The Wild Beasts Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Wild Beasts" by Severin Films features an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its native 1.67:1 aspect ratio. Filmed under challenging circumstances, the production quality reflects its shoot-'on-the-fly' nature, with many scenes set at night, leading to a noticeable lack of fine detail in darker sequences. Despite this, colors remain vivid though slightly faded, leaning towards brown hues. The presence of a healthy grain field is apparent in well-lit scenes but appears reduced in darker settings, likely due to some applied filtering.

The overall visual quality includes occasional age-related damage, which, while present, does not detract significantly from the viewing experience. The transfer maintains a soft visual texture consistent with the expected original theatrical look. This Blu-ray's faithful replication of the original film's tonal palette and its preservation efforts ensure that it remains true to what audiences might have seen during its initial release.

The audio presentation of "The Wild Beasts" on Blu-Ray features both English and Italian tracks, with the English track rendered in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and the Italian in Dolby Digital 2.0. The DTS-HD Master Audio track showcases an evident increase in amplitude and fidelity, particularly noticeable in the musical score. Meanwhile, the Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 track, while serviceable, doesn't reach the same auditory richness. Both tracks suffer from a certain boxiness and are clearly the result of post-dubbing, an established characteristic of Italian cinema. The mismatched lip movements and spoken dialogue indicate a multilingual cast where neither track seamlessly matches the actors' lip movements, contributing to an odd auditory experience overall.

Notably, despite the DTS track’s superior punch and clarity, both soundtracks remain relatively flat outside of the overdubbed dialogue. The sound effects and musical score possess a degree of sharpness that provides a satisfactory auditory layer for most viewers, though it doesn't utilize the full potential of modern surround sound systems. Ambience is appropriately managed but lacks extensive speaker-to-speaker activity, maintaining a straightforward audio profile. For those who prefer or need them, English subtitles are available, ensuring accessibility for all users.

The extras for the Blu-Ray of "The Wild Beasts" provide a comprehensive and engaging behind-the-scenes look. Ranging from insightful interviews with key figures involved in the movie to rare footage, these features delve deeply into the challenges and experiences faced during production. Each interview is rich with personal anecdotes and historical context, enhancing the viewer's understanding of the film's unique background. Noteworthy moments include director Franco E. Prosperi discussing on-set tribulations, editor Mario Morra’s detailed account of his career, and Carlo Tiberti’s vivid memories as the son of the film’s animal wrangler. These segments are all in Italian with English subtitles, ensuring authenticity while making them accessible.

Extras included in this disc:

• Altered Beasts: Interview with Director Franco E. Prosperi.
• Wild Tony: Interview with Actor Tony Di Leo.
• Cut After Cut: Interview with Editor and Mondo Filmmaker Mario Morra.
• The Circus is in Town: Interview with Animal Wrangler Roberto Tiberti's Son, Carlo Tiberti.
• House of Wild Beasts: A Visit to the Home of Franco E. Prosperi.
• International Trailer: Promotional material for global audiences.

"Wild Beasts" operates on a base but intriguingly effective premise: the chaos that unfolds when a Northern European city's municipal water supply gets tainted with a psychoactive drug, leading to zoo animals (followed by humans) going berserk. Directed by Franco Prosperi, co-creator of controversial films like "Mondo Cane", this 1984 film manages to retain its exploitative lineage while introducing a unique hallucinogenic atmosphere. The film maintains a stark focus on the ensuing carnage, combining both deliberate execution and disturbing sequences, typical of Prosperi’s penchant for shock-value filmmaking.

The narrative is straightforward and lean, introducing key characters like zoo vet Rupert Berner and photographer Laura Schwarz, before immersing them in escalating mayhem. The film is filled with over-the-top vignettes of wild beasts rampaging through various urban settings, yet falters by failing to build substantial suspense. A peculiar soundtrack characterized by ineffectively post-dubbed dialogue in both English and Italian further distances the viewer from what could have been a more gripping experience.

As the plot reaches its climax, "Wild Beasts" dives into hyperbolic bloodshed, illuminated by non-animal exertions of violence. Though laughably heightened dubbing, especially during interactions between a hysterical girl and her mother, drags it towards self-parody, the film interestingly claims no animals or humans were harmed during production. This frenetic mix of absurdity and exploitation through orchestrated animal chaos makes "Wild Beasts" a bizarre yet definitive entry in the 'nature strikes back' genre.

Severin Films' Blu Ray release of "The Wild Beasts" stands out as a captivating, albeit unconventional, addition to any cult film collection. The narrative centers around animals rampaging through a city after being driven mad by contaminated water. Fans of exploitation cinema will undoubtedly appreciate some of the more outlandish scenes, such as a cheetah tearing through the urban landscape or rats swarming amorous couples. However, those seeking genuine horror may find themselves more amused than terrified by the film's crude special effects and occasionally laughable dubbing.

Technically, the Blu Ray presentation is commendable, given the film’s inherent limitations. The transfer demonstrates impressive clarity and color fidelity, providing a vibrant viewing experience despite the film’s age. The audio, while not groundbreaking, is serviceable and maintains consistency throughout, ensuring dialogues and sound effects are coherent. This release is further enriched by Severin’s extensive supplemental materials, which offer fascinating insights into the film's production and reception, potentially appealing to those interested in behind-the-scenes content.

In conclusion, "The Wild Beasts" is a peculiar entry in the cult horror genre that may not elicit fear but certainly entertains through its sheer audacity and outrageousness. Its environmental message, though poorly executed, adds an intriguing layer to the narrative. While it may not convert skeptics, the high-quality transfer and engaging extras make this Blu Ray a valuable acquisition for dedicated cult cinema enthusiasts.