The Darkness

The Darkness" arrives on Blu-ray with a commendable 1080p transfer that, while not revolutionary, adequately serves the film's visual needs. The image is sharp and proficiently rendered, capturing the nuances of the environment and characters with a satisfactory level of detail. Especially notable is the Grand Canyon opening sequence, where the rugged natural beauty is displayed with crisp, authentic textures and vibrant colors that provide a striking contrast to the deep blues of the sky. This clarity extends to nighttime scenes, which are a significant aspect of this horror movie. The black levels are impressively deep and rich, ensuring that darkness becomes an asset rather than a detriment, enhancing the atmospheric tension without obscuring vital details.

In terms of color reproduction, the transfer does an efficient job. The earthy tones of the Grand Canyon scenes stand out, but the suburban greens and interior details also benefit from a naturalistic palette that adds to the visual allure. Flesh tones, despite occasionally veering towards the pallid, mostly hit the mark. The technical execution shows a discerning eye for maintaining balance; noise, aliasing, banding, and other common video issues are notably absent, showcasing a clean and stable presentation throughout.

However, the cinematography of "The Darkness," despite its effective rendering on Blu-ray, does not venture far beyond the conventional. The film fails to leverage its visual potential fully, most notably in how it handles its more supernatural elements. Scenes that explore the spirit realm, for instance, hint at a more visually intriguing direction that is regrettably fleeting. While the Blu-ray transfer does justice to what's there, providing a visually satisfying experience that fans will appreciate, it's a reminder that the source material plays it somewhat safe, not aspiring to visually innovative or boundary-pushing cinematography.

The audio presentation of "The Darkness" on Blu Ray through its DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack exemplifies an immersive and articulate auditory experience, meticulously balancing clarity, dynamics, and spatial proficiency. This soundtrack impressively manages dialogue with precise anchoring in the center channel, ensuring voices and effects are distinctly organized and balanced across the front stage. The attention to subtle auditory elements, such as background noises and off-camera cues, enriches the film's atmospheric depth, leveraging the full potential of the surround sound setup to transport the listener into the movie's eerie environment. Notably, the dynamic range indelibly strengthens the impact of low-frequency effects, though the surround channels and subwoofer are judiciously engaged, magnifying suspense in critical moments without overwhelming the narrative's pace.

As "The Darkness" accelerates towards its climax, the audio track transitions from a deliberate and reserved ambiance into a meticulously orchestrated sonic frenzy that complements the escalating tension on screen. Early scenes gracefully utilize gentle atmospherics and measured musical compositions to set the tone, shifting dramatically as the narrative unfolds. The soundtrack effectively employs hard-hitting, discrete sound effects that maneuver multidirectionally across the soundscape, bolstered by a robust LFE track that delivers deep, impactful bass during moments of heightened chaos and jump scares. This controlled auditory chaos creates a compellingly dynamic experience, ensuring listeners are on edge.

Jump scares, a signature element in the film's auditory palette, are rendered with exceptional potency, thanks to the aggressive deployment of the mix across the surround sound environment. The playful yet haunting use of audio during scare tactics—like the memorable scene filled with spirit handprints—showcases the mix's ability to envelop and engage the audience fully. The vigorous LFE channel contributions and crisp vocals further elevate these elements, crafting a soundstage that’s not only profoundly immersive but also adds a rich layer to the storytelling. This soundtrack stands out for its adept use of spatial dynamics and meticulous sound design, making it a noteworthy listening experience for both horror aficionados and newcomers alike.

The Blu-Ray extras for "The Darkness" offer a tantalizing glimpse into the film's alternate possibilities and deeper character explorations, including a higher-definition alternate ending (9:01, 1080p) that, while interesting, rightly didn't make the final cut due to the omission of a pivotal scene. The deleted scenes (9:49 total, 1080p) span a breadth of character development moments, from mundane yet revealing daily activities to heightened emotional crises, suggesting a version of the film with potential for richer narrative layering. Notably, these scenes could have offered a reprieve from the film's reliance on jump scares, opting instead for building tension through character dynamics. Additionally, the package comes with a digital HD copy voucher, providing flexibility for viewing. These extras, catering to enthusiasts who appreciate the nuanced craft of filmmaking, underscore what could have been a more character-driven narrative.

