The Pyramid Blu-ray Review

The 1080p transfer of "The Pyramid" on Blu-ray, presented by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, delivers a mixed visual experience. The film is divided into brightly lit exteriors and exceedingly dark interiors, each showcasing a distinct set of challenges and strengths. The exterior desert scenes are visually stunning, marked by a 2.35:1 aspect ratio that enhances the expansive landscapes. Colors are vibrant, and there's impressive fine detail that captures elements like wind-blown sand effectively. During these outdoor sequences, black levels are commendable, contributing to a three-dimensional quality that heightens viewer immersion.

However, the film's interior pyramid sequences present a stark contrast. Here, the AVC encoded transfer struggles significantly with low-light conditions. The labyrinthine hallways and cubby holes are plagued by inadequate shadow detail, leading to an overly murky appearance. This makes it difficult to discern specific details and hampers the overall viewing experience. Issues such as banding, particularly when a flashlight beam is directed at the camera, and recurrent crush further exacerbate the problem. These technical shortcomings are evident throughout the found footage format, although the film's occasional return to a glossier presentation offers some respite.

Despite these issues, it is noteworthy that the film avoids an outright video look, which is often typical in the found footage genre. The integration of point-of-view shots from a NASA rover and documentary cameraman adds some variety, albeit inconsistently applied. The heavy handheld camera use introduces motion blur during action sequences, diminishing clarity further. Lighting inadequacies compound the issue, often rendering the interior scenes frustratingly dark. In summary, while "The Pyramid" excels in its bright, outdoor scenes, the interior scenes suffer from several technical flaws that impact the overall visual presentation.

The Pyramid's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix presents a solid performance, particularly when the action shifts to the interior of the pyramid. Early scenes feature an abundance of ambient environmental sounds at the dig site, creating a realistic atmosphere. Once inside the pyramid, the surround channels are utilized effectively to evoke a sense of looming danger, complemented by the challenging visibility of these sequences. Dialogue remains clear and well-prioritized throughout, even amid the more intense sound effects, ensuring an immersive and coherent auditory experience.

Despite its strengths, the track's overall impact is somewhat limited by the film's predominantly dialogue-driven nature. Although imaging is precise and some ambient noises contribute to the setting, there isn’t a great deal of dynamic range outside of sporadic bursts of sound effects and low-frequency effects (LFE) that deliver the intended jolt. While the use of surrounds heightens tension during critical moments, much of the film's audio is anchored to the center channel, making this DTS-HD MA 5.1 track feel modest at times. It performs adequately given the film’s content but could have potentially benefited from a down mix to stereo.

The extras included in the Blu-ray of "The Pyramid" offer a mixed bag of content that provides some interesting insights into the film's production but are generally brief. The Extended Ending extends the film's narrative briefly, adding more to the already exaggerated storyline. Several Promotional Featurettes come across as standard electronic press kit material, albeit some provide unique viewpoints on specific elements of the film. Fear delivers an audience reaction piece, though the reactions seem somewhat misaligned with the film. Space Archaeology discusses the intriguing use of satellite technology in archeology that influenced the movie's plot. Egyptian Myth features interviews on Egyptology, attempting to position the film's concept as original despite its similarities to prior works. The Partners featurette offers a glimpse into the enduring collaboration between producer Alexandre Aja and director Gregory Levasseur. Additional extras such as a Gallery of still images, the Theatrical Trailer, and pre-roll Sneak Peaks are also included.

Extras included in this disc:

• Extended Ending: Prolonged ending with additional footage.
• Fear: Audience reaction piece.
• Space Archaeology: Satellite technology in archaeology.
• Egyptian Myth: Interviews discussing Egyptology.
• Partners: Long partnership between producer and director.
• Gallery: Behind-the-scenes stills.
• Theatrical Trailer: Film trailer.
• Sneak Peaks: Promotional content for other films.

"The Pyramid" opens with a promising concept, situating itself amid the realism of Cairo’s political turmoil during the Arab Spring. However, this intriguing premise is swiftly abandoned in favor of generic found footage horror cliches. Father and daughter archaeologists, Miles (Denis O'Hare) and Nora Holden (Ashley Hinshaw), discover a unique three-sided pyramid and decide to delve deeper despite impending chaos. The film’s narrative flow is disrupted by clumsy editing that mixes ostensibly found footage with traditional film techniques, creating an inconsistent viewing experience.

Once inside the pyramid, the explorers confront nightmarish creatures in near-total darkness. While this could generate intense atmosphere, the obscured visuals often hinder the intended scares. The film's sound design does its part to induce tension, yet frequent abrupt transitions and booming effects can feel more obligatory than innovative. Interestingly, "The Pyramid" makes a late attempt to integrate Egyptian mythology into its horror elements, but these efforts lack coherence, rendering the overall story implausible and unsatisfying.

Despite moments of genuine fright courtesy of deft sound engineering and jump-scares, the film’s over-reliance on found footage tropes and subpar CGI effects mar the overall impact. The film oscillates between attempting serious horror and inadvertently amusing sequences, like poorly animated creatures attacking characters. This inconsistency detracts significantly from its potential. Ultimately, "The Pyramid," with its hybrid found footage approach, is more likely to entertain through unintentional humor than deliver sustained suspense or horror.

The Pyramid's Blu-ray release offers a mixed bag for horror enthusiasts. On the technical front, the video quality is generally commendable, delivering sharp and detailed images that enhance the tense atmosphere of the film. However, the dark scenes often suffer from poor lighting, which can hinder the viewing experience. Audio performance is adequate, providing clear dialogue and effective use of sound effects, though it lacks the immersive depth found in higher-tier releases.

The film itself, unfortunately, falls short of expectations. Its attempt to revitalize the found footage genre feels outdated and uninspired, leading to a series of predictable and unmemorable scares. The narrative structure is plagued by inconsistent editing choices that disrupt the flow and fail to build any substantial tension. Performances by the cast lack conviction and unintentionally verge on comedic, which detracts from the overall horror experience.

Ultimately, while The Pyramid may offer some ephemeral thrills, it doesn't leave a lasting impression. The technical merits of the Blu-ray release are solid, but they aren't enough to compensate for the film's shortcomings. This title is best suited for a casual watch with friends looking for an unintentional laugh rather than a genuine horror experience. Consider it a rental rather than a purchase.