The Signal Blu-ray Review

"The Signal" offers an exemplary 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation, maintaining a high standard throughout its runtime. The transfer is presented in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio and showcases exceptional clarity and sharpness. The image is crisp and clean with vivid detail, particularly in close-ups where wrinkles, scars, dirt specks, and other fine textures on the actors’ faces are rendered impeccable. The sets and props appear realistic and organic, contributing to a deeply immersive viewing experience. The initial scenes feature vibrant, warm earth tones that pop off the screen, transitioning to a more subdued palette as the narrative progresses, thereby accentuating the reds and oranges effectively.

Color reproduction is impressive, with convincing and carefully saturated hues that enhance the visual storytelling. Skin tones are natural and lifelike, while black levels are consistently deep and satisfying. Despite some minor noise in darker scenes, particularly when the characters first encounter the signal source, this issue is traced back to the original photography rather than any flaws in the encoding process. The technical integrity of the video is impeccable with clean edge definition, finely detailed textures, and no noticeable aliasing, ringing, or compression anomalies. The filmmakers' attention to detail shines through in every shot, making "The Signal" a visual treat on Blu-ray.

The audio presentation of "The Signal" Blu-ray is a standout, thanks to the exceptional DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. The film captures the constricted ambiance of research facilities and the open void of desert landscapes with remarkable precision. The sound design profoundly immerses the viewer through a robust 360-degree soundfield, making use of rear speaker activity that is both assertive and well-balanced without any front-heaviness. Ambient noises such as the hum of air filtration, distant machinery, and hallway whispers are rendered with lifelike accuracy, enhancing the realism. Low-Frequency Effects (LFE) output are expertly managed, providing a controlled yet impactful experience exactly when the narrative intensifies. Dialogue is consistently clear and blends seamlessly with Nima Fakhrara’s haunting and meticulously integrated score.

As a predominantly dialogue-driven and suspenseful film, the audio design does not rely on frequent action sequences. Instead, it utilizes intricate sound details and intentional sound effects to build tension. Each sound element, down to the lightest movement, is brought to life with robust clarity and intentional volume to sustain an unsettling atmosphere. Directionality in this mix superbly immerses the viewer in the unsettling narrative, ensuring that environmental cues and sound effects heighten the suspense without overshadowing dialogue or other essential audio components. The dynamic range is impressive, balancing excellent highs and lows that contribute significantly to the overall audio experience of "The Signal." This impeccable audio arrangement ensures a compelling and immersive viewing, maintaining sharp clarity free from any audio distortions like pops, cracks, or hissing.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Signal" offer a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look that both enhances the viewing experience and provides keen insights into the film's creation. The audio commentary by director/co-writer William Eubank, co-writers/consulting producers Carlyle Eubank and David Frigerio, dives deeply into the technical aspects, covering the film’s origins, casting, performances, cinematography, special effects, pacing, tone, and influences. Additionally, the behind-the-scenes featurette, “Behind The Signal,” although standard fare, allows viewers a glimpse into various production elements such as effects and set design. The collection of deleted, extended, and alternate scenes, while somewhat redundant, is definitely worth exploring for extra context. Finally, "Brilliant!" offers a humorous one-minute outtake featuring Laurence Fishburne.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: A detailed technical discussion on various aspects of the film by key creators.
• Deleted/Extended/Alternate Scenes: A mix of seven scenes providing additional context.
• Behind The Signal: A making-of featurette focusing on production elements.
• Brilliant!: A humorous blooper with Laurence Fishburne.

William Eubank's "The Signal" is a remarkable foray into heady science fiction, blending indie authenticity with blockbuster aspirations on a modest $3 million budget. The narrative follows three MIT students—Nic (Brenton Thwaites), Haley (Olivia Cooke), and Jonah (Beau Knapp)—on a quest to track a hacker named Nomad, which disastrously lands them in a secluded desert setting. The film's transition from an eerie found footage-style sequence to a tense captivity in a secretive research facility is gripping, albeit somewhat disjointed at times.

The characters wake up quarantined under the supervision of the enigmatic Dr. Wallace Damon (Lawrence Fishburne), who asserts they've encountered an Extraterrestrial Biological Entity. The slender budget does not hinder the film’s visual and storytelling prowess; David Lanzenberg’s potent cinematography, married with Nima Fakhrara’s sophisticated score, heightens the immersive experience. The performers deliver commendable portrayals, with Thwaites' depiction of a protagonist battling muscular dystrophy adding emotional depth to the otherwise high-stakes narrative.

Eubank's direction nimbly shifts from mystery to thriller to outright sci-fi action, maintaining suspense and intrigue until a third act that impressively expands from the confined research facility to the New Mexico desert’s openness. While some sequences suffer from uneven pacing and contrived ambiguity, the overall result is audacious; it pieces together significant mysteries and delivers substantial payoffs. "The Signal" stands out as a rare gem in low-budget filmmaking, showcasing the filmmakers' ability to craft an engrossing sci-fi story that engages both visually and narratively, leaving the audience both satisfied and yearning for more.

"The Signal" is an impressive low-budget sci-fi thriller that stands out due to its captivating storyline, well-developed characters, and immersive dialogue. Unlike typical big-budget films, "The Signal" deploys its modest resources effectively, delivering a gripping psychological experience that maintains a slow-burn intensity until the very end. The filmmakers have managed to craft a visually compelling narrative that easily competes with higher-budget contemporaries.

Universal’s Blu-ray release of "The Signal" does justice to the film with its excellent video quality, which showcases the movie's carefully constructed scenes in vivid detail. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track adds an enveloping layer, enhancing the film’s tense moments and providing an overall immersive experience. Though the number of special features included may be limited, they are nonetheless worthwhile, adding value to the home-viewing experience.

In conclusion, "The Signal" isn't revolutionary, but what it does, it does extremely well. While there are a few glaring flaws (most of which stick out a bit more with each repeat viewing), the ambitious low-budget genre pic is better than most high-dollar sci-fi blockbusters, even in terms of its FX; not too shabby considering the film's humble roots and production limitations. And Universal's Blu-ray release? Even stronger, with a terrific video presentation, an enveloping DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, and a solid complement of special features. Worth renting? Sure. But it's also worth a blind buy, so long as you don't set your expectations too high.