Aftershock Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Aftershock" reveals the limitations of its low-budget production, accentuated by the 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encoding. The HD video image oscillates between periods of clarity and moments marred by over-processing. While the digital cameras provide suitable-to-excellent definition in certain scenes—such as intricate details on faces and clothing before the quake hits—the film's overall sharpness is inconsistent. The initial sequences are often vibrant, but the prevalent over-saturation disrupts the natural color balance, making skin tones unnaturally warm and blacks appear excessively overpowering and murky.

The film's shift to darker scenes exacerbates these issues, introducing substantial crush, particularly in pivotal moments throughout the tunnels below Santiago. Although early scenes do not exhibit this flaw, the latter part of the film repeatedly crushes black levels, obscuring essential details in shadow-filled environments. This variable black level performance undermines the visual clarity, making fine details challenging to discern post-quake. Additionally, while banding, shimmering, and aliasing are less pronounced, they intermittently affect certain surfaces and fabric textures, particularly noticeable in the first act.

Ultimately, "Aftershock" demonstrates a visual aesthetic that frequently benefits from its digital acquisition but falters in consistent execution. The shifts from overly saturated nightclub settings to muddier and less distinct landscapes reflect directorial choices that further underscore the challenges in maintaining visual coherence. While close-ups might shine with remarkable detail, broader shots and darker scenes unravel under scrutiny, revealing an inconsistent and overly processed presentation that highlights the film's budgetary constraints rather than its potential for visual immersion.

The audio presentation of "Aftershock" on Blu-ray is a mixed experience, characterized by its distinct and overpowering DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. For those who revel in bass-heavy tracks, this film starts with an extraordinary low end that can be overwhelming, rattling windows and offering raw, unrefined power. This intensity does mellow slightly, becoming more controlled and delivering terrifying but polished bass during significant seismic events portrayed in the film. The dance club scenes also benefit from a strong, balanced low end, with music presented as it would be naturally—loud and slightly muddled within the context of a club, adding to the immersive ambience.

The dialogue is consistently clear and natural, whether in quieter scenes or amid the chaos of the quake. However, the mix suffers from a lack of dynamics and intricate channel separation. While the track is undeniably aggressive and energetic, with effects and vocals maintaining clarity against the high decibel backdrop of club music, it lacks the finesse found in more complex mixes. The overall audio imaging feels flat and akin to a mono spread across multiple channels. Despite these issues, the soundtrack achieves a level of pure aggression that contributes significantly to the film's intense atmosphere, albeit with some compromise to subtlety and nuance in sound separation.

The extras for the Blu-ray of "Aftershock" provide valuable insights into the film's creation, albeit with varying degrees of depth and engagement. The audio commentary by Writer/Director Nicolás López and Producer/Writer/Actor Eli Roth is particularly enriching, offering exhaustive details from the initial studio logos to the concluding shots, while discussing technical aspects, filming locations, and the bilingual dialogue of the film. The international feature commentary adds a lively dynamic with playful banter between Roth and López, further illuminating their collaborative process. The "Making of Aftershock" featurette offers a concise overview of the real events inspiring the film and the practical special effects used, though it could be more detailed. "Shaking Up the Casting Process" provides an amusing look behind the scenes as actors react to a simulated earthquake.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Insights from López and Roth on various aspects of the film.
• International Feature Commentary: Playful discussion about the making of the film.
• The Making of Aftershock: Brief look at the film's inspiration and practical effects.
• Shaking Up the Casting Process: Humorous prank on actors during auditions.

"Aftershock," co-written, produced, and starring Eli Roth, attempts to combine elements of horror and disaster genres but falls short of its potential. The film begins as a travelogue, following three friends—Ariel (Ariel Levy), Pollo (Nicolás Martínez), and Gringo (Roth)—through Santiago, Chile. They frequent tourist spots and nightlife before an earthquake violently shifts the narrative. However, the extended sequences of partying seem redundant and fail to add depth to the characters. Once the earthquake strikes, the film becomes a gory spectacle, showcasing chaotic survival scenarios littered with graphic violence rather than exploring deeper psychological horrors.

Narrative execution in "Aftershock" is problematic. The film hinges heavily on shock value, using crude visuals and one-dimensional antagonists to drive the plot. The earthquake's aftermath frees criminals who wreak havoc, presenting a simplistic and clichéd view of humanity's descent during a disaster. This approach sacrifices potential emotional and psychological complexities for gratuitous gore and violence, missing opportunities for richer character studies and genuine tension. Comparisons to films like "The Divide," which effectively explored human degeneration under extreme conditions, highlight "Aftershock's" failure to deliver substantial emotional impact.

Despite utilizing practical effects for authenticity, "Aftershock" suffers from its low budget, which hampers production quality and limits its scope. Special effects lack the polish seen in higher-budget films, and some set pieces feel inauthentic. The cast, aside from Roth, comprises mostly unknown actors, and their performances do not elevate the material. While the film briefly touches on real fears associated with natural disasters—such as aftershocks and potential tsunamis—it ultimately prioritizes shock over substance. Consequently, "Aftershock" boasts a compelling premise but delivers an underwhelming final product that squanders its intriguing potential.

"Aftershock," directed by Nicolás López and produced by Eli Roth, presents a compelling concept – blending horror with disaster movie elements. Unfortunately, the execution falls short of its potential, largely hindered by its small budget which limits the film’s scope and impact. Despite the intriguing premise, the focus on shock and gore over substantial narrative depth makes it a less fulfilling experience for viewers seeking an intelligent thriller. The film is more invested in sensationalism and carnage, sidelining opportunities to explore human resilience under extreme pressure, thus rendering it more of a schlocky entertainment rather than a profound cinematic piece.

Technically, the Blu-ray release of "Aftershock" from Anchor Bay leaves much to be desired. The video quality is notably inconsistent, fluctuating between satisfactory and subpar. Similarly, the audio quality fails to impress, with a flat audio track that lacks the dynamism expected from such a genre blend. Supplemental materials are minimal and not particularly insightful, comprising mostly of commentary and two forgettable featurettes.

In conclusion, "Aftershock" might attract fans of Eli Roth’s brand of horror, and potentially those morbidly curious about its disaster-horror hybrid premise. However, the film’s lack of narrative substance and its technical shortcomings on Blu-ray make it hard to recommend as anything more than a rental. Those seeking a thought-provoking or dramatically intense experience should lower their expectations or look elsewhere.