Extras included in this disc:

• Alternate Ending: An alternative conclusion not used in the theatrical release.
• Deleted Scenes: A collection of scenes offering deeper insights into the characters and story.
• Digital HD Copy: A digital version of the movie for convenient access.

The Darkness," featuring the talents of Kevin Bacon and Radha Mitchell as parents Peter and Bronny Taylor, alongside their children, portrayed by Lucy Fry and David Mazouz, delves into the eerie aftermath of a family vacation to the Grand Canyon. Their story begins innocently enough, with a seemingly benign discovery by their autistic son, Mikey, of mystic stones, only to spiral into unexplainable and terrifying occurrences once they return home. Directed by Greg McLean, known for his work on the "Wolf Creek" series, the film attempts to mesh the family's struggle with supernatural forces intent on exploiting their deepest fears. Despite a solid cast, the film languishes in an all-too-familiar territory of horror clichés, including an overreliance on jump scares, leaving it feeling like a derivative rehash rather than a fresh take on paranormal narratives.

From the onset, "The Darkness" leans heavily into the standard fare of horror tropes—mysterious odors, unexplained noises, and pets signaling unseen dangers—without offering the audience anything novel. Despite competent assembly and brisk pacing that avoids lag, the film suffers from a lack of originality, treading water in a sea of genre conventions without ever truly taking the plunge into deeper, more compelling storytelling waters. This is underscored by the performances of Bacon and Mitchell, who, despite their proven acting chops, are relegated to navigating a script that does their talents little justice. Scenes meant to unsettle instead evoke deja vu, as the narrative seldom strays from the well-worn path of its predecessors like "Paranormal Activity" and "Insidious."

Interestingly, "The Darkness" is most engaging when exploring the family dynamics under supernatural strain, hinting at a potentially gripping narrative could it have shed its reliance on jump scares and leaned into the emotional and psychological turmoil such an ordeal would wreak on a family. However, this aspect is smothered by an overwhelming adherence to genre conventions, resulting in a movie that feels both underdeveloped in its unique elements and overstuffed with formulaic scares. This misbalance severely underutilizes its principal actors and leaves the dark forces at play feeling more like shadows of horror movie greats than a formidable entity worthy of the Taylor family's—or the audience's—fears.

The Darkness" arrives on Blu-ray with a technical presentation that, while showcasing some noteworthy attributes, ultimately does not set it apart in a competitive genre. The lossless DTS-HD MA soundtrack is a highlight, delivering clarity and a detailed auditory experience. It makes effective use of the surround sound setup, albeit sparingly, to augment the film's suspenseful moments. Dialogue is crisp, maintaining a solid balance within the soundscape, which is complemented by notable detection of subtle ambient sounds and a dynamic range that lends gravitas to the low-frequency effects. This careful sound engineering, however, contrasts with the film’s overall lack of originality and the underutilization of its cast's talents.

From a content perspective, "The Darkness" treads familiar ground, echoing themes and narratives seen in numerous other entries within the horror genre. Despite above-average performances from Kevin Bacon and Radha Mitchell, the film fails to provide them with a script that breaks away from conventional horror tropes. Instead, it falls into a repetitive cycle of clichéd plot developments that do little to engage or surprise its audience. The additional features on the Blu-ray, limited to a different ending and some deleted scenes, do not offer enough value to elevate the overall package, leaving much to be desired in terms of unique content or insightful extras that could have enriched the viewing experience.

In conclusion, while "The Darkness" Blu-ray edition delivers on the technical front with commendable audio quality, it falls short of providing a compelling or memorable cinematic experience. The film suffers from a lack of innovation and an ineffective use of its commendable cast, relegating it to the vast middling territory of horror movies that might be watched out of convenience rather than enthusiasm. Fans of the actors involved may find some merit in their performances, but as a whole, this release is difficult to recommend for enthusiasts seeking novelty or depth in their horror collection.