Beyond the Black Rainbow Blu-ray Review
Score: 48
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
While 'Beyond the Black Rainbow' boasts visually stunning and immersive aesthetics, its cryptic plot and lack of substance make it a challenging watch; the Blu-ray's excellent audio is offset by limited special features.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 54
Beyond the Black Rainbow's video presentation on Blu-ray is a faithful representation of its heavily stylized, retro-futurist aesthetic, with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that showcases its intentional grain structure, vibrant reds and blues, and a gritty, low-budget feel. Minor compression artifacts and soft-focus are deliberate and true to the source.
Audio: 69
Beyond the Black Rainbow's lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track creates a strange, atmospheric soundscape with minimal, yet clear dialogue and an immersive array of electronic thrummings, mechanical noises, and a menacing old-school synthesizer score, producing a haunting and effective audio experience.
Extra: 6
While the Blu-ray extras of 'Beyond the Black Rainbow' remain visually engaging with high-definition content, they're lackluster in substance, including only a few deleted scenes and standard trailers, leaving a notable absence of insightful commentary from director Cosmatos.
Movie: 41
"Beyond the Black Rainbow" is a visually arresting, retro-futurist sci-fi film that excels in stylistic, experimental cinematography and minimalist production design, but suffers from a lack of narrative substance, shallow character development, and an overly enigmatic plot that ultimately frustrates and bores viewers.
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Video: 54
The Blu-ray presentation of "Beyond the Black Rainbow" offers a highly stylized and distinctive visual experience. Magnolia’s 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer appears faithful to the source material, shot on 2-perf 35mm, resulting in a pronounced grain structure that contributes to the film’s gritty yet polished retro-futurist aesthetic. The film's intentionally soft focus and occasional out-of-focus shots by director Panatos enhance this vibe. The color palette, emphasizing bright reds and blues with some cross-processed effects such as creamy yellow highlights and slightly raised and tinted black levels, delivers a visually engaging spectacle. Importantly, the encode is free from edge enhancement, DNR, and other processing issues, ensuring a clean presentation devoid of artificial tampering.
The aged and weathered look of the AVC-encoded video (2.35:1) aligns perfectly with the filmmakers' aspirations, emulating a low-budget grindhouse appearance with sporadic white specks and minor scratches that increase the film-like quality. The thick grain structure fluctuates occasionally but remains appealing, although it results in an overall muted picture quality with below-average contrast throughout most of the runtime. In spite of that, whites are rendered brilliantly and cleanly, while blacks, which can appear faded with murky shadows, likely serve deliberate artistic intent. The subdued color palette sees reds and blues occasionally pop with vibrancy, while definition and clarity suffer slightly due to the cinematography’s soft-focus choices. Noteworthy moments of banding and posterization are present but do not severely detract from the overall presentation.
In conclusion, while "Beyond the Black Rainbow" may not be the sharpest looking Blu-ray, its video transfer is a testament to the filmmakers' vision. It meticulously retains the intended atmosphere and visual style through its grainy texture, deliberate color choices, and distinct filmic quality, allowing viewers to experience the film as imagined by its creators.
Audio: 69
The audio presentation of "Beyond the Black Rainbow" on Blu-ray, offered through a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, excels in creating an atmospheric and immersive soundscape. The audio design is meticulously crafted to envelop the viewer in the eerie ambiance of the Arboria Institute, utilizing an array of unusual electronic sounds. You will encounter strange electronic thrummings, fluorescent buzzes, subwoofer pulses, and mechanical hisses that together evoke an intense sense of unease. The minimal dialogue is consistently clear and requires no volume adjustments once set, underscoring the clarity and balance of the mix. Additionally, subtitles in English SDH and Spanish are provided in bright yellow lettering for accessibility.
The soundtrack further distinguishes itself with its expansive sound design, characterized by an extraordinary fidelity that spreads seamlessly across all three front channels. The imaging is impressively precise with a notable mid-range definition, while the powerful bass delivers several ultra-low frequencies that enhance the overall listening experience. The various noises such as odd dings, strange alarms, and bizarre chimes contribute to an immersive rear soundfield, extending the auditory landscape in a satisfying manner. Of particular note is Jeremy Schmidt's menacing old-school synthesizer score, which permeates the film with a haunting presence, adding layers of mood and tension that are reminiscent of works like the "Drive" soundtrack.
Overall, the lossless DTS-HD Master Audio mix relentlessly surrounds the listener, ensuring that every element—from ambient noises to the experimental music score—contributes to a pervasive sense of apprehension and unease, enhancing the film's unique and psychedelic viewing experience.
Extras: 6
The Blu Ray of "Beyond the Black Rainbow" boasts a modest selection of extras that, although limited in depth, provide intriguing glimpses into its production process. The special features largely center around a striking deleted scene and promotional materials. While it's clear that a director's commentary from Cosmatos or more behind-the-scenes insights would have been welcomed by fans, the disc's inclusion of the captivating 'Ballistic Head Dissolve' scene and a theatrical trailer align well with the film's atmospheric style.
Extras included in this disc:
- Deleted Special Effect - Ballistic Head Dissolve: A three-minute shot featuring a dramatic head melting effect.
- Theatrical Trailer: The original preview showcasing the film's eerie aesthetic.
- Also from Magnolia Home Entertainment: Additional trailers for other titles in Magnolia's catalog.
