And Soon the Darkness Blu-ray Review

The Blu-Ray video presentation of "And Soon the Darkness" offers a commendable rendering of the film’s varied palettes and textured scenes. The 1080p transfer exhibits a notable contrast, with the encode faithfully capturing the range from washed-out, stylized 70's aesthetics to vibrant, peppy colors. Particularly noteworthy are the exquisite scenic shots of the Argentinian landscape and the dilapidated city featured in the movie's final act. These scenes are enriched by a fine film-like grain, though occasional spikes are detectable. Despite this, blacks remain profoundly deep, though sporadic crush is observable. Overall, while devoid of any standout elements, the presentation remains sufficiently decent and detailed.

The meticulous detailing extends to both natural and manmade environments, faithfully highlighting textural richness—be it in rocks, pebbles, or aging structures integral to the narrative. The transfer's yellow/orange hues transition fluidly to colder blue/gray tones as required, maintaining a balanced color spectrum that avoids veering towards excessive warmth or dullness. This balance complements the strong-to-exquisite detail and clarity throughout. Flesh tones and clothing textures are impressively rendered, supporting an overall handsome, film-like texture. This superior transfer stands as a testament to Anchor Bay's quality, creating an immersive visual experience that belies the film's overall mediocre content.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "And Soon the Darkness" provides a satisfactory auditory experience, housed in a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The dialogue is generally clear and well-centered, ensuring intelligibility throughout the film. However, while the musical elements are cleanly reproduced, there is a noticeable imbalance; the high-end frequencies can be somewhat fatiguing over extended listening periods though the lower frequencies display commendable richness. The surround activity, while present, seems to lack the vivid engagement that could have enhanced the viewing experience.

Moreover, the audio track handles ambient and discrete effects with precision, adding depth to outdoor atmospherics and indoor scenes with convincingly placed sounds like phone rings or door knocks. Despite these strengths, some moments, such as a scene where a Divinyls song plays in a bar, fall short. The song's reproduction feels noticeably cramped and lacks the fuller sound one might expect in a well-rounded mix. This slight inconsistency aside, the overall track supports the atmospheric tension of the film effectively, making it a competent, if not outstanding, component of the release.

The Blu-ray edition of "And Soon the Darkness" offers viewers a modest selection of extras that provide additional insights but stop short of delivering exceptional content. The highlights include a technical Audio Commentary by Director Marcos Efron, Editor Todd E. Miller, and Director of Photography Gabriel Beristain, who discuss shooting locales, set design, photography style, and more. The Director's Video Diary, while short, gives an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at the filming process, accompanied by a voiceover from Efron. Though the deleted scenes and trailers are standard fare, they contribute to a generally satisfying package for fans of the film.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Technical insights from the director, editor, and director of photography.
• Director’s Video Diary: Behind-the-scenes videos with commentary.
• Deleted Scenes: Additional scenes cut from the final product.
• Theatrical Trailer: Promotional trailer in HD.
• Preview: Altitude: Trailer for another release.
• BD Live enabled: Online features.
• movieIQ: Real-time information service.

"And Soon the Darkness" features Amber Heard and Odette Yustman as Stephanie and Ellie, respectively, on a dream vacation to an Argentinian village. Their plans for sun-soaked relaxation and flirtations with local charmers go awry after a bar-hopping night leads to a morning argument. Stephanie sets out solo, only to return to find Ellie missing amidst signs of a struggle. Suspecting foul play and unsatisfied with the local authorities, she seeks help from Michael (Karl Urban), an American ex-pat. Together, they embark on a desperate search, but Stephanie's mistrust in Michael’s intentions intensifies as danger looms and time runs out.

Despite aiming for a chilling thriller, "And Soon the Darkness" falls short on delivering suspense or genuine chills. Directed by Marcos Efron, the film is disappointingly mild, lacking the edge necessary for a standout horror-thriller. It employs a basic formula with transparent villains and an overly predictable plot, resulting in a 91-minute runtime that feels plodding and ineffective. The film's depictions of tension and character development are notably weak, offering little to invest in emotionally or intellectually.

Nevertheless, Efron’s directorial efforts display promising potential. The film is visually appealing, with striking scenery capturing the allure of the Argentinian landscape. The quality of acting also stands as a redeeming factor; Amber Heard and Odette Yustman deliver competent performances, while Karl Urban and César Vianco add some solid support to the otherwise lackluster script. While it lacks originality and depth, "And Soon the Darkness" hints at Efron’s capability behind the camera, suggesting that with more robust material, he could craft something far more compelling.

'And Soon the Darkness' is an uninspired remake of a 70's British film, failing to provide any significant updates or improvements on the original. The narrative is lackluster, with a poorly constructed story and underdeveloped characters that fail to evoke any investment from the viewer. The movie’s attempt at horror falls flat, lacking the tension and fear essential for the genre. Furthermore, any sense of mystery is diluted through predictable plotting, rendering the film a tedious 90-minute endeavor with minimal engagement.

Despite the film’s creative shortcomