The Monkey's Paw Blu-ray Review

"The Monkey's Paw" is presented on Blu-ray by Scream Factory with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Despite the film’s relatively recent production, the visual quality is inconsistent. The presentation is predominantly murky and soft, suffering from frequent low contrast. Shadow detail is notably lacking due to the many shrouded environments within the film. However, brightly lit scenes reveal fine detail and accurate colors, showcasing occasional evocative tweaks made during the digital intermediate stage, such as a sepia-toned prelude that effectively establishes the film’s ominous tone.

The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode alternates between average and excellent quality. Nighttime sequences tend to be the weakest, with dull contrast and murky blacks detracting from the overall experience. In contrast, well-lit interior sequences are visually pleasing with bright, crisp whites and accurate brightness levels. Daytime scenes benefit from the sunshine, providing the strongest visuals with well-defined fine object and textural details, particularly in close-up shots where facial complexions are highly revealing. Despite a reliance on the teal-orange cinematography palette, primary colors remain bold and cleanly rendered. The image does exhibit minor issues, such as aliasing and moiré effects, but these do not significantly detract from the overall viewing experience.

The audio presentation of "The Monkey's Paw" Blu-ray disc features a robust DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that excels in creating an immersive experience, particularly during high-impact scenes such as sudden car crashes or gunfire. While the more dialogue-heavy scenes primarily utilize the front channels, the sound fidelity remains high with an impressive dynamic range. Notably, the track operates without any technical issues, ensuring a seamless auditory experience.

The DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack significantly enhances the atmospheric feel of the film. The front soundstage is notably broad and engaging, supported by excellent channel separation and smooth movement across channels. Dialogue is exceptionally clear within the center channel, maintaining definition even amid intense sequences. The mid-range frequencies are pristine, contributing to the overall sense of clarity and detail across the sound spectrum. Low bass is sufficiently responsive and adds weight to the mix, though it does not reach room-shaking levels of intensity.

The rear channels play a pivotal role in maintaining an engaging and satisfying auditory experience. They provide effective directionality, particularly noticeable during tense moments involving Stephen Lang's character. Subtle ambient effects enhance quieter scenes, preserving an enjoyable soundfield throughout. The result is an impressively nuanced and well-balanced lossless audio mix that significantly contributes to the enjoyment of "The Monkey's Paw."

The extras on the Blu Ray of "The Monkey's Paw" provide substantial insights and added entertainment value, presenting a blend of technical details and engaging content. The making-of featurette, presented in 1080i, offers a standard EPK experience with essential interviews with the cast and crew which effectively explains the plot and characters. Complementing this is an enjoyable audio commentary by director Brett Simmons, actor C.J. Thomason, and cinematographer Scott Winig, which covers intricate technical details such as color grading and image tweaking, alongside personal anecdotes such as filming in New Orleans post-Katrina. The trailer, available in 1080p, rounds out the extras with a concise preview of the film.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailer: Concise preview of the film.
• Making The Monkey's Paw: Standard EPK piece with cast & crew interviews explaining plot and characters.
• Audio Commentary with Director Brett Simmons, Cinematographer Scott Winig, and Actor C.J. Thomason: Discussions on production, technical details like color grading, and filming anecdotes.

"The Monkey's Paw," adapted by Chiller Films and directed by Brett Simmons, attempts to bring W.W. Jacobs' famed cautionary tale to a modern audience in New Orleans. This 2013 version skews toward an Americanized narrative with an emphasis on classic horror elements such as reanimated corpses and dark, brooding settings. Despite these efforts, the film falters primarily due to weak writing and direction. Instead of establishing a gripping, suspenseful atmosphere akin to other New Orleans-based supernatural films like "Angel Heart," it meanders through well-worn horror clichés, resulting in a lackluster experience that fails to capitalize on its intriguing premise.

The protagonist, Jake Tilton (C.J. Thomason), embarks on a doomed journey after receiving the cursed monkey’s paw, making predictable and poorly executed wishes that lead to devastating outcomes. His initial wish leads to the death of his friend Tony Cobb (Stephen Lang), whom he then resurrects in his second wish, only for Cobb to return with murderous intentions. The screenplay by Macon Blair struggles to offer the necessary emotional connection, making Jake’s actions feel irrational and devoid of the moral complexity present in Jacobs’ original work. This narrative shortfall, paired with shallow character development, leaves viewers disengaged and largely indifferent to Jake’s fate.

Stephen Lang's performance as Cobb injects some life into the film; however, his character's motivations and the subsequent plot progression lack coherence, reflecting a missed opportunity to explore deeper themes of love and loss found in Jacobs’ text. The rest of the cast ranges from serviceable to unimpressive, further contributing to the movie's ineffectiveness. Cinematographer Scott Winig manages to create a visually engaging dark atmosphere, yet this aesthetic is undermined by the film’s inconsistent tone and pacing, reducing the impact of otherwise stylistically well-executed scenes. Ultimately, "The Monkey's Paw" embodies an occasionally atmospheric yet fundamentally disappointing adaptation that diminishes the timeless horror of its source material.

"The Monkey's Paw" Blu-ray presents a modern adaptation of W.W. Jacobs' classic horror tale, but it falls short of delivering the chilling atmosphere and suspense one might expect. The film struggles with uninspired characters, save for Stephen Lang's occasionally captivating performance, and fails to weave a compelling narrative that integrates its supernatural elements cohesively. The lack of depth in character exploration, particularly in Jake's portrayal, leaves the audience grasping for emotional investment. The mystery surrounding Cobb and his actions feels disconnected from the core horror premise, leading to an incomplete and unsatisfying viewing experience.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray's visual quality is a mixed bag. The picture is strong overall but lacks the sharpness and detail one would anticipate from a 2013 release. Despite this, the audio presentation is notably impressive, providing clear and robust sound that enhances the viewing experience considerably. However, this package's appeal is further diminished by the limited bonus content, which includes only a single featurette unlikely to sway potential buyers.

Genre enthusiasts may find enough here, if just barely, to warrant checking out this latest iteration of W.W. Jacobs' seemingly immortal tale. Still, there's a general whiff of missed opportunities wafting through this outing. Jake is not an especially likable hero, and that makes Cobb the focus of much of the film. The mystery surrounding Cobb's killing spree never really ties into the supernatural horror of the paw itself, leaving this whole enterprise feeling kind of half-baked or, in fact, vivisected. The Blu-ray presentation is generally fine, though the video is not as sharp and well detailed as some might hope for from a 2013 release.