grisly violence of the Saw series will be disappointed, but those with a soft spot for 1990s-style teen Horror movies just might be surprised with what The Shortcut has to offer. This Starz/Anchor Bay Blu-ray release doesn't offer any supplements, but it does deliver a fair technical presentation. Worth a rental for Horror fans that don't mind an absence of hardcore gore.
2018
2006
2012
Unrated
2010
2006
Unrated
2009
Collector's Edition
2013
Collector's Edition
2003
2002
Uncut
2008
2019
2009
2015
1988
2016
Haunted
2014
1981
2020
Unrated Theatrical and Rated Versions
2013
Warner Archive Collection
1990