Monster Brawl Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "Monster Brawl" on Blu-ray offers a varied but generally positive visual experience, captured using the Red One digital system by cinematographer Brendan Uegama. The 1080p AVC-encoded transfer faithfully replicates the feel of live TV footage during the Monster Brawl sequences while adopting a cinematic style for the origin interludes. Despite the confines of modestly-budgeted make-up effects, the Blu-ray's image is clean, clear, and detailed. This results in a balance between striking black levels and deliberately muted colors, enhancing the film’s dark, atmospheric tone. Blacks are strong and solid, cultivating a sense of endless night that envelops the set. Importantly, the digital origin minimizes unwanted artifacts such as high frequency filtering or artificial sharpening.

However, not all is picture-perfect. The 1080i/AVC MPEG-4 encode, framed at 2.35:1, does present some challenges, including intermittent aliasing and slight interlacing issues. Skin tones can occasionally appear sporadic and less lifelike, yet textures and edge clarity manage to impress, particularly during intricate scenes such as dust flying off the mummy character. The overall picture remains consistent, with solid colors and decent black levels that never crush. While it isn't groundbreaking in depth or standout qualities, the visuals manage to keep the audience engaged with those vibrant moments during monster introductions that occasionally pop against the otherwise dark palette.

Overall, "Monster Brawl" on Blu-ray provides decent video quality that complements its unique narrative style. The transfer effectively delivers the intended pay-per-view vibe through its tone and visual adjustments, maintaining clarity and detail even within its darker sequences. Despite minor inconsistencies and budget-related shortcomings, this Blu-ray passably represents a low-budget production aiming to evoke both nostalgia and intrigue.

The audio presentation of "Monster Brawl" on Blu-ray features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that, while robust in some areas, generally falls short of delivering a fully immersive experience. The bass is exceptionally handled, delivering deep and resonant rumbles that punctuate the action effectively. The soundtrack's focus on in-your-face sound seems fitting for a film centered around wrestling, and the atmospheric music by Todor Kobakov stands out with strong bass extension. However, the surround effects are disappointingly underutilized, with only occasional reverberating impacts, notably of Lance Henriksen's voice, making full use of the audio landscape.

Conversely, the rear channels are poorly executed. There are irregularly placed localized effects that often lack proper directionality, breaking the immersion by throwing sounds to the rear regardless of their on-screen source. Additionally, the track has suffered from slight audio anomalies such as crackling and occasional pops, notably during Jimmy Hart's first tirade. While commentary and dialogue are crystal clear, these factors combine to detract from the overall audio quality.

An alternate Dolby Digital 5.1 track at a low bitrate of 320 kbps is also included. This choice is puzzling as it doesn't cater well to non-DTS setups or TV speakers without a suitable 2.0 track option. Altogether, while certain elements of "Monster Brawl's" audio performance are commendable, its uneven execution and technical flaws prevent it from achieving high marks in this aspect.

The Blu Ray extras of "Monster Brawl" provide an insightful and entertaining look behind the scenes, highlighted by an enthusiastic and transparent commentary from Writer-Director Jesse Thomas Cook and Producers Matt Wiele and John Geddes. Their discussion reveals the resourceful production methods that allowed them to create the film on a modest budget of approximately $200,000, generating a genuine appreciation for their creative process. The "Beyond the Grave" featurette adds depth, chronicling the film's journey from conception to completion, while "Tales from the Hart" offers endearing anecdotes from Jimmy Hart's time on set. The inclusion of trailers rounds out a solid package of extras that underscores the filmmakers' passion and resourcefulness.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Insightful discussion from the co-producers about the film's production.
• Monster Brawl: Beyond the Grave: Comprehensive making-of featurette covering conception to shooting.
• Tales from the Hart: Jimmy Hart Outtakes: Enjoyable highlights and anecdotes from Jimmy Hart.
• Trailer: The unrated trailer replicating the film's opening.
• Additional Trailers: Previews for related films, skippable upon startup.

"Monster Brawl" is an ambitious yet flawed indie film that blends the aesthetics of 1980s wrestling and B-movie horror. Directed by Jesse Thomas Cook, it revolves around an unconventional wrestling tournament featuring iconic monsters like Wolfman, Frankenstein, and a Mummy battling it out in a cursed graveyard. The film employs a satirical lens, largely executed through its over-the-top characters and hyper-energetic commentary from announcers Buzz Chambers (Dave Foley) and “Sasquatch” Sid Tucker (Art Hindle), evoking the style of classic wrestling broadcasts. The enthusiasm of the filmmakers is evident, and their grindhouse inspiration, reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, is commendable.

However, despite its creative premise, "Monster Brawl" suffers from its repetitiveness. The movie comprises a series of matchups without a coherent storyline to support them. Each bout is introduced with two origin-story vignettes before the monsters step into the ring, but this format quickly grows monotonous. Commentary aimed at injecting humor often falls flat, lacking the chemistry necessary to sustain interest. While Jimmy Hart's participation adds a dash of wrestling authenticity, even his contributions can't elevate the overall humor and energy levels.

Visually, the film benefits from decent makeup work on its monster characters, which stands out as one of its few strengths. However, the lackluster fight choreography and absence of a live audience drain the bouts of their potential dynamism. The dialogue feels heavily scripted and unnatural, failing to create engaging interactions. Synchronizing elements such as Lance Henriksen’s deep, authoritative narration also lacks seamless integration into the action.

In conclusion, although "Monster Brawl" has an intriguing and novel concept brimming with potential, it ultimately disappoints with uninspired execution and unwitty humor. It attempts to offer campy entertainment but instead becomes a tedious watch despite its commitment to the grindhouse genre.

"Monster Brawl" is a unique fusion of classic horror and professional wrestling, resulting in an ambitious yet polarizing film experience. While the concept of iconic monsters engaging in wrestling matches holds potential, the execution leaves much to be desired. The low-budget aesthetic is apparent throughout the film, with heavy makeup and practical effects that may not satisfy a mainstream audience but could appeal to niche viewers who appreciate the novelty factor. The Blu-ray presentation is neither poor nor exceptional, offering adequate visuals and sound but failing to elevate the film through its technical specifications. Notably, the extras included in this release provide some additional value, offering insights and behind-the-scenes content that round out the viewing experience.

Technical quality on the Blu-ray is unremarkable. Picture quality is decent but lacks the sharpness and depth seen in higher-budget productions. Audio is clear but uninspiring, doing little to enhance the atmosphere or engage the viewer more deeply in the action. Despite these shortcomings, the film does succeed in delivering its unique vision to those who might find humor and entertainment in its bizarre premise.

My goal in this review has been to provide an overview of "Monster Brawl" while leaving the details of its fighting matches and riffs on monster origins for the individual viewer to discover, if (and only if) the film sounds like something you'd enjoy. It's an obvious candidate for cult classic, designed to appeal to viewers who would enjoy the silliness of watching figures in heavy makeup engage in classic pro wrestling maneuvers, and who would also get the joke when one of the announcers pokes fun at people who pedantically insist that Frankenstein isn't really the name of the monster. If this sounds like your cup of witches' brew, by all means give "Monster Brawl" a look. If not, definitely skip it. Either way, the technical quality is beyond reproach.