Dead in Tombstone Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "Dead in Tombstone" is notably robust, delivering a technically proficient 1080p/AVC-encoded image in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Universal has crafted a transfer that excels in capturing fine details, evident in the meticulously sharp close-ups that reveal every scar on Danny Trejo's body and the intricate textures of makeup effects. Facial features, including minutiae, are rendered with exceptional clarity, enhancing the immersive experience.

Color representation is both well-saturated and balanced, managing to faithfully convey the film's intended aesthetic despite its somewhat glossy digital photography. Predominantly featuring tones of brown, yellow, and deep reds, the colors maintain a natural look while still allowing for striking visual elements, particularly during more intense scenes. The black levels are deep and consistent, contributing to the overall depth and enhancement of on-screen imagery.

The video is largely devoid of common distractions such as macroblocking, banding, or aliasing, providing a seamless viewing experience. However, minimal instances of noise appear in scenes heavily reliant on visual effects. Despite potential limitations in atmospheric grit due to its overly polished appearance, the presentation successfully aligns with Reiné's visual intentions, ensuring an engaging and technically sound viewing experience.

"Dead in Tombstone" features a robust and raucous DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround mix. The track is impactful, with booming LFE output enhancing the explosive guns and brawny action sequences. The rear channels effectively capture the dynamic elements of the film, with smooth cross-channel pans and directional clarity, allowing for bullet whizzes and town commotion to fill the room convincingly. While there is some front-heavy bias inherent to the direct-to-video sound design, it doesn't detract significantly from the overall immersion. Dialogue remains consistently clear and well-prioritized throughout.

The lossless DTS-HD 5.1 audio mix excels with clean, intelligible dialogue devoid of anomalies such as pops or hisses. The mix offers a commendable dynamic range, ensuring both subtle sounds and intense action sequences are delivered with fidelity. Surround channels get ample use during high-octane scenes, immersing the listener with precise effects of gunfire and explosive impacts. The score by Hybrid occasionally comes on strong but effectively maintains the film's suspense and energy. The bass is periodically powerful, rounding out an audio presentation that will not disappoint fans seeking a potent and engaging auditory experience.

The Blu-ray edition of "Dead in Tombstone" offers a robust suite of extras, thanks to director Roel Reiné’s impressive curation. The package includes both an unrated and R-rated cut of the film, albeit with minimal distinction. Notably, an engaging audio commentary by Reiné provides valuable insights into the film's low-budget production, character development, and the contributions of stars Danny Trejo and Mickey Rourke. The 21-minute collection of deleted scenes and a deleted shots montage offer additional content, though they do little to enhance the narrative. Behind-the-scenes featurettes, such as "The Making of Dead in Tombstone," "Horses, Guns & Explosions," "Roel Reiné: The Leader of the Gang," "A Town Transformed," and "Creating Hell: The VFX," deliver an informative glimpse into the film’s production challenges and visual effects design.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Insightful commentary from director Roel Reiné.
• Deleted Scenes: Nine deleted scenes plus a deleted shots montage.
• The Making of Dead in Tombstone: Behind-the-scenes featurette with cast and crew interviews.
• Horses, Guns & Explosions: A focused look at the film's action elements.
• Roel Reiné: The Leader of the Gang: Featurette on the director.
• A Town Transformed: Details on setting up and dressing the film's locations.
• Creating Hell: The VFX: Examination of visual effects.

"Dead in Tombstone" offers an intriguing but ultimately flawed venture into the supernatural western genre. Directed by Roel Reiné, the film features Danny Trejo as Guerrero de la Cruz, a vengeful gunslinger who strikes a deal with the Devil, played by Mickey Rourke, to avenge his betrayal and death by his own gang. The narrative premise shows promise as Guerrero returns from Hell for a 24-hour window to hunt down his killers, but is hampered by an undercooked script and a cast that struggles to rise above their one-dimensional roles. The plot includes numerous elements such as gold mine conspiracies and the involvement of local power players, but these subplots are often poorly developed and only serve to muddle the story further.

Roel Reiné is known for his direct-to-video repertoire, and "Dead in Tombstone" exemplifies the limitations of this domain. The action sequences, although frequent, lack the necessary coherence and excitement, often feeling flat and sporadic. Reiné's technique of using multiple cameras to film scenes in a single take results in a disjointed and chaotic presentation. While Trejo delivers a typically grizzled performance, he and co-star Anthony Michael Hall, portraying half-brother Red Cavanaugh, fail to carry the film on their own. Rourke's Lucifer shows occasional flair but is underutilized, leaving much potential untapped.

Despite these shortcomings, the film does provide some highlights, including impressive visual effects, notably in explosive set pieces and hauntingly stylized imagery. However, these moments are not enough to anchor the film amidst its evident flaws. Overall, "Dead in Tombstone" had the ingredients for an engaging supernatural western but ends up being a mostly incoherent mishmash due to its poor execution and insufficient character development.

"Dead in Tombstone" assembles a reliable trio of leading men but neglects to build a sharper, more cohesive revenge western around them. Danny Trejo offers a committed performance but loses ground due to his character's poorly cast gang. Anthony Michael Hall delivers menacing leers but is saddled with dreadful dialogue, while Mickey Rourke, despite an engaging presence, is largely constrained to the shadows. If only this film had benefited from more capable direction, it might have provided a more memorable experience.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray release of "Dead in Tombstone" excels. The video presentation is excellent, offering crisp visuals that highlight the film's high-production values. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track delivers a robust and immersive sound experience, effectively bringing the action sequences to life. Additionally, the supplemental package is surprisingly generous, making this release noteworthy despite the film's shortcomings.

However, the film itself never rises above mediocrity. It offers enough to be a decent rental for a rainy day but lacks the polish needed for repeated viewings or ownership unless you are an ardent Danny Trejo fan. With an unrated version that barely extends beyond the R-rated cut, the movie's potential remains largely unfulfilled.

In conclusion, "Dead in Tombstone" leverages strong leading performances and top-notch Blu-ray specifications but falls short in its overall execution. With an excellent video and audio presentation and a solid array of extras, this title is best sampled through a rental service before deciding on a purchase.