Book of Blood Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of the Blu-ray for "Book of Blood" leaves much to be desired. The film's gloomy tone is burdened with issues in its 1080p/VC-1 encode, which struggles to balance darker scenes, resulting in an oppressive and often muddled viewing experience. While it is typical for haunted house narratives to leverage shadows for atmospheric effect, "Book of Blood" fails to achieve the desired inky contrast that could have added much-needed depth. Black levels crush fine detail, creating an indistinguishable grayish-black mess, and bursts of color are sapped of life, leaving skin tones either pallid or unnaturally yellowed under artificial lighting.

The digital noise present is a notable distraction, even more so when combined with signs of noise reduction applied inconsistently across scenes. Despite the bleakness of Edinburgh's portrayal, moments of daylight reveal what the HD format should ideally deliver—crisp detail apparent in facial textures and objects in the foreground. Unfortunately, these moments are fleeting as the return to darkness washes away any clarity gained, except in instances where excessive lighting artificially brightens a scene. The few impressive sharp scenes are drowned by the overall inconsistency in visual quality, making this Blu-ray a less than optimal viewing choice for cinephiles seeking refined visual fidelity.

The audio presentation of "Book of Blood" on Blu-ray is implemented via a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, offering an immersive experience with a respectable dynamic range. Though some aspects of the sound design might lack creativity, the audio effectively balances between the quiet, clear-cut dialogue and the unexpected jump scares typical of horror films. These sudden loud bangs and screeching musical jolts do contribute to a fleeting tension, although they might feel clichéd to seasoned horror enthusiasts.

Surround channels play a significant role in generating atmosphere with various effects such as jittering ghost voices, flitting dragonflies, and slamming doors. However, the cross-speaker movements can sometimes feel clumsily executed. Ambient sounds like pounding rain and rushing wind are reasonably well-rendered, giving a semblance of depth to the soundscape. Overall, the audio mixing might not impress hardcore audiophiles or long-time horror fans, but it serves its purpose in delivering a reasonably engaging auditory experience that complements the visual elements of the film.

The Blu-ray extras for "Book of Blood" provide a commendable glimpse behind the scenes, with notable contributions from horror master Clive Barker, who offers his stamp of approval. The behind-the-scenes documentary covers various aspects like casting, location scouting, special effects, and CGI, but does not delve deeply into any single area. It engages viewers by providing enough insight into the filmmaking process without becoming overwhelming. The production details are concise and offer a pertinent overview that benefits both casual fans and dedicated followers of the genre.

Extras included in this disc:

• Book of Blood: Behind the Scenes: Insightful, though brief, overview of the film's production elements including casting, locations, special effects, and CGI.

Book of Blood, adapted from Clive Barker's renowned horror stories, struggles to reach the heights of his earlier cinematic successes like Hellraiser and Candyman. Director John Harrison attempts to stitch together a cohesive narrative from two short stories, resulting in a disjointed tale. The film begins with a disturbing premise—a man named Simon McNeal, played by Jonas Armstrong, finds himself at the mercy of a violent captor who plans to flay him. The backstory unfolds as we follow Mary Florescu (Sophie Ward), a ghost-hunting lecturer, and her assistant Reg (Paul Blair), investigating a haunted house with a macabre history. However, the plot's potential is muddied by mediocre dialogue, lackluster pacing, and underdeveloped relationships. While Simon's gruesome transformation into a "book of blood" displays commendable practical effects, the film undermines atmospheric tension with clichéd ghost imagery and uninspired jump scares.

Harrison's ambitious blend of gothic horror, erotica, and supernatural elements falters in its execution. Despite recurring themes of sex and death—staples of Barker's works—the film's erotic scenes feel forced and the horror sequences insufficiently chilling. The performances are uneven; Armstrong is serviceable, albeit dull, while Ward's mismatched American accent and caricature-like seriousness detract from the narrative's credibility. Moreover, the adaptation's pacing issues are glaring: a promising opening gives way to a plodding middle and an unsatisfying climax. Had the director opted for an anthology format to better capture Barker's vignettes, the film might have offered richer, more engaging storytelling.

Ultimately, Book of Blood fails to solidify its place among Barker's classic adaptations. With haunted house clichés, elementary dialogue, and a scarcity of genuine scares, it offers little innovation or excitement for horror aficionados. The film is neither sufficiently terrifying nor intellectually stimulating, rendering it another middling entry in the ever-expanding library of book-to-film horror translations.

"Book of Blood" on Blu-ray is a mixed experience, blending chilling atmospheric horror with underwhelming narrative execution. The film, which tells a tale inspired by Clive Barker's macabre stories, shows promise through its eerie visuals and compelling use of sound design. The Blu-ray transfer is visually solid, presenting dark scenes with impressive clarity and depth of color, essential for maintaining the intended horror ambiance. In terms of audio, the surround sound effectively enhances the tension, making the creepy soundscapes and sudden scares more immersive.

However, the film struggles with pacing issues and character development, which detracts from its overall impact. Despite having moments of genuine suspense, the plot often feels disjointed, and the character motivations are not always convincingly portrayed. The choice to release it straight to video might stem from its lack of big names, but this decision underestimates the potential impact of well-executed horror irrespective of star power.

In conclusion, while "Book of Blood" offers an experience rooted in atmospheric horror with solid technical execution on Blu-ray, it ultimately falls short in narrative coherence and depth. Fans of Clive Barker might find elements to appreciate, but for most viewers, there are more captivating horror films available in the Blu-ray collection. Unless you are a dedicated Clive Barker enthusiast, this may not warrant a spot in your library.