Leviathan Blu-ray Review

"Leviathan" emerges on Blu-ray with a robust and meticulous AVC-encoded 1080p transfer in 2.34:1 aspect ratio, courtesy of Scream Factory. The presentation exhibits a clear understanding of the film’s unique production techniques. Underwater scenes, crafted with overcranked shots, blue filters, and debris effects, exhibit an inherent softness and lack of fine detail, attributable to these stylistic choices. However, the interior sequences of the underwater control center are where the transfer truly shines. These segments display impressively saturated and accurate colors without any problematic noise reduction or artificial sharpening. Most notably, there are no compression artifacts, even in the densely packed underwater sequences, ensuring a smooth visual presentation.

The Blu-ray offers exceptional clarity and detail, especially in the deep-sea station interiors. The fine detail extends to the individual hairs, fabric textures, and facial complexions in close-ups. Blacks are rich and true with deep shadows that retain finer details, crucial for this predominantly dark film. Despite a few minor instances of contrast instability and fluctuating resolution which impact color vibrancy and flesh tones momentarily, the overall transfer remains remarkable. Detail is consistently high, capturing every nick, scratch, water drop, and fabric wrinkle in the lived-in underwater universe. Skin tones are colder but consistent, providing remarkable detail especially in close-ups, highlighting every wrinkle, scar, or gash with high resolution.

Depth perception is notable, providing a three-dimensional feel to both set pieces and underwater sequences. Colors maintain a natural balance with standout blues and reds. The film’s 25-year-old footage looks remarkably clean with no digital tampering evident, ensuring a pristine viewing experience. Overall, Scream Factory’s Blu-ray release delivers "Leviathan" in its best visual form yet, making it an essential high-definition upgrade for fans.

The audio presentation of the "Leviathan" Blu-ray showcases two comprehensive lossless audio tracks, DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, each with distinct advantages. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 track offers a robust, immersive listening experience, particularly noted for its aggressive lower frequencies and well-placed foley effects in the surrounds, creating an atmospheric deep-sea environment. Jerry Goldsmith’s evocative score is notably opened up in the 5.1 mix, though there are occasional dialogue prioritization issues. This is juxtaposed against the DTS-HD MA 2.0 track, which, while providing a narrower soundstage, ensures clear and well-prioritized dialogue. Fidelity across both tracks remains high with an impressive dynamic range.

The audio dynamics, including sound effects that vary in volume for strategic scare tactics, contribute significantly to the overall atmospheric experience of the film. The 5.1 mix excels in expanding the discrete effects, establishing a creepy underwater ambiance that, however, occasionally exhibits slightly exaggerated bass and somewhat localized surrounds. In contrast, the 2.0 track stays true to the original stereo design, showcasing excellent channel separation, balance, and detailed acoustics. This results in a broad, engaging soundscape with crisp dialogue reproduction.

Ultimately, both tracks boast unique strengths: the 5.1 mix for its immersive qualities and enhanced score presentation, and the 2.0 mix for its clarity in dialogue and adherence to the original sound design. Additionally, English subtitles are available for the deaf and hearing impaired, ensuring accessibility to a broader audience. The choice between the two depends on listener preference—whether one values the expansive atmospheric qualities of the 5.1 mix or the well-balanced, detailed experience of the 2.0 track.

The Blu-ray extras for "Leviathan" provide an in-depth exploration of the film's production, centering heavily on the creation of its special effects and the actors' experiences during filming. The Monster Melting Pot featurette is particularly outstanding, presenting interviews with the special effects team who share candid anecdotes about working under the legendary Stan Winston. Fans of Hector Elizondo and Ernie Hudson will appreciate the Dissecting Cobb and Surviving Leviathan interviews, respectively, as both actors reflect on their roles and experiences on set. However, be wary of the Theatrical Trailer which prematurely reveals key plot points.

Extras included in this disc:

• Monster Melting Pot: Discussion from special effects creators with anecdotes about Stan Winston.
• Dissecting Cobb with Hector Elizondo: Interview exploring Elizondo's experiences and challenges.
• Surviving Leviathan with Ernie Hudson: Hudson reflects on his character and the filming process.
• Theatrical Trailer: Contains plot spoilers.

"Leviathan," directed by George P. Cosmatos, emerged in 1989 during a surge of undersea thrillers, coinciding significantly with James Cameron’s "The Abyss" and Sean S. Cunningham's "DeepStar Six." Starring Peter Weller as Steven Beck, a geologist-turned-captain, the film brings together an eclectic ensemble that includes Richard Crenna, Amanda Pays, Ernie Hudson, and Daniel Stern. Weller’s performance is notably stoic yet engaging, anchoring this otherwise derivative and popcorn entertainment-oriented film that borrows heavily from sci-fi horror classics like "Alien" and John Carpenter's "The Thing."

The screenplay, crafted by David Peoples and Jeb Stuart, follows the familiar trope of an isolated crew battling an unseen terror within a confined setting, fitting snugly into the niche created by its predecessors. Critics initially chastised "Leviathan" for its lack of originality and overt borrowing of narrative themes. However, despite its derivative nature, the film boasts high production values and meticulous creature effects by Stan Winston Studios. The practical effects—though occasionally dated—remain a highlight, capturing the grotesque transformation scenarios reminiscent of "The Thing."

Visually compelling and propelled by a suspenseful if predictable plotline, "Leviathan" benefits from the competence of Cosmatos's direction and Jerry Goldsmith's eerie score, crafting a tense atmosphere well-suited to its deep-sea setting. The cast’s chemistry and their portrayals of camaraderie amid claustrophobic tension further bolster the film’s appeal. The narrative builds effectively towards its adrenaline-pumping climax but falters at times with its reliance on clichés and a somewhat ham-fisted conclusion. Nevertheless, "Leviathan" offers a nostalgic dive into the genre’s heyday, serving as enjoyable escapist fare despite its critical drubbing at the time of release. For enthusiasts of sci-fi horror and practical effects-driven creature features, this cult classic still holds a buoyant charm.

"Leviathan," directed by George P. Cosmatos, is a thoroughly enjoyable sci-fi horror creature-feature that stakes its claim firmly in the realm of fun popcorn escapism. Often compared to Ridley Scott's "Alien" and John Carpenter's "The Thing," it carves out its niche by delivering an engaging underwater terror experience. While not the most original in premise, "Leviathan" expertly crafts a creepy, suspenseful atmosphere culminating in a thrilling and explosive finale. The technical presentation on this new Blu-ray edition is superb, boasting significant improvements in audio and video quality over previous home video releases.

The supplemental material, while not exhaustive, is valuable and informative. Included are the "Leviathan: Monster Melting Pot" featurette with interviews from cast and crew, "Dissecting Cobb with Hector Elizondo," "Surviving Leviathan with Ernie Hudson," the original theatrical trailer, and trailers for other Scream Factory titles. The main featurette stands out as an exceptional inclusion, offering a wealth of behind-the-scenes insights that fans will appreciate. Though some may find the supplements on the lighter side, they still add significant value to the overall package.

In conclusion, "Leviathan" doesn’t pretend to be more than a good, old-fashioned monster movie, setting itself apart from other 1989 underwater films with its consistent entertainment value and notable scares. This Blu-ray release from Scream Factory comes highly recommended thanks to its excellent video and audio presentation and insightful supplemental content. Despite its lack of originality, the film remains an under-appreciated gem that delivers a thoroughly enjoyable viewing experience. The longer supplementary interviews add layers of appreciation for this cult classic.