Devil Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "Devil" showcases a mixed bag of visual elements that create a polarizing experience. The 1080p/VC-1 transfer offers commendable detail and definition in closeups and certain scenes, providing a clear and pristine quality during well-lit sequences. The film's aesthetic leans towards a cooler palette with primary and desaturated tones. These stylistic choices underscore the film's atmosphere but do de-emphasize flesh tones and contribute to the overall sense of dread. The high resolution is often meticulously resolved, particularly with people and objects. However, despite the filmic quality, specific technical inconsistencies detract from the overall experience.

Black levels in "Devil" present notable issues, exhibiting a range from inky to overly greasy. The prevalent problem of crush affects shadow details significantly, resulting in dark, indistinguishable masses during many interior scenes and dimly-lit sequences. While critical artifacts such as ringing, banding, and anomalous noise are fortunately absent, consistent smearing and occasional aliasing dilute fine textures and clarity. Contrasts are unreliable, displaying unpredictable spikes and troughs, which at times washes out details and textures rather than enhancing them. Despite these drawbacks, the bleak palette remains authentic throughout, and scenes set outside the elevator, particularly in open areas like the street or the building's lobby, fare better visually.

In assessing this Blu-ray's video presentation, it is clear that the transfer struggles with maintaining consistent quality under dim lighting conditions, which deeply impacts the viewing experience. Tak Fujimoto's cinematography does shine through during isolated moments thanks to an accurate color palette and commendable overall detail. Nevertheless, the persistent issues with black levels, delineation, and contrast indicate a transfer that inadvertently undermines the film's unsettling ambiance, resulting in an uneven video quality that might leave discerning viewers seeking a more stable visual narrative.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround mix for "Devil" is a standout feature, noteworthy for its balanced and immersive audio presentation. Dialogue clarity is superb, with intonation and articulation enabling subtle vocal nuances. The mix adeptly utilizes the entire sound system, creating an open and dynamic soundstage that extends well into the room. While discrete rear channel activity is minimal, the elements of fright are meticulously crafted, delivering a seamless and engaging sound field. The LFE channel is particularly effective, frequently active, and providing extended lower bass frequencies that offer a tangible sense of impact.

However, there are a few aspects where the audio mix does not completely excel. Despite the powerful integration of Fernando Velázquez's score and the realistic rendering of elevator noises, the LFE output is not consistently commanding. Additionally, dialogue in the elevator sometimes lacks confinement and may sound overly spacious. Ambient effects can also be subdued during conversations, leading to occasional thinness in vocal presentations. Nevertheless, the film compensates with dynamic and eerie panning effects, precise directionality, and ambient effects that enrich the overall experience.

In summary, while not without minor flaws, the sound design of "Devil" excels in creating an immersive audio environment. The blend of dynamic range, engaging rear speaker activity, and impactful LFE makes this track highly effective. It may not qualify as demo material, but it certainly stands out as an audio highlight, delighting fans and providing a satisfying experience for audiophiles and critical cinephiles alike.

The Blu-ray edition of "Devil" comes with a selection of extras, albeit minimal and underwhelming in depth and content. The package includes standard features such as BD-Live functionality, mobile device interactivity through Pocket Blu, D-Box Motion Code for compatible systems, My Scenes bookmarking, and a Digital Copy download code. The extras primarily consist of brief featurettes and deleted scenes, lacking comprehensive behind-the-scenes material or commentary tracks that fans might expect. Despite the technical merits of high-definition presentation, the content is sparse and feels reminiscent of promotional webisodes rather than substantial additional content. Overall, while well-presented, the special features do not significantly deepen the viewer's experience or understanding of the film.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Three character introductions from the first act that add little to overall character development.
• The Story: A brief, clip-heavy overview with appearances by Shyamalan, Dowdle, and Vargas.
• The Devil’s Meeting: A short feature on folklore and mythology surrounding the Devil.
• The Night Chronicles: M. Night Shyamalan discusses his goals for his production company and upcoming projects.

"Devil," a supernatural thriller from M. Night Shyamalan, is an attempt to evoke the tension and uncanny storytelling reminiscent of his previous successes like "The Sixth Sense." Directed by John Erick Dowdle and written by Brian Nelson, the film's plot revolves around five seemingly random individuals trapped in an elevator, gradually realizing that one among them is the Devil. The story attempts to blend religious folklore with a high-stakes whodunit within a constrained setting, aiming to keep audiences on edge until its climactic twist.

The movie opens with an intriguing yet straightforward premise that unfortunately strips away much of the suspense early on. By clearly outlining the devilish scenario right from the start, viewers are deprived of significant shock or surprise elements typically associated with the genre. This narrative approach sacrifices depth and psychological engagement, as the characters are presented more as archetypes than fully fleshed-out individuals. The ensemble cast, including Chris Messina as Detective Bowden and Jacob Vargas as Ramirez, attempts to bring credibility to their roles. However, the characterizations often fall flat due to heavy-handed dialogue and forced interactions.

Despite its potential, "Devil" struggles with believability and emotional investment from its audience. Moments intended to build anxiety sometimes border on the absurd, notably when superstitions and religious references are played out transparently rather than subtly integrated into the storyline. Nonetheless, there are fleeting moments of tension, particularly in the film’s latter half as the remaining elevator passengers face escalating dangers. The film's climax and resolution tie together various subplots predictably, lacking the powerful impact needed to elevate it to memorable status within the horror genre.

Overall, while “Devil” exhibits traces of Shyamalan's distinctive style, it neither fully capitalizes on its concept nor delivers the unsettling, immersive experience it strives for. It remains a modestly entertaining yet ultimately underwhelming thriller.

"Devil" arrives on Blu-ray with a presentation that leaves much to be desired. The film itself, directed by John Erick Dowdle and written by Brian Nelson, is marked by its simplicity and occasional predictability. While it aims to deliver a taut, supernatural thriller, it often falls short due to its hollow narrative and somewhat contrived characters. Universal's Blu-ray transfer suffers from inconsistent video quality, with some scenes appearing lackluster and failing to fully utilize the high-definition format. Additionally, the Blu-ray release includes a sparse ten-minute supplemental package which fails to add substantial value to the viewing experience.

The movie's audio performance stands out more positively, delivering a crisp and immersive sound that effectively enhances the tension and atmosphere of the confined setting. However, despite the commendable audio clarity, the overall package is diminished by the lackluster video transfer and minimal extras. The bonus content, primarily made up of Electronic Press Kit (EPK) materials, does little to engage the viewer or provide deeper insights into the film's production.

In conclusion, while "Devil" offers some moments of suspense and an interesting premise, its flaws both in the storytelling and technical execution on Blu-ray make it a tentative recommendation. This release may appeal more to fans of M. Night Shyamalan's work or those who enjoy supernatural thrillers, but it may be best approached as a rental rather than a blind purchase.