Death Trance Blu-ray Review

"Death Trance" makes its Blu-ray debut with a 1080p resolution, encoded using the AVC codec, and framed in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The visual presentation is a stylized yet problematic experience. The film employs a highly varied color palette that shifts unpredictably from one scene to another. These transitions range from muted tones to intensely saturated hues, creating a disjointed visual experience, particularly evident in the final act. The image often carries a subtle tint, with sepia and greenish tones in woodland scenes clashing with the grey-blue tones of feudal stone settlements. Contrast attempts to add depth but often results in either overexposed or under-detailed elements, muddying the overall image quality.

One of the most critical shortcomings is the bitrate, which hovers around an insufficient 12Mbps. This limitation manifests itself through visible blocking during panning shots, revealing a lack of smoothness and fluidity. Detail levels hardly surpass those of an upconverted DVD, underwhelming for a Blu-ray release. The use of heavily filtered source material gives the film an intended monochromatic look, but even elements that should pop, such as bright crimson blood splatters, fail to stand out against drab backgrounds. Contrast issues in darker scenes result in prominent black crush and an erosion of visual depth, while grain appears during action sequences, further detracting from background detail and overall picture quality.

Despite these flaws, there are moments where the film's visual beauty shines through. However, these are overshadowed by a flat image that lacks dimensionality and stable color representation. The transfer ultimately falls short of delivering the high-definition experience that Blu-ray users expect, making it difficult to ignore its myriad pictorial inconsistencies.

The audio presentation on the "Death Trance" Blu-ray delivers an impressive experience, with two lossless tracks available: Japanese and English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mixes. Focusing mainly on the Japanese option, the mix handles dimension and steerage exceptionally well. Action sequences effectively utilize spatial separation, with precise audio effects that accurately depict the movements and impacts. Punches and gunfire resonate crisply, adding to the film’s dynamic scenes.

One notable highlight is the various fight scenes where detailed sound design ensures each kick, punch, and gunshot is uniquely distinguished, enhancing the overall immersion. Despite high expectations for the soundtrack by Dir en grey, its bass and volume levels slightly underwhelm. Nonetheless, dialogue remains clear and intelligible, perfectly balanced among the other channels without overshadowing the background effects or score.

In summary, the Japanese Dolby TrueHD track provides a robust audio experience, with well-engineered elements enhancing the film's action strengths. Though the soundtrack’s aggressive style by Dir en grey could have benefited from more pronounced bass and volume, this minor drawback doesn't overshadow the overall impressive and engaging sound quality that elevates the viewing experience.

The extras on the Blu-Ray of "Death Trance" provide an insightful and engaging glimpse into the film's production and marketing process. Key features include a five-minute initial promo teaser used for funding, and a detailed making-of segment that sheds light on this initial stage rather than the final film. Fans will appreciate the "Behind the Action Scenes" segment, which showcases the rehearsal of complex fight choreography. "Sakaguchi Goes Abroad" offers a personal touch with behind-the-scenes footage from various international film festivals. Character featurettes allow a closer look into the actors' perspectives and their roles in the film. Complementing these are trailers for other Tokyo Shock releases and the film itself. Overall, these extras not only engage fans but also provide a satisfying amount of background and off-camera footage that enriches the viewing experience.

Extras included in this disc:

Teaser: Promo for gaining initial interest and funding.

Making of Death Trance: Covers the production of the conceptual promo film.

Behind the Action Scenes: Rehearsals of fight choreography.

Sakaguchi Goes Abroad: Tak Sakaguchi's travel footage from various film festivals.

Character Featurettes: Interviews with actors discussing their roles.

Trailers: Promos for other Tokyo Shock releases and a trailer for Death Trance.

"Death Trance" is a cinematic experience that leans heavily on its roots in manga, delivering a visually eccentric and action-packed narrative. Directed by Yuji Shimomura, the film mirrors the chaotic and fantastical essence of its source, bringing to life a cast of oddball characters and a mix of mystical prophecies. At the center of it all is Grave (Tak Sakaguchi), a warrior with a penchant for battle, who embarks on a quest involving a stolen ancient coffin said to contain the remains of a goddess of destruction. Accompanied by a devilish young girl, and pursued by monk Ryuen (Takamasa Suga) and another warrior Sid (Kentaro Seagal), the journey is peppered with skirmishes against foes ranging from zombies to spider-ninjas. The plot itself is scattered, offering little coherence or depth, which may appeal to some audiences more than others.

Despite its title and marketing suggesting relentless, stylish action, "Death Trance" stumbles in its execution. The film attempts a blend of genres and storytelling elements but fails to master any distinct identity. Though there are moments of innovative fight choreography, the overall action scenes are marred by clumsy camera work and subpar special effects that fail to leverage the film's evidently limited budget. These drawbacks are compounded by an invincible protagonist, which strips much-needed tension from the numerous battles. Consequently, what could have been thrilling sequences of unorthodox combat end up feeling stale and repetitive.

In terms of performances, however, "Death Trance" showcases notable talents. Tak Sakaguchi delivers a compelling portrayal of Grave, embodying a mix of cockiness and unpredictability. The supporting cast, including Takamasa Suga, Kentaro Seagal, and Yuki Takahashi, bring depth to their roles despite the thin plot. Honoka Asada's performance as Grave’s enigmatic companion stands out as both captivating and haunting. Despite these strong performances, the characters themselves aren't given much background or development, leaving viewers wanting more context for understanding their motivations and histories.

Death Trance" Blu-ray fails to impress both as a film and as a high-definition release. The movie itself lacks depth with a sparse plot, uninspired fight sequences, and subpar special effects that do not resonate with the standards expected from modern cinematic endeavors. Even ardent fans of Japanese cinema may find it difficult to extract substantial entertainment value from this offering. The film’s narrative and visual execution fall short of delivering a compelling experience, leaving viewers disengaged.

Technically, the Blu-ray presentation leaves much to be desired. The visuals do not exhibit the hallmark traits of high-definition excellence; colors are unstable, and the level of detail fluctuates dramatically. The picture quality oscillates between moments of clarity and dimly lit scenes that border on murky. While the audio tracks do their best to elevate the action sequences and offer some auditory engagement, they are insufficient to compensate for the visual shortcomings. Consequently, the overall home viewing experience is markedly underwhelming.

The supplemental materials included on this disc may hold some charm for dedicated fans of Tak Sakaguchi, offering insight into his work, but they are unlikely to capture the interest of a broader audience. Tokyo Shock's effort in bringing this film to the Blu-ray format is commendable, yet their execution falls short of making "Death Trance" an unforgettable addition to any collection. This release is ultimately a missed opportunity in both content and technical presentation.

The disc itself isn't quite as open to interpretation, with visuals that display none of the hallmarks of a great high definition offering. The colours are instable, the detail lacking and the picture wavers from crisp and clear to an underlit mire all too frequently. The audio raises the action so that it lifts to a certain extent off the screen but it cannot make up for the shortfalls of the image quality. The extras are perhaps best described as charming as they will no doubt be of great interest for fans of Sakaguchi but may not be enough to keep those with less of an admiration for the actor glued to their seats. In total, Tokyo Shock have given us a blessing in some way by delivering such a film to the format in the first place, but have failed to put it on shelves in a manner that would make it unmissable.