Life After Beth Blu-ray Review

"Life After Beth" is presented on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio by Lionsgate Films. Shot digitally using the Arri Alexa, the film boasts a sleek and clean appearance, retaining detail that is particularly sharp and crisp. The textured close-ups, especially during scenes of Beth's bodily decay, reveal fine details such as individual hairs and wrinkles. The film maintains excellent image stability with no noticeable artifacts. However, the intentional color grading—favoring a yellow-brown palette—lends certain scenes a slightly flat look, which successfully enhances the narrative's undead themes.

The color reproduction is robust, with greens and blues popping vividly in the prelude hiking scenes before Beth's transformation. Black levels are impressively deep and inky, bolstering the film's dark aesthetic without losing detail in shadowy scenes. Flesh tones remain natural despite the thematic decay, showcasing lifelike detail particularly in close-ups. The film's slightly desaturated look serves as an effective visual metaphor for the degradation associated with zombieism.

Depth in the transfer is commendable, highlighted effectively in scenes like those featuring Dane DeHaan poolside. Textures across clothing and surfaces are intricately detailed, providing a realistic visual experience. While some scenes may appear a bit too dark, obscuring minor details, the overall presentation achieves a well-balanced dynamics without significant noise or artifacts. Overall, this Blu-ray transfer marries technical proficiency with creative intent, emphasizing both clarity and thematic resonance.

The audio presentation of "Life After Beth" on Blu-ray utilizes a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix, providing an engaging and robust surround sound experience. The soundtrack features an excellently balanced and spatially dynamic array of sound effects, including vivid instances of gunfire that resonate forcefully through the surround speakers. Dialogue is consistently clean and clear, even in more crowded and chaotic scenes like the zombie invasion of the Orfman home. The absence of audio anomalies such as pops, cracks, or hissing speaks to the high fidelity maintained throughout the film.

While "Life After Beth" is more dialogue-focused than one might expect from a zombie film, its sound design does not disappoint. The audio tropes typical of this genre are present, with ambient sounds and environmental noises delivered robustly and realistically. The low-frequency extension (LFE) is particularly noteworthy, enhancing the bass-heavy action sequences and complementing the film’s score and soundtrack aptly, making most of the subwoofer’s capacity. Dynamic range is impressive, from loud bursts of sound to more subtle atmospheric effects, contributing to a well-rounded audio presentation.

Overall, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix for "Life After Beth" does an admirable job of delivering a full-bodied auditory landscape. Whether it’s the precise dialogue reproduction, the immersive surround sound effects, or the carefully balanced score integration, the mix achieves a harmonious blend that significantly elevates the viewer’s experience.

The Blu-ray release of "Life After Beth" includes several bonus features, delivering a mix of commentary, behind-the-scenes content, and deleted scenes. The Audio Commentary features writer/director Jeff Baena and actors Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, and Matthew Gubler. Unfortunately, it suffers from sporadic dead space and is more anecdotal than informative. Life After Beth: The Post Mortem offers a conventional EPK segment with interviews from key cast and crew, providing an adequate glimpse into the film's production. Finally, the Deleted Scenes section showcases 11 scenes, including one involving Alia Shawkat's character which adds depth to the overall narrative.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Featuring writer/director Jeff Baena and actors Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, and Matthew Gubler.
• Life After Beth: The Post Mortem: Standard EPK with cast and crew interviews.
• Deleted Scenes: Includes 11 scenes that add depth to the film's characters.

"Life After Beth," the debut directorial venture of Jeff Baena, attempts to combine the zombie genre with romantic comedy, resulting in a "zom-rom-com" that offers a fresh twist but is ultimately uneven. The film follows Zach Orfman (Dane DeHaan) as he struggles to cope with the sudden death and unexpected return of his girlfriend Beth Slocum (Aubrey Plaza), who becomes a zombie. Baena's observational directing style delivers both hilarity and poignant moments, although the film wavers between slapstick comedy and thoughtful drama, never fully committing to either. This inconsistency is evident as the narrative oscillates from laugh-out-loud scenes to chaotic, less effective sequences involving zombies invading the Orfman household.

The opening scene, added to qualify for a Los Angeles tax credit, sets the tone as Beth hikes alone before succumbing to a fatal snake bite. Following her funeral, Zach finds solace in the company of Beth’s parents, leading to heartfelt moments such as Zach and Maury (John C. Reilly) bonding over regrets and a joint. However, these touching scenes are undercut by abrupt tonal shifts. As Beth returns, seemingly unaware of her death, the film leans into comedic territory with her unpredictable zombie outbursts, much like her bizarre confrontation in front of Zach's new love interest, Erica (Anna Kendrick).

Plaza’s performance stands out, showcasing her range from comedic timing to sinister menace as Beth’s condition deteriorates. DeHaan capably portrays Zach's anguish and confusion, while supporting roles from Reiser and Hines add depth. However, despite strong performances and unique concepts, "Life After Beth" feels stretched thin. The film’s ambition to blend humor with genuine emotion results in an intriguing yet uneven experience, which perhaps would have been more effective as a shorter feature. Nevertheless, fans of the genre may find its novel approach and engaging performances entertaining enough to justify a viewing.

"Life After Beth" brings a fresh perspective to the zombie genre with its unique blend of humor and drama. The performances are commendable, particularly Aubrey Plaza's portrayal of Beth as a petulant Valley Girl zombie and Dane DeHaan's manic energy. These elements infuse the film with humorous whimsy that compensates for its occasional tonal inconsistencies and sluggish pacing in the first act. The film delivers hearty laughs, though it lacks the emotional depth of similar genre works like "Warm Bodies."

The Blu-ray release from Lionsgate is technically impressive, with sharp video quality and robust audio presentations that enhance the viewing experience. The bonus content, while minimal, provides significant insights through a commentary track and a 15-minute retrospective involving key production members. Nearly 20 minutes of deleted scenes offer additional value, and the inclusion of a digital copy extends the viewing options.

In conclusion, while "Life After Beth" may falter in balancing its comedic and dramatic elements, it remains an entertaining novelty for zombie genre aficionados. The Blu-ray's strong technical merits and valuable extras make it a worthwhile addition to any collection. Overall, this film comes recommended, especially for those seeking something different in zombie cinema.