Movie: 41
Panos Cosmatos’ debut feature, “Beyond the Black Rainbow,” is visually arresting but suffers from a severe lack of narrative coherence and depth. Set in an alternate 1983, Cosmatos paints a vivid landscape imbued with retro-futuristic design elements reminiscent of Kubrick’s meticulous interiors and Cronenberg's unsettling practical effects. The film’s evocative mood is further enhanced by its haunting synthesizer soundtrack and unique cinematography by Norm Li, which utilizes heavily manipulated 35mm footage with distinct red/blue duotone printing. The set design itself, featuring reflective plastic, glass paneling, and intense red lighting, achieves a nostalgic 1980s aesthetic, resembling a darker, insidious version of 2001: A Space Odyssey’s spaceships.
Unfortunately, the film’s visual prowess cannot compensate for its narrative shortcomings. We follow Barry Nyle (Michael Rogers), a deranged scientist with a cryptic past linked to the shadowy Arboria Institute, as he obsesses over the lone patient, Elena (Eva Allan). While the plot teases thematic substance—dabbling with ideas of telekinetic power and dystopian cult-like control—it remains woefully underdeveloped. Characters lack emotional depth, causing the audience to remain detached and disinterested. Consequently, Cosmatos’ potentially intriguing themes struggle to find foothold, making the film resemble a series of disjointed, albeit mesmerizing, pictures rather than a coherent sci-fi thriller. Though Rogers delivers a convincingly eerie performance, the film fails to provide any substantial backstory to make his actions meaningful or his motives clear.
In summary, “Beyond the Black Rainbow” showcases Panos Cosmatos’ keen sense of style and his ability to create an intense and unsettling atmosphere. However, the film's minimalistic plot and underdeveloped characters prevent it from achieving lasting impact or emotional resonance. While an impressive spectacle for those seeking purely visual stimulation, it falls short for viewers desiring narrative substance and character development.
Total: 48
"Beyond the Black Rainbow" is a visually captivating and innovative film that draws heavily from the aesthetics of classic sci-fi and exploitation genres. The Blu-ray presentation does justice to the film’s striking visuals with a quality that remains faithful to the director's vision, although some viewers may find it lacks the polished clarity typically expected in high-definition releases. Despite its stunning imagery and immersive ambiance, the film’s darkly cryptic and somewhat ponderous narrative undermines its full potential, often demanding more effort from the audience than it rewards.
The audio quality of the Blu-ray release stands out, providing an exceptionally rich and engaging experience that complements the film’s eerie and atmospheric soundscape. Regrettably, the disc falls short when it comes to special features, with the absence of a commentary track or substantial extras being particularly noticeable. This lack of additional content makes it a limited offering for collectors or those looking for deeper insight into the film's production and creative process.
In conclusion, "Beyond the Black Rainbow" excels in visual and auditory creativity but stumbles in delivering a cohesive and engaging story. The Blu-ray release, while technically proficient in audio-visual presentation, is sparse on supplementary material. Fans of avant-garde cinema might find this worth a look, though casual viewers or those seeking a more substantial narrative may proceed with caution. This film suggests that Panos Cosmatos is a director with significant potential, provided future works are supported by more robust storytelling.
Blu-ray.com review by Casey BroadwaterRead review here
Video: 80
On the encode/authoring side of things, there's no edge enhancement, DNR, or other concerns, and the compression noise you might pick up while pixel peeping is completely unnoticeable from a normal viewing...
Audio: 90
You won't hear many whiz-bang effects or notice much cross-channel directionality, but you will be immersed in the acoustic uneasiness of the Arboria Institute....
Extras: 10
Deleted Special Effect - Ballistic Head Dissolve (1080p, 3:21): Yep, a melting, dissolving head....
Movie: 50
There's a scene in the film where a character stands inside a room made entirely of mirrors, and this seems like a good analogy for Beyond the Black Rainbow itself�it's visually dazzling, sure, but it...
Total: 50
I was really impressed by the trailer for Beyond the Black Rainbow, which leads me to think the film would definitely work better in shorter form�it could stand to lose a good twenty minutes�or even as...
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 60
The intentional photography, which emulates the appearance and feel of a low-budget grindhouse feature, is surprisingly convincing with white specks and minor scratches popping up sporadically....
Audio: 80
These same sounds make up most of the rear activity as well, extending the soundfield with a satisfying, immersive effect....
Extras: 0
Trailers (HD) — The original theatrical preview is joined by trailers to other movies in the Magnolia catalog....
Movie: 40
The idea and semblance of a plot can still be found in 'Beyond the Black Rainbow,' but it's only just that — the façade of a story, a very thin veneer that allows for the visuals....
Total: 40
However, the audio presentation is excellent and highly entertaining, but the lack of supplements makes this a rental at best....
Director: Panos Cosmatos
Actors: Eva Bourne, Michael J Rogers, Scott Hylands
PlotIn a dystopian 1983, Dr. Barry Nyle finds himself at the helm of the Arboria Institute, a facility designed to promote enlightenment and happiness through unconventional scientific means. However, beneath its tranquil facade lies a sinister agenda. The institute holds Elena, a young woman with extraordinary psychic abilities, captive. Subjected to Nyle's experiments, Elena is kept in a state of sedation and isolation, her powers closely monitored and controlled. As Nyle's obsession with Elena deepens, his facade of calm professionalism begins to crack, revealing a man deeply tormented by his own dark past and inner demons.
As the story progresses, the psychological tension at the Arboria Institute intensifies. Elena's awareness of her captivity grows, and she grapples with her deteriorating mental state while seeking a way to escape. The sterile, surreal environment of the institute and the cryptic interactions between staff and inmates paint a bleak, disorienting picture of the human mind's frailty under extreme duress. The narrative builds a haunting atmosphere, weaving together threads of fear, manipulation, and the pursuit of forbidden knowledge, while exploring the fine line between sanity and madness.
Writers: Panos Cosmatos
Release Date: 22 Apr 2011
Runtime: 110 min
Rating: R
Country: Canada
Language: English