Event Horizon Blu-ray Review

Event Horizon's Blu-ray presentation brings a significant upgrade to the film's visual experience with its 1080p/2.35:1 transfer, albeit not without inheriting a few minor flaws from previous DVD releases. The primary issue noted is a subtle vertical stretching—slight, yet discernible upon closer inspection, which may slightly alter the appearance of the ship's corridors and crew's faces. Despite this, the transfer showcases considerable improvements. The film's inherently dark atmosphere and design are rendered with impressive fidelity. Blacks, although not inky, are solid and provide a stable base for the deep, shadowy expanses of the ship. Detail is a significant step up, with textures on surfaces, instruments, and the crew's attire coming across as notably sharp and clear. Flesh tones remain natural across different lighting conditions, maintaining a realistic portrayal of characters.

The visual treatment enhances the movie's grim aesthetic without losing detail in its darker scenes. Contrast levels exhibit strong performance, offering a preserved sense of depth and contributing to the film's haunting ambiance. Grain is present but tastefully managed, supporting the film's texture without overwhelming darker scenes. Some visuals, particularly effects shots, exhibit softness when juxtaposed with the overall sharpness of practical elements, hinting at limitations within the original print rather than transfer errors. Moreover, colors, while not vibrant due to the film's stylistic choices, are effectively used to accentuate key scenes, giving life to the otherwise dreary setting with blood reds being notably vivid.

Despite the transfer's minor imperfections such as occasional banding and unresolved blacks—which might distract but don't significantly detract from the overall quality—the Blu-ray offers a commendable visual experience. It significantly surpasses previous versions in detail, clarity, and preservation of the film's atmospheric intent. Paramount has delivered a transfer that addresses many of the longstanding issues plaguing earlier releases, ensuring that Event Horizon's chilling journey through space is visually more immersive than ever before.

The audio presentation of "Event Horizon" on Blu-ray, delivered via a lossless TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack, marks a definitive upgrade over the DVD’s sound design but not without its mixed blessings. The release impresses with its deep and aggressive LFE channel, turning the bass levels notably higher than its predecessors. Particularly highlighted are the seismic rumblings in the opening scenes and throughout the film, where low-frequency effects add a palpable sense of dread and intensity, rounding out the atmospheric immersion of this sci-fi horror staple. Dialogue remains clear and discernible amidst the cacophony, a vital aspect that holds up even when the mix becomes densely layered with competing sound elements.

However, the soundstage sometimes feels constrained, with early scenes aboard the Lewis and Clark lacking the ambient life expected in such an environment. This inconsistency extends to the rear channels, which, while sporadically delivering with precise and hair-raising directional effects during the movie’s more chilling moments, often feel underutilized, especially during the film's initial act. The transition from almost serene quietness to full-blown auditory assault is jarring yet effective in building tension. Nevertheless, there's an evident inconsistency in volume leveling and a sense of missed opportunities for creating a more enveloping experience.

As for technical execution, the TrueHD track shines with its handling of the film’s dynamic range, particularly during sequences of sonic intensity involving explosions and the film's score, which benefits from the enhanced bass support. Despite these strengths, there are moments where the audio feels slightly confined and dialogue can come across as somewhat flattened. These issues notwithstanding, "Event Horizon's" Blu-ray audio does an admirable job of enhancing the overall viewing experience, even if there remains room for improvement in achieving a more consistently immersive soundscape that lives up to the potential of lossless audio on home entertainment platforms.

The Blu-ray release of "Event Horizon" is a comprehensive package that offers fans an in-depth exploration into the making of this cult classic. Despite the absence of the mythical Director's Cut, the inclusion of detailed extras adds immense value. Noteworthy is the feature-length commentary by director Paul W.S. Anderson and producer Jeremy Bolt, who offer insightful discussions on the film's production, challenges, and thematic elements. The centerpiece, a five-part documentary titled "The Making of Event Horizon," covers the film's inception, casting, visual effects, and post-production processes in rich detail, proving to be both informative and engaging without any self-indulgent fluff. Additional materials like "The Point of No Return" and "Secrets" provide a closer look at deleted scenes and the conceptual stages of the movie's development. While all extras are presented in standard definition, this does not detract from their value to the overall viewing experience, culminating in a set that not only enriches the appreciation of the film but also marks a significant contribution to its legacy.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Insightful discussion from director Paul W.S. Anderson and producer Jeremy Bolt.
• The Making of Event Horizon: A comprehensive five-part documentary delving into various aspects of film production.
• The Point of No Return: A collection of four short featurettes on set construction and other production elements, with optional director's commentary.
• Secrets: Deleted and extended scenes accompanied by director commentary, offering additional insights into the filmmaking process.
• The Unseen Event Horizon: Conceptualized but un-filmed scenes presented through storyboards and artwork, with optional commentary.
• Trailers: Includes both the theatrical trailer in HD and a standard definition video trailer.

"Event Horizon," despite its divisive reception, remains a standout in the sci-fi horror genre, largely due to its unrelenting atmosphere and daunting set designs. The film cleverly taps into the fear of the unknown, setting its story in the vastness of outer space, where the titular spacecraft, having vanished seven years prior under mysterious circumstances, is found orbiting Neptune. This premise alone rekindles memories of space horror done right, akin to Ridley Scott's "Alien," yet "Event Horizon" carves its distinct mark with a blend of psychological terror and visceral horror. The rescue mission, led by Captain Miller (portrayed by Laurence Fishburne) alongside the ship's designer, Dr. William Weir (Sam Neill), quickly unfolds into a nightmare as they encounter the remnants of the original crew and face their own deepest fears.

The craftsmanship behind "Event Horizon" is noteworthy, especially considering the era it was produced in. The set design and cinematography create a claustrophobic environment that amplifies the tension and dread, embodying the ship itself as a character fraught with menace and mystery. While the film navigates through a plot that criticizes could argue leans on genre conventions and suffers from dialogue that sometimes detracts from the overall intensity, its pacing and climactic moments offer ample compensation. The narrative's strength lies in its ability to maintain suspense and engage with a tight script that pushes the characters to their limits, offering a blend of hardcore gore and psychological depth without overindulging in either.

On the front of performances and character development, "Event Horizon" presents a solid ensemble cast that effectively pulls the audience into the unfolding horror. Despite pacing issues that might leave some of the potential underexplored, the film successfully employs its runtime to flesh out its central characters, making their descent into terror all the more engaging. The inclusion of hallucinatory and grotesque elements works well to elevate the film beyond mere shock value, intertwining with thematic elements of guilt and redemption. While Paul W.S. Anderson may not have universally redeemed himself with this film, "Event Horizon" stands as a testament to when his ambitious vision aligns perfectly with execution, resulting in a film that both horrifies and intrigues, ensuring its place as a cult favorite within the genre.

The Blu-ray release of "Event Horizon" garners a solid recommendation, bolstered primarily by its considerable upgrade both in picture and sound quality from previous home formats. Despite a persistent flaw in the picture that has been noted across its home video incarnations, the visual presentation remains a definitive improvement. Coupled with an enhanced sound field, this release promises an immersive reexamination of Paul W.S. Anderson's standout work in the sci-fi horror genre. The comprehensive suite of extras, retracing the film's production journey and legacy, adds significant value for enthusiasts and newcomers alike. For those whose experience is limited to the basic DVD or have imported special editions, this Blu-ray presents a compelling case for upgrade, given the richer sensory experience it delivers.

The technical execution of this release was evaluated using an extensive and premium home theater setup including a JVC DLA-RS1x 1080p HD projector, diverse high-end disc players like the Oppo 970HD, Panasonic DMP-BD55K, and Sony PlayStation 3 among others, ensuring a broad assessment of its audio-visual fidelity across different equipment. This rigorous testing assures prospective buyers of the Blu-ray's performance consistency, highlighting its capabilities in delivering an engaging horror ambiance, bolstered by solid performances and an effectively eerie cinematic score. The compatibility and enhancement through high-quality audiovisual equipment underline its appeal to audiophiles and cinephiles seeking to maximize their viewing experience.

Conclusively, "Event Horizon" on Blu-ray is an essential acquisition for fans and a notable suggestion for rental to the uninitiated. This edition not only improves significantly on audio-visual grounds compared to its DVD predecessors but also enriches the viewing experience with a substantial array of bonus content. Its presentation faults, notably in video transfer and TrueHD surround sound, do little to detract from the overall quality, which remains commendably high. Whether you're revisiting this sci-fi horror gem or curious about its enduring allure, the Blu-ray offers a worthy enhancement to most collections, encapsulating the film's atmospheric tension and horrifying spectacle effectively.