Deathgasm Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of the Blu-ray for "Deathgasm" is remarkable, particularly given the diverse range of cameras employed during production, including high-end digital tools like the Red Epic and even cell phones. The film exhibits visual coherence due to meticulous post-production processing on a digital intermediate. The first half of the movie cleverly intersperses live-action with graphic elements, helping viewers acclimate to the fluid shifts in visual texture. Simon Raby's cinematographic experience from acclaimed projects such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy is evident in the meticulous attention to detail and creative visual storytelling.

Dark Sky's 1080p, AVC-encoded Blu-ray delivers an exemplary image quality that makes full use of the format's capabilities. The blacks are solid, and the colors can turn vibrant and electric during fantasy segments, effectively conveying the film's surreal and dynamic settings. In moments requiring a darker, more shadowy ambiance, such as scenes in Rikki Daggers' house, the Blu-ray excels in maintaining clarity while preserving the intended mood. Action sequences benefit from a stylized, glossy approach, enhancing the overall visual excitement. The mastering bitrate of 29.99 Mbps ensures that even during rapid cutting and frenetic action, the image remains sharp and detailed.

The Blu-ray's video quality adeptly handles practical effects, with varying blood hues from bright red to deep scarlet demonstrating both visual horror and exquisite attention to detail. Although certain details are deliberately obscured to bolster practical effects, the overall level of detail remains high. This results in a visually coherent and engaging viewing experience that stays true to the film's eclectic and energetic aesthetic.

The Blu-ray of Deathgasm offers an impressively dynamic 5.1 soundtrack, encoded in lossless DTS-HD MA, ensuring an immersive auditory experience. The metal songs, sourced from various New Zealand bands, exhibit a remarkable clarity and presence, filling the surround sound array comprehensively. Viewers will perceive the demonic impact of the ancient song vividly, with deep bass rumbles and electric shocks creating an all-encompassing sonic environment. Chainsaws and other weapons clash against the flesh of possessed townsfolk with appropriately horrific intensity. Despite the strong New Zealand accents, dialogue remains clear and understandable for most audiences, with English SDH subtitles available if needed. Additionally, the original score by New Zealand musicians Chris van der Geer and Joost Langeveld contributes significantly to the film's atmosphere.

For those preferring an alternate audio format, Deathgasm also includes an English 2.0 LPCM track. While this track is well-executed, the 5.1 DTS-HD MA track truly stands out, offering a thumping, bass-heavy presentation with significant surround activity. The sound effects are impactful, especially during the more grotesque scenes where gore meets sound. The music, a crucial element of this horror-comedy, is delivered cleanly and energetically, ensuring it rocks your sound system effectively. The low-frequency effects (LFE) are powerful, capable of rattling doors and windows at higher volumes.

Overall, Deathgasm’s audio presentation on Blu-ray is solid across both available tracks, with the 5.1 DTS-HD MA track providing the most compelling experience for audiophiles and horror enthusiasts alike.

The Blu-ray extras for "Deathgasm" offer a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at the making of this unique horror-comedy. Writer/Director Jason Lei Howden's commentary provides valuable insights into the film's autobiographical roots and the logistical challenges of its 20-day shoot, despite occasional lapses into silence. Featurettes like "Brotherhood of Steel" highlight the leading cast's experiences, while "Demonseed" and "Gorgasm" delve deeper into Howden’s creative vision and the practical effects that bring the film’s gore to life. The music video and trailers round out an engaging set of extras, although some content may overlap.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary with Writer/Director Jason Lei Howden: Insightful track with project history and filming challenges.
• Brotherhood of Steel: The Cast of Deathgasm: Focus on lead actors.
• Demonseed: An Interview with Jason Lei Howden: Tightly focused material, with makeup footage.
• Gorgasm: The FX of Deathgasm: Detailed look at practical effects.
• Music Video: Bulletbelt—Deathgasm: Film's concluding song.
• Trailer: Full-length promotional trailer.
• Teaser: Short, quick-cut version.
• Bonus Trailers: At startup, skipable via chapter forward button.

Deathgasm, an audacious splatter film from New Zealand, is a headbanging horror-comedy that serves as a homage to Peter Jackson's early works like Bad Taste and Dead Alive. Directed by Jason Lei Howden, the storyline follows Brodie (Milo Cawthorne), a displaced metalhead forced to live with his conservative Christian relatives. Alienated and bullied, Brodie finds solace in forming a metal band called Deathgasm with fellow outcasts. However, their musical ventures take a dark turn when they inadvertently summon demonic forces through forbidden music notes.

Howden, drawing from his own experiences as a teenage metalhead, successfully merges graphic novel aesthetics, Frazetta-inspired fantasies, and practical effects to create a chaotic yet exhilarating narrative. The initial act pays tribute to metal culture with a rebellious spirit, encapsulating teenage angst and defiance. As the film progresses, Howden unleashes a torrent of blood, limbs, and viscera, with the gore ventures indulging in unabashedly sexualized violence. Kimberley Crossman’s character, Medina, transitions from good girl to axe-wielding Norse goddess, escalating the film's mayhem.

Despite its strong appeal to metalheads and horror fans alike, the film's attempt at a more layered narrative involving a secret society controlling demon king Aeloth’s return feels like an overcomplication. The climactic confrontation fails to elevate beyond the visceral shock value of preceding gore-fests. Nonetheless, the film manages to maintain an engaging tone with comedic elements and ends on a twist that resonates well with the theme of musical immortality. Notably, an epilogue after the credits adds a final touch to this demon-slaying, metalhead adventure.

Deathgasm Blu-ray combines outrageous heavy metal insanity with top-tier technical quality, providing an engaging experience for fans of the genre. The film itself is a chaotic delight, infusing horror with humor and an unabashedly over-the-top approach to both gore and narrative. Characters are well-developed, giving depth to the carnage and ensuring viewers remain invested beyond the visceral thrills.

The Blu-ray presentation shines with excellent picture quality and detailed sound design, which together enhance the viewing experience. The visuals are crisp and vibrant, perfectly capturing the blood-soaked antics and intense metal aesthetic. Audio is equally commendable, delivering a robust soundtrack that amplifies the film's wild energy. Special features included are robust and provide further context and appreciation for the filmmakers' dedicated approach.

In conclusion, Howden recently announced the completion of a script for a sequel titled 'Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon'. While it's unclear if characters from the original will reprise their roles, Howden promises that the first ten minutes will outdo the entire original in terms of gore. To paraphrase a line from Jaws: He's going to need a bigger band. As for the Deathgasm Blu-ray, the technical quality is superior and the extras are worthwhile. If blood, guts, and metal are your thing, go for it.