Ghost Ship Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Ghost Ship" is a notable upgrade from previous standard definition releases. The 1080p 1.85:1 transfer, encoded in VC-1, significantly enhances the film's visual appeal, despite not being on par with the latest film releases. The cinematography by Gale Tattersall is highlighted with stunning results, showcasing sharp details and lush visuals throughout. The black levels are particularly impressive, appearing deep and inky, with excellent detail retention in the shadows. This is essential for a film with numerous dark scenes. The colors are lifelike and well-saturated, adding to the overall atmospheric impact.

The transfer excels in preserving facial textures and enhancing model work, bringing out the intricate details that elevate the haunted ship’s eerie ambiance. The grain present is of low level and natural, augmenting the filmic quality without succumbing to digital noise reduction or edge enhancement. Skin tones are accurate, and texture definition, especially during gory effects and makeup sequences, is commendable. Importantly, there are no noticeable technical issues such as artifacts, macro-blocking, or edge enhancement. This ensures a consistently clear and immersive viewing experience.

In summary, while "Ghost Ship" may lack narrative originality, its Blu-ray presentation offers a visually satisfying experience. The transfer brings out the film's best elements—impressive shadow detail, deep blacks, and stunning special effects—without introducing distracting technical flaws. This makes it a noteworthy addition for fans of horror cinema, particularly those who appreciate high-definition visual delivery.

The Dolby TrueHD sound mix for "Ghost Ship" is a remarkable highlight, especially given the film's origins. It significantly enhances the atmosphere, offering a surprisingly immersive experience. Subtle surround sound use adds a layer of nuance, enriching the film's spooky ambiance with precise directionality—footsteps echoing, water lapping—drawing listeners deeper into the narrative. The dialogue is typically clear and anchored well to the front, although quieter scenes occasionally require listeners to strain slightly to discern speech. Notably, the subwoofers are well-utilized, kicking in effectively during explosion-heavy sequences to underpin the overall track robustly.

The mix excels in delivering an immersive experience without overwhelming other aspects. Front separation, while not the widest, integrates the music (regardless of its quality) smoothly, ensuring it complements rather than overpowers the soundscape. Action scenes showcase a muscular presentation, with whip pan effects and explosive moments giving subwoofers a thorough workout. Surround channels deliver effective ambience; during action-packed sequences, they spring to life, offering clarity and directionality that enhances the thrilling atmosphere. Notably, water effects are a standout element throughout, bringing authenticity to the maritime setting.

Despite minor disparities during quieter scenes, where flatness is occasionally noticeable, the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track is robust and well-executed. It's devoid of technical glitches like pops or hisses. Additionally, "Ghost Ship" comes equipped with an extensive array of audio options, including multiple language tracks in Dolby Digital 5.1 for French, German, and Portuguese, along with a comprehensive set of subtitles. This versatile audio offering undeniably elevates the film's overall viewing experience, delivering much more than one might expect from the source material.

The Blu-ray extras for "Ghost Ship" are a mixed bag, all presented in standard definition and ported from the DVD release. While there's no commentary or In-Movie Experience, "Max on the Set: 'Ghost Ship' Cinemax Special" offers a standard 15-minute EPK with little new insight. "Visual Effects" is a short yet compelling look at the creation of the models, albeit not long enough to be satisfying. The highlight is "A Closer Look at the Gore," which dissects the gory opening scene in detail. "Designing the Ghost Ship" also explores the creation of miniatures, but it overlaps somewhat with the visual effects featurette. The music video for Mudvayne's "Not Falling" and the interactive game "Secrets of the Antonia Graza" add little value, with the former being particularly grating. Despite some interesting behind-the-scenes content, these extras fall short of enhancing the film substantially.

Extras included in this disc:

Max on the Set: ‘Ghost Ship’ Cinemax Special: Standard EPK with cast interviews.

Visual Effects: Brief background on CGI and model building.

A Closer Look at the Gore: Detailed breakdown of the gory opening scene.

Designing the Ghost Ship: Examination of the model miniatures used in the film.

Not Falling Music Video by Mudvayne: Accompanying music video.

Secrets of the Antonia Graza: Interactive word game with additional stories.

Theatrical trailer: Original movie trailer in standard definition.

"Ghost Ship" opens with an audacious and unforgettable sequence set aboard the luxurious Antonia Graza in 1962. The mesmerizing visuals of the dance floor, accompanied by Monica Mancini's haunting rendition of "Senza Fine," quickly turn grisly as a snapping cable slices through the passengers, delivering a shocking blend of horror and dark humor. This remarkable introduction, however, sets a high bar that the rest of the film struggles to meet, rendering most subsequent scenes predictably banal and lacking the same innovative flair.

Once the narrative shifts to the present day, we follow the salvage crew of the Arctic Warrior, led by Captain Sean Murphy (Gabriel Byrne) and first mate Maureen Epps (Julianna Margulies). Their mission to explore the ghostly remains of the Antonia Graza in the Bering Strait is plagued by cliché and foreseeability. The production design is undeniably impressive, particularly the elegantly lit scenes and the spooky, atmospheric effects aboard the decaying liner, but these are undercut by a script riddled with conventional horror tropes. Supporting characters fall into stereotypical roles and their fates are telegraphed early on, negating much of the intended suspense and fear.

Despite flashes of creativity in set design and some well-crafted visual effects, "Ghost Ship" is marred by its convoluted plot and reliance on predictable jump scares. The film's attempt to blend supernatural elements with a quest for missing gold falls flat, leading to a denouement that feels both rushed and unsatisfying. While Byrne and Margulies bring some credibility to the lead roles, they are hamstrung by a lackluster script that fails to fully utilize their talents. In sum, "Ghost Ship" tantalizes with its opening only to sink into the murky depths of mediocrity, overshadowed by superior entries in the horror genre.

The Blu-ray release of "Ghost Ship" features a significant upgrade in audiovisual quality, boasting a notably sharp and clear visual presentation complemented by an excellent TrueHD sound mix. This enhancement is a considerable improvement over previous home video versions, accentuating the terrifying score and chilling sound effects that heighten the eerie mood. While the movie’s plot may not hit the mark for those seeking an original or genuinely frightening experience, the technical boost certainly makes the viewing experience more enjoyable for fans of the film.

On the downside, the extras package authored on this disc is rather lackluster. Presented in standard definition, the special features fail to impress and do not add much value to the overall package. Despite the high-quality audio and video, this Mediocrity in extras detracts from the appeal, making it hard to fully endorse for purchase, especially for non-fans.

Conclusively, the disc is served with a very good picture and an excellent TrueHD sound mix that goes a long way towards making up for the lack of a scary atmosphere from the movie itself. The extras package, unfortunately, matches the film with its mediocrity and is presented in standard definition. If you are a fan of the movie then the AV upgrade will make this a purchase; for anyone else it is very difficult to recommend this as a full price buy. However, for a Saturday night popcorn rental, the disc is certainly worth a look.