The Darkest Hour Blu-ray Review

The 1080p transfer of "The Darkest Hour" is highly commendable, showcasing near film-quality visuals. The digital photography exudes a lifelike texture, delivering an image that captivates with razor-sharp precision even from a distance. The transfer excels in rendering crisp lines and accurate definition of buildings and objects, whether close-up or further away from the camera. Textures of skin and clothing are meticulously detailed, making every scene visually immersive. The color palette is both balanced and vibrant, with excellent black levels and even flesh tones. While minor banding and trace aliasing are present in select shots, the overall quality remains top-tier and provides a robust viewing experience.

The film's 2D presentation outshines its 3D counterpart considerably. The 3D version suffers from only a superficial depth effect, which doesn’t significantly enhance the viewing experience except during certain exterior city scenes. The 3D transfer also appears darker, a common issue with many 3D films. Slight ghosting is noticeable but may vary depending on individual equipment setups. Therefore, assessing the 3D edition's value is subjective, balancing its minimal depth effect against the standout clarity of the 2D version. Ultimately, the 1080p imagery stands out for its excellent detail and precision, offering a satisfying visual treat.

The audio presentation of "The Darkest Hour" on Blu-ray is a remarkable auditory experience, thanks to Summit's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. From the outset, the track captivates with haunting, airy notes that deeply penetrate the soundstage, creating an immersive and chilling atmosphere. The use of popular music, especially in the dance club scenes, showcases clean, crisp notes with excellent spacing and finely-tuned bass. Action sequences are particularly noteworthy, with the visceral sounds of human dismemberment by creatures and gunfire delivering sharp, realistic impact. Building collapses resonate with immense strength while maintaining pinpoint clarity and an immersive chaos.

Subtle sound effects are handled with finesse; the gentle lap of water against a ship's hull and the ambient swirls of dust in the wind are rendered with a pure, realistic sensation. These delicate details contrast effectively with dynamic effects like explosions, providing a balanced sonic spectrum. Dialogue remains consistently clear and intelligible within the center channel, never overshadowed by the more intense audio elements. This impeccable blend of directional sound effects, powerful yet precise bass, and crisp dialogue highlights the soundtrack's ability to craft a cohesive sensory experience. Overall, "The Darkest Hour" delivers an expertly engineered and engaging audio performance.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Darkest Hour" offer a substantial and engaging assortment, providing valuable insights into both the film's production and its narrative universe. The short film "Survivors" stands out, delivering a narrative that arguably surpasses the main feature. The dedicated featurette, "The Darkest Hour: Visualizing an Invasion," offers an in-depth examination of the film’s visual effects, crucial for understanding their implementation. The deleted and extended scenes provide additional context and character development, enhanced by optional director commentary. The audio commentary from Director Chris Gorak is densely packed with information on production history, shooting locations in Moscow, cast dynamics, and the technical challenges faced during filming.

Extras included in this disc:

Survivors: A short film set in the world of The Darkest Hour.

The Darkest Hour: Visualizing an Invasion: Detailed look at creating the film's visual effects.

Deleted and Extended Scenes: Additional scenes with optional director commentary.

Audio Commentary: Director Chris Gorak provides an informative track about the film’s production and challenges.

The Darkest Hour, directed by Chris Gorak, is characterized by an interesting concept that unfortunately falters in execution. The plot follows Americans Sean (Emile Hirsch) and Ben (Max Minghella) who arrive in Moscow to pitch a software idea, only to be betrayed by their business associate Skyler (Joel Kinnaman). Seeking solace, the duo hit a nightclub where they meet fellow travelers Natalie (Olivia Thirlby) and Anne (Rachael Taylor). However, their night takes a grim turn when mysterious, deadly lightforms descend upon the city, leading to panic and quick disintegration of anyone who comes into contact with them. The survivors take refuge in a storeroom but are eventually forced to venture out as supplies dwindle. The narrative builds a post-apocalyptic atmosphere as the group traverses an eerily deserted Moscow.

Technically, the film offers an impressive visual experience reflective of its substantial production value, stitching together well-crafted special effects that lend a polished sheen to the proceedings. The alien entities, depicted as formless lights capable of immense destruction, introduce a unique menace. Yet, despite this polish, the film lacks depth in character development and story complexity, thereby failing to elicit significant emotional engagement from the audience. Characters rotate in a predictable pattern – one killed off and another introduced – providing little reason to invest in their fates.

Unfortunately, The Darkest Hour does not ascend to the mantle of genre-definer. It borrows heavily from superior predecessors like Pitch Black and Attack the Block, offering neither their compelling characterization nor innovative twists. Instead, it leans heavily on familiar tropes and glosses over substantive plot mechanics in favor of repetitive action sequences. For those merely seeking mindless entertainment with some scientific flair, it should suffice. However, viewers looking for a more nuanced end-of-the-world thriller may find the film’s simplistic approach leaves much to be desired.

The Blu-ray release of "The Darkest Hour" offers a visually striking and audibly immersive experience that awaits sci-fi enthusiasts. The film employs solid production values, presenting a slick, well-crafted showcase of relentless action and special effects. The 1080p transfer delivers sharp, vibrant visuals with remarkable depth and impressive clarity. Dark scenes are meticulously handled, producing deep blacks with sufficient shadow detail. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack accentuates the intense moments, enveloping the viewer with dynamic soundscapes and precise directional cues, ensuring an active auditory experience.

Despite its technical prowess, the movie itself is hampered by lackluster characters and a predictable narrative. There is a noticeable repetitive cadence throughout the plot that detracts from potential engagement. The characters' development feels superficial, which keeps the audience from forming a strong emotional connection with them. As a result, the film maintains a plateau that prevents it from rising above mediocrity. Its primary appeal lies in its visual and auditory spectacle rather than in its storytelling or character arcs.

In conclusion, "The Darkest Hour" serves its purpose as acceptable mindless entertainment. It's slick, well made, kind of snazzy sometimes, but that's about it. Dull characters and a repetitive cadence keep the movie from ascending beyond mediocrity. This is the perfect example of the go-nowhere modern movie. It's nowhere near as awful as those bottom scrapers in terms of raw production value, but it's also a fine example of how a movie suffers when nobody cares about the characters. The bottom line is that most will be entertained in a brain-dead sort of way, but audiences shouldn't expect the next great Sci-Fi masterpiece. Summit Entertainment's Blu-ray release of "The Darkest Hour" features stellar video and audio. A few supplements are included. This would make a good rainy day rental.