The Nest Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "The Nest" offers a respectable 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode that reflects its low-budget origins while managing to deliver a high-definition transfer worthy of Shout! Factory's Scream label. Though not the epitome of crystal-clear perfection, the aging material is presented well, with a stable and clear image throughout. Initially, the picture quality is slightly soft, but it sharpens up significantly after the opening titles. Light grain is maintained consistently, imparting a natural texture to the image. Colors, though not exceptionally vibrant, are accurately rendered with balanced flesh tones, only occasionally exhibiting a slight warm push.

In terms of contrast levels, the 1.78:1 picture frame displays competent whites but could benefit from stronger blacks, which at times appear slightly washed out. Nevertheless, black levels remain largely adequate for a film of this age, with shadow delineation clear despite a somewhat milky and foggy appearance in darker scenes. The transfer is impressively clean, devoid of scratches, dirt, and intrusive artifacts like banding or edge enhancement, making for an overall smooth viewing experience. Fine object and textural details are on the softer side due to the original photography, but definition and resolution remain consistent and acceptable throughout. This release proves to be a solid effort from Shout! Factory, balancing its historical quality with modern transfer capabilities to deliver an enjoyable visual presentation.

The audio presentation of "The Nest" on Blu-ray, while somewhat limited, manages to deliver a satisfactory experience. Despite the menu's promise of a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack, the disc offers only DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtracks. This limitation confines the experience to the front end of the soundstage but maintains stability, clarity, and a substantial presence. Although it lacks the robustness typical of more sophisticated tracks, the audio delivers clean and accurate general sound effects and clear, focused dialogue. The collective crackle and hiss of cockroaches, while sharp, can be slightly muddled. Light ambience enhances a few scenes, but full immersion into the film's moments is not achieved. However, a late-film explosion and heartbeat-like thumping provide a decent bottom end.

From a technical perspective, the audio fares reasonably well against the video quality, albeit without greatly impressing. Dialogue remains clear and centered while background activity reflects excellent off-screen effects with wide imaging and good fidelity, establishing a solid sense of presence and clarity. Bass is appropriate, considering the track's age and production constraints, but the mid-range and overall acoustical detailing fall flat, creating a uniform soundstage. This uniformity is likely due to the original design rather than any fault of the codec. Despite these limitations, the lossless mix suits the film sufficiently for an enjoyable viewing experience.

The Blu-ray release of "The Nest" boasts a noteworthy supplement in the form of an audio commentary track by Director Terry Winkless. This commentary is both highly informative and personally engaging, offering a relaxed and friendly tone. Winkless delves into an array of filmmaking aspects including shooting locations, dealing with challenges associated with cockroaches, and the general process of making the movie. His forthrightness about film shortcomings, blended with amusing anecdotes and personal touches, enriches this scene-specific discussion. Fans will particularly appreciate Winkless's detailed insights and the behind-the-scenes revelations. Although supplementary content is limited, this commentary track is sufficiently enriching.

Extras included in this disc:

Audio Commentary: Director Terry Winkless shares an informative and entertaining track covering filmmaking secrets, challenges, and personal experiences.

"The Nest," directed by Terence H. Winkless, offers a delightfully unsettling horror experience built around one of humanity's most reviled creatures: the cockroach. The film follows Sheriff Richard Tarbell (Franc Luz) who, alongside his rekindled love interest Beth (Lisa Langlois), uncovers a nightmarish infestation leading to the gruesome demise of both animals and townsfolk. The narrative, though straightforward, effectively crafts an intimate small-town atmosphere rife for chaos and mayhem. The cockroaches, given a terrifying twist as biologically-altered and insatiably carnivorous, rapidly turn the town into a frantic scramble for survival. The characters are sympathetically crafted, offering a solid emotional base amid the escalating terror. As the story unfolds towards its grotesque and frenetic conclusion, viewers find themselves engrossed in both the human drama and the escalating mutant roach crisis.

Visually, "The Nest" leverages its low-budget origins to deliver surprisingly convincing special effects, thanks to James M. Navarra's imaginative work. The practical effects, including mutilated limbs and gruesome hybrid monstrosities, oscillate between genuinely shocking and darkly humorous. Scenes like roaches overruning bathroom floors or being diced in diner blenders highlight both the film's ability to horrify and amuse. Though some technical elements may seem dated, they complement the campy charm typical of Roger Corman’s production house, adding layers to its B-movie appeal.

Despite its derivative structure—borrowing elements from films like "Jaws"—"The Nest" manages to carve out a niche with its combination of 1950s creature feature nostalgia and 1980s slasher aesthetics. It's a strange yet effective mix of skin-crawling horror and unintentional comedy, making it a unique, if not particularly groundbreaking, entry in the genre. For horror buffs and fans of creature features, "The Nest" is a wild, entertaining ride through classic horror tropes with a fresh, albeit grotesque, twist.

The Nest provides a solid, if not groundbreaking, entry in the horror genre. It combines effective scriptwriting and competent acting to create a smooth narrative pace that shifts from initial chills to climaxing horror special effects. These effects serve as both a natural progression and an entertaining highlight of the film. The atmosphere is well-crafted, complemented by a diverse and relatable character ensemble that encourages viewers to root for the protagonists amidst the chaos of creepy-crawlies.

Technically, Shout! Factory's Blu-ray presentation of The Nest delivers a decent audiovisual experience. The video quality is stable and clean, ensuring that the effects—particularly the plethora of spine-tingling insect visuals—are presented with clarity. Although the audio is adequate, it might not be as immersive for those with high expectations of sound design. The Blu-ray package includes a commentary track which adds some value, although other supplementary materials are notably sparse.

In conclusion, The Nest serves up a straightforward, no-frills sort of horror experience, and that's a good thing. It does everything well but nothing spectacularly. It's well scripted, nicely acted, moves by at an even pace, and starts with chills and ends up with some intense horror special effects that are over the top but a lot of fun and a natural progression for the movie's buildup towards whatever that thing is. The movie manages to create a good atmosphere and a fine character roster along the way, leaving viewers to cheer on the good guys rather than the creepy-crawlies. It's the perfect little mindless horror film that settles comfortably into the tradition of some of the genre's best. Shout! Factory's Blu-ray release of The Nest features solid video, decent audio, and a commentary track. Recommended.