Oasis of the Zombies Blu-ray Review

Oasis of the Zombies has been presented on Blu-Ray with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that brings new life to this low-budget grindhouse classic. Unlike many modern restorations, there is a charm to the decision of not significantly touching up or restoring the archival negative. As a result, viewers will see a film that retains its original grit and grain, reflective of its historical journey. Despite noticeable imperfections such as scratches, dirt, and occasional warping, the clarity of this 35mm production is significantly improved from previous DVD releases. The transfer features markedly sharper lines, finer textures, and accurate, sufficiently dense color reproduction without oversaturation or contrast issues.

For those familiar with earlier home video versions of this film, this Blu-Ray release is truly revelatory. The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode (1.66:1) offers an unexpectedly vivid experience characterized by bolder colors, natural flesh tones, and detailed textures in close-ups. Although the source material shows signs of aging—scratches, white specks, and brown vertical lines are prevalent—the overall presentation is starkly improved. Viewers will appreciate the clean, distinct lines visible in foliage, clothing, and even the comically rough makeup. Despite some scenes feeling like low-quality stock footage, the well-balanced contrast and generally strong blacks with visible shadow details provide stability to the picture quality. While not perfect, this transfer represents the sharpest and most authentic visual experience available for Oasis of the Zombies to date.

The audio presentation of the Blu-ray release of "Oasis of the Zombies" is offered in two options: the original French and the English dub, both presented in uncompressed Linear PCM 2.0. Given that the film's sound was entirely post-produced—common for low-budget horror films from that era—the distinction between the two tracks is minimal. Both mixes exhibit a notable lack of bass frequencies and a predominance of peaky high-end, often resulting in abrasive harshness during gunshots and other loud effects. Users are advised to keep their receiver volume lower than usual. While dialogue remains intelligible and the North African-inspired score retains a modicum of clarity, the overall experience is far from ideal.

The quality of these uncompressed PCM mono soundtracks is problematic, primarily due to the condition of the source material. The ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) work is poorly executed, with dialogue never aligning with actor lip movements despite its clarity. The lossless mixes are largely flat, offering no significant differentiation between audio elements. Instances of attempted high-frequency emphasis result in severe distortion, characterized by ear-piercing noise that obliterates any semblance of audio fidelity. Furthermore, the high-resolution tracks are plagued with persistent pops, hissing, and subtle noises, making an already challenging film even more difficult to endure.

Overall, while the dialogue is understandable and the musical score somewhat preserved, both audio tracks suffer from serious technical deficiencies. Viewers might find occasional clarity in quieter scenes, but the rampant distortion, synchronization issues, and lack of auditory depth predominantly overshadow these moments. Optional English subtitles in clear white lettering are included to mitigate some of these issues.

The Blu-ray release of "Oasis of the Zombies" includes a minimal but intriguing selection of extras, primarily focused on promotional content. While the absence of more in-depth features like commentaries or making-of documentaries might be a downside for some, the included trailers provide insight into the period's marketing approach and complementary genre films. Fans of vintage horror may appreciate this peek into the broader context in which "Oasis of the Zombies" was released. Overall, the extras give a brief yet contextual window into the cinematic landscape of the time.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailers: Includes promotional trailers for "Oasis of the Zombies," "Zombie Lake," "Female Vampire," and "Exorcism/Demoniac."

"Oasis of the Zombies," directed by cult filmmaker Jesús Jess Franco, is a low-budget horror endeavor drenched in the hallmarks of its genre and era. Released in 1982, it intertwines the imagery of World War II, Nazi zombies, and lurid adventures into a choppy narrative that barely sustains anything beyond surface-level intrigue. The film starts intriguingly with two young women exploring a desert oasis, only to be swiftly attacked by the titular undead. However, the excitement dissipates as swiftly as it arrives, giving way to a monotonous and disjointed plotline focused on a treasure hunt for Nazi gold buried in the Libyan desert. Sadly, the narrative structure and storytelling fail to resuscitate interest once it nosedives into expository sequences laden with stock footage of wartime battles.

Technically, the film's shortcomings are severely pronounced. The low-effort makeup effects—highlighting gauze and plaster materials—underscore the feeble attempt at creating a believable horde of zombies. A standout visual is perhaps a ghoul with notably misaligned protruding eyeballs, providing some unintentional comic relief. The film's camera work and editing further exacerbate its problems, often relying on awkward angles and jerky movements that do little to disguise the meager number of extras and rudimentary special effects. Moreover, Franco's infamous pseudonym A.M. Frank graces this project, perhaps illustrating his own embarrassment with the final product.

Despite its attempt to capitalize on Nazi zombie exploitation, "Oasis of the Zombies" is an exercise in patience for viewers. Long stretches of inaction, poor dubbing, and a sparse appearance of Franco's usual sleazy trademarks—limited nudity and gore—render it a dreary watch. The climactic battle is perfunctory at best, staged with a notable lack of compelling drama or excitement. However, this film’s unpretentiousness saves it from being entirely detestable; it’s a raw exhibit of raw B-movie excess that might find some rare appreciation among dedicated connoisseurs of bad cinema.

"Oasis of the Zombies," directed by Jess Franco, diverges from his usual style, exhibiting a notable absence of prolonged softcore elements and gratuitous content. However, it is an atypical zombie film that lacks in gore and scares, rendering it more of a monotonous viewing experience filled with characters inexplicably wandering around. Despite not being the worst zombie film ever, it remains considerably unwatchable without frequent use of the fast-forward button. Yet, its place in the pop culture canon of "bad movies" makes it somewhat of a rite of passage for cinematic masochists.

The Blu-ray release of "Oasis of the Zombies" comes with limited extras, including trailers for "Zombie Lake," "Female Vampire," and "Exorcism/Demoniac." While minimalistic in additional content, this approach is typical for Redemption titles, presumably to reserve disc space for the main feature. Even though the film carries significant flaws, Jess Franco enthusiasts and European cinema aficionados might find some redeeming qualities. The video presentation on the Blu-ray is as good as it can be, but the audio quality remains subpar, which detracts from the viewing experience.

Overall, the Blu-ray release of "Oasis of the Zombies" is a straightforward package that does little to enhance an already tedious and underwhelming film. Its best aspect lies in the improved video quality, though this is counterbalanced by the poor audio. The scarcity of extras makes it easy to overlook unless one is a dedicated fan of Jess Franco or European horror cinema.