Trapped Alive Blu-ray Review

Arrow Video's Blu-ray presentation of Trapped Alive is a technically proficient effort that delivers a commendable visual experience for a film of its nature. The 1080p AVC encoded transfer in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, derived from a 2K scan of the original 35mm camera negative, boasts a remarkable fidelity to source material. This restoration, supervised by director of photography Nancy Schreiber, ASC, ensures a filmic quality that balances inherent grain with clarity and detail, even in dimly lit scenes which dominate the film's atmosphere. The inclusion of lush color contrasts against shadow-filled scenes and foreground subjects in soft focus enriches the visual aesthetics in a way that enhances the narrative's tense and eerie environment.

Despite the film's low-budget origins and challenges posed by its thick-grained film stock and predominantly dark settings, Arrow Video's transfer excels in maintaining texture and detail. The frame showcases a dynamic range from deep, well-defined blacks to vividly calibrated brightness. Skin tones remain realistic, and primary colors are vividly presented without overpowering the natural palette. The codec's performance is robust enough to handle the heavy grain without it appearing obtrusive, ensuring continuity across varying lighting conditions within the film. This transfer makes Trapped Alive significantly more watchable compared to its former VHS and DVD presentations, rendering the once murky shadows with greater detail and depth.

Additionally, the film is characterized by its engaging set pieces—constructed indoor mine sets—and cinematography that survives the challenging conditions of frigid temperatures. The collaborative restoration endows the Blu-ray with a polished yet authentic visual representation, cementing Trapped Alive's new identity amongst remastered classic horror films. Arrow Video's dedication to preserving and enhancing older genre titles shines through their work on this much-improved presentation, making it a must-see for genre aficionados.

Arrow's Blu-ray release of "Trapped Alive" features an LPCM 2.0 audio track, which, despite being listed as stereo, provides minimal separation. This aligns with reports of the original theatrical release being in mono. The dialogue is well-supported by the track and remains clear, though notably rough and at times hollow, especially in scenes set within echo-prone environments like the mine. Goofy sound effects add an interesting layer, but fidelity throughout the presentation remains consistently fine, with no issues related to damage, distortion, or dropouts.

The PCM mix suffers due to the initial quality of the recording, with ambient noises such as footsteps and rocks producing a scratchy, static-like sound. Treble frequencies are particularly harsh, contributing to an overall coarse audio experience. Despite these challenges, Arrow's efforts ensure that the audio remains audible and well-balanced. The score, though screechy at times, blends into the action sequences without significant loss of detail. Overall, while the audio quality reflects the film's age and on-the-fly capture methods, it remains an engaging component of the viewing experience due to the diligent preservation work by Arrow.

The Blu-ray of "Trapped Alive" offers an engaging and comprehensive set of extras that delve deeply into the film's production and legacy. Viewers are treated to the short documentary "There's Evil Underground," which includes insightful interviews with key members of the crew, including director Leszek Burzynski and cinematographer Nancy Schreiber. The "Interview with Hank Carlson" highlights the contributions of the makeup effects crew, while the archival "Upper Michigan Tonight TV Documentary" provides behind-the-scenes footage and more interviews with the production team. Additionally, "Leszek Burzynski: The Early Years" provides a nostalgic look at the director's formative experiences. The disc also features an image gallery and three audio commentaries, offering a wealth of material to fans of the film.

Extras included in this disc:

• There’s Evil Underground: Engaging interviews with key players.
• Interview with Hank Carlson: Insights from a makeup crew member.
• Upper Michigan Tonight TV Documentary: Archival behind-the-scenes footage.
• Leszek Burzynski: The Early Years: Director reminisces about his early career.
• Image Gallery: Manually advanced image collection.
• Audio Commentary with Director Leszek Burzynski
• Audio Commentary with Hank Carlson and Josh Hadley
• Audio Commentary with The Hysteria Continues

Trapped Alive: Blu-Ray Movie Review

"Trapped Alive," directed by Leszek Burzynski, emerges from the 1980s' relentless horror film proliferation, yet it didn't get its release until 1993 when it found a minor cult following. Primarily set in an abandoned mine, this film, initially titled "Forever Mine," showcases a storyline where two women stumble into a dire situation involving escaped convicts on their way to a holiday celebration in the wilderness. The film's unique production history includes Windsor Lake Studios' bold, if endearing, attempt to create a filmmaking hub in Eagle River, Wisconsin. They purchased an old Girl Scout camp and envisioned repurposing sets for multiple films— a plan that fell through due to the lack of concrete follow-up projects.

The narrative thrust sees a stark contrast between the cheerful holiday beginning and the ensuing sinister mine environment, where an additional layer of horror is introduced by a cannibalistic mine worker. The film’s delayed release may hint at its inherent flaws—a not quite ready-for-prime-time cast and an underwhelming collection of horror tropes. Horror veteran Cameron Mitchell makes a brief appearance, while Michael Berryman was dismissed early on during production due to creative differences. The movie also suffers from a peculiar pacing issue, with the titular antagonist making his entry only after an hour of build-up where misogynistic violence dominates screen time.

Visually, "Trapped Alive" capitalizes on its ominous, claustrophobic mine setting. Yet the atmosphere is marred by weak character development and an over-reliance on exploitative elements. While the initial setup offers potential for a tense horror experience, it quickly devolves into a somewhat tedious spectator sport of brutality and nudity aimed at pandering to a male audience. Ultimately, Trapped Alive's ambitions are undermined by its formulaic approach and low-budget execution resulting in an inconsistent and occasionally uncomfortable piece of 80s horror nostalgia.

Arrow Video's "Trapped Alive" Blu-ray release provides a nostalgic dive into an oft-overlooked entry in the late 80s horror lexicon. Set in a secluded forest region reminiscent of rural northern Wisconsin, the film’s backdrop lends an eerie authenticity to its subterranean thrills. The technical aspects of the Blu-ray are commendable, offering a sharp transfer that preserves the film's original grain while enhancing its visual appeal. The sound quality is balanced, delivering clear dialogue and richly atmospheric effects that bolster the film's tension. Accompanying these solid technical merits, Arrow Video has curated an impressive array of supplementary materials that will be particularly appealing to genre aficionados.

The bonus features are comprehensive, ranging from retrospective interviews and commentary tracks to archival footage that offers rich context for the film's production and cultural impact. These extras significantly enhance the value of this package, providing insights that elevate "Trapped Alive" from mere curiosity to a point of historical interest. Though the film itself may not stand out amongst its slasher contemporaries, the meticulous restoration and dedication to detail exhibited in this release underscore its importance to the completist horror fan.

In conclusion, "Trapped Alive" is best enjoyed in a social setting, making it perfect for group viewings with its blend of goofy charm and low-fi elements. Arrow Video’s dedication to resurrecting lesser-known titles in such an enriching manner provides a robust experience for enthusiasts. Whether you're a casual viewer seeking some nostalgic fun or a die-hard horror aficionado, this Blu-ray edition offers a delightful package that reflects both the quirks and the creativity of 80s horror cinema.