Baphomet Blu-ray Review

"Baphomet" is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Cleopatra Entertainment with an MPEG-2 encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, preserving the film's proper composition. Despite being encoded using an older codec, the film typically looks decently sharp and well-detailed, with generally consistent black levels and a few exceptions of milky moments. Notably, the boot-up logo is encoded via the more contemporary AVC codec, which is somewhat surprising. Shadow delineation is commendable in dimly lit scenes, though some occasional crush does occur. The film’s practical effects are notably good, including detailed makeup work. However, brief CGI elements appear hazy and lack intricate detail.

The Blu-ray runs for approximately 72 minutes on a BD-25, and thanks to clean digital cinematography, the encode manages to avoid significant artifacts despite the low bitrate. While the indie production’s video quality could benefit from more polish, it maintains excellent definition and strong detail overall. The color grading adheres to a naturalistic look with realistic skin tones and normally saturated primary colors, making for a pleasing visual experience. The contrast holds steady throughout the presentation, although the darkest scenes could benefit from better shadow delineation as some details are lost to crushing. Overall, while the video quality isn't particularly striking, it remains decent for a low-budget indie film.

Cleopatra Entertainment continues its trend of providing only lossy audio tracks on their Blu-ray releases, as seen in "Baphomet." The disc offers Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 tracks, both of which achieve an adequate balance, particularly given the film's demands. The 5.1 surround sound significantly enhances the auditory experience, expanding the soundstage effectively. This includes an immersive placement of ambient environmental sounds, especially noticeable during outdoor scenes, and providing well-timed startle effects that contribute to the horror atmosphere. Dialogue is consistently clear and balanced, supporting the narrative without overshadowing the musical elements or sound effects.

While the Dolby Digital 5.1 track does integrate some effective sound design elements that add a creepy undertone, it falls short in terms of surround separation, primarily offering ambient support to the score rather than generating a fully enveloping experience. Despite these limitations, the audio presentation remains clean and effective for its purpose. It's worth noting that this release, like many others from Cleopatra, does not include any subtitle options, which could be a drawback for some viewers seeking accessibility features.

Cleopatra Entertainment delivers a robust set of extras in the Blu-ray release of "Baphomet," ensuring an engaging experience for fans. The collection includes a variety of intriguing content such as deleted and extended scenes, outtakes, and an insightful backstage interview with musician Dani Filth, providing an in-depth look at his role. Additionally, the disc presents a teaser trailer, a music video featuring Dani Filth, as well as behind-the-scenes pictures and detailed storyboards by Jason Millet, offering a comprehensive view of the film's creative process.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted & Extended Scenes: Select scenes not included in the final cut.
• Outtakes: Unused takes and humorous moments from the set.
• Dani Filth Backstage Interview: Insights from the musician about his role.
• Teaser Trailer: Initial promotional preview of the film.
• Tank featuring Dani Filth Shellshock Music Video: Music video tied to the film.
• Behind the Scenes Pictures: A collection of candid production photos.
• Character Art by Jason Millet: Artistic representations of characters.
• Storyboards by Jason Millet: Visual planning sketches for the film's scenes.

"Baphomet" attempts to merge traditional horror elements with modern storytelling but falls short of delivering a consistently engaging experience. The film centers around the Richardson family in Northern California, who become the target of a malevolent Satanic cult led by the enigmatic Henrik Brandr (Giovanni Radice). With the cult placing a death curse on the family to force them off their land, a string of tragic events ensues. Despite the intriguing setup and some noteworthy elements such as a surprising death-by-shark scene, the film suffers from a lack of narrative complexity and depth.

Matthan Harris, who both writes and directs, infuses "Baphomet" with various gonzo elements and atmospheric touches that attempt to elevate the film. However, stiff performances and stilted line deliveries from the cast often render scenes unintentionally comedic, detracting from the intended menacing atmosphere. Radice's exaggerated accent and certain melodramatic moments further undermine the film's tension. Fabio Amurri's score provides some effective moments of eerie suspense, contributing positively to the film's overall tone.

Clocking in at just over an hour, "Baphomet" is a rapid viewing experience offering some gruesome visuals and the occasional nude scene. Fans of low-budget horror might find some entertainment in its chaotic narrative and sporadic bursts of creativity. However, viewers looking for polished acting and cohesive plotting may be left wanting more. Notable is the inclusion of musician Dani Filth, although his limited screen time does little to bolster the film’s appeal. In summary, "Baphomet" provides a mixture of intriguing ideas hampered by execution flaws, making it a decent but ultimately forgettable entry in the horror genre.

"Baphomet" on Blu-ray presents an indie Satanic thriller which, unfortunately, fails to capitalize fully on its compelling premise. The story features intriguing elements tied to the rich history of the Knights Templar and the mythical figure of Baphomet, yet it doesn't delve deeply enough into these aspects. Instead, the film offers a series of scares that, while occasionally effective, lack the innovation and depth needed to leave a lasting impact.

Visually, the Blu-ray transfer manages to deliver satisfactory picture quality despite the constraints posed by older video codecs. The imagery captures the film's dark and foreboding atmosphere effectively, though the overall visual experience could have been enhanced by modern encoding techniques. On the audio side, the disc is hampered by lossy soundtracks that, while adequate, do not take full advantage of contemporary audio technology. This limits the auditory immersion and somewhat diminishes the full horror experience that more advanced codecs could have provided.

In conclusion, in one of those weird synchronicities that seem to crop up regularly in my life, I've recently gone down the streaming rabbit hole of a series called "Escape to the Chateau DIY", and one of the French castles regularly featured on the show dates back to the 12th century and ownership by the Knights Templar. I've been wondering throughout my binging if the current (and presumed non-Knights Templar) owner, a really funny and resourceful woman named Fiona Jones, is going to talk about anything going bump in the night in the bowels of the structure, which might indicate Baphomet has been hiding out for untold centuries. With such a redolent title, I really wish "Baphomet" could have exploited the fascinating history of the character more than it does. That said, the film has a few decent scares, though it's far from innovative. Cleopatra continues to release Blu-rays with older codecs and lossy audio, but within those contexts things look and sound at least decent, and this release has some enjoyable supplements as well, for those who are considering a purchase.