The Unholy Blu-ray Review

The 1080p transfer of "The Unholy" on Blu-ray is practically impeccable, showcasing remarkable clarity and high-definition precision. The digital source is incredibly clean, with minimal noise even in challenging low-light shots. The image maintains a sharpness that reveals detailed facial definitions down to the smallest hair or pore, providing a palpable sense of realism throughout. This sharp definition extends to clothing, capturing minute fabric intricacies with an impressive level of detail. Location textures, including church interiors and natural landscapes, exhibit excellent depth and clarity. The film’s color reproduction is exceptional, featuring well-saturated tones and a superb neutral contrast. Whites are crisp, blacks are deep without crushing details, and skin tones appear accurate and healthy.

Sony’s 2.39:1 AVC HD encode further enhances the visual appeal of the film. While the third act tends to get darker, there is still a showcase of a full color palette. The contrast and black levels remain strong, providing a three-dimensional depth to shadows and dark spots, which enhances the eerie atmosphere essential for this genre. The image is free from any compression issues or artifacts, making it an exemplary 1080p transfer. These visuals contribute significantly to an engaging viewing experience that remains consistent throughout the film.

The Blu-ray of "The Unholy" boasts an impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack that significantly enhances the film's atmospheric and horror elements. The audio presentation is dynamically gratifying, showcasing a well-balanced mix enriched with high-level detail and room-filling surround sound. The ingenious sound design meticulously integrates a blend of effects that immerse the listener through spot-on imaging and excellent channel separation, making even minor sound cues discernible within the room’s acoustic environment. Notably, the bass is effectively engaging, producing deep, rich low frequencies that underscore the film’s thematic events. Dialog is reproduced with exacting clarity and lucidity, ensuring that vocal elements remain consistently clear throughout the film.

Standout moments in the audio mix include the harrowing opening sequence of a point-of-view hanging in 1845, where the crackling fire and depth of screams are sonically first-rate. The transition to present-day scenes maintains this high standard of sonic excellence, with eerie whispers and genre-specific sound cues enveloping the listener thoroughly. The soundstage frequently extends beyond the typical constraints of a 5.1 mix, delivering a sense of expansiveness and depth through clear definition and spacing. Music is presented with a firm focus upfront but also utilizes surround channels for additional wrap and saturation. This results in a technically splendid mix where front and center channels manage most of the mix while surrounds contribute to the pinpoint placement of sound effects, enhancing the overall atmospheric tension.

The surround elements are particularly noteworthy, skillfully intertwining atmospherics that make the listener’s head turn, accentuating the horror experience. The track excels in moments like the unsettling torture sequences, where sound takes precedence over visuals, creating a deeply immersive atmosphere. Overall, this DTS-HD MA 5.1 track teeters on reference quality, providing a richly endowed mix that will undoubtedly please audio enthusiasts and casual viewers alike.

The Blu-ray release of "The Unholy" starkly lacks substantive extras, offering only trailers for other Sony titles and a Movies Anywhere digital copy voucher. This is particularly surprising given the genre's penchant for supplementary material like featurettes, deleted scenes, and commentaries. Disappointingly, no such extras are available on this disc, and it even omits a DVD counterpart. Collectors will note that the release comes with a non-embossed slipcover and, as of this writing, no alternative packaging variants are available.

Extras included on this disc:

• Movies Anywhere Digital Copy Voucher: A digital code for accessing the movie online.

"The Unholy", directed by Evan Spiliotopoulos and based on James Herbert’s book Shrine, follows the story of a hearing-impaired girl who gains the ability to hear, speak, and heal after an encounter with what she believes to be the Virgin Mary. As crowds flock to witness these unexplained miracles, disgraced journalist Gerry Fenn (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) steps in to investigate. The plot thickens as Fenn uncovers darker forces at play, questioning whether these phenomena are divine or demonic. Despite its intriguing premise, the film suffers from a reliance on religious horror tropes and a lack of innovative storytelling, leading to predictability and a diluted suspense.

In terms of technical execution, "The Unholy" showcases proficient cinematography and competent production values, underlying its aesthetic appeal even if its digital effects remain unconvincing. The use of sound and visual motifs attempts to evoke an eerie atmosphere but falls short due to its derivative nature. The narrative structure, while not entirely unsuccessful, retreads familiar ground seen in countless other films in the genre. The script manages to maintain the story's momentum but fails to elicit genuine tension or sustained interest from the audience.

Performances from the cast are mixed; Jeffrey Dean Morgan brings a certain gravitas to his role yet appears somewhat detached, offering a portrayal that lacks depth compared to his more iconic performances. Conversely, Cricket Brown injects some life into her character, effectively conveying a transformation that forms the crux of the film's emotional arc. However, the ensemble fails to elevate the material beyond its predictable beats. Ultimately, "The Unholy" falls into a crowded niche without distinguishing itself significantly, bearing moments of potential yet overshadowed by its adherence to overused formulas and uninspired execution.

"The Unholy" is a film that presents a technically proficient but ultimately lackluster experience. Directed with a level of technical precision, it offers a somewhat engaging narrative; however, it fails to establish a unique identity or purpose. Despite its intriguing premise, the movie's execution appears uninspired and derivative, leading to a stilted and lackluster viewing experience. The film opens on a promising note but quickly dissolves into a 99-minute exercise in mediocrity, squandering any potential tension or originality it might have had.

On the technical side, Sony’s Blu-ray release excels. The video and audio presentations are first-rate, providing a visually sharp and acoustically immersive experience that benefits from high-quality production. However, the disc is disappointingly featureless, lacking any supplementary material that could have offered additional insight or value to fans of the genre or the film itself. This absence of extras makes the overall package feel incomplete and may dissuade potential buyers.

In conclusion, while "The Unholy" showcases competent technical execution and solid A/V quality on its Blu-ray release, the film itself does little to set itself apart from better offerings in the horror genre. It’s a trite and convoluted affair that could have been significantly improved with more inspired storytelling and creative risk-taking. For those curious about the film, it is recommended to rent before committing to purchase. The disc's technical merits can't compensate for the film’s uninspired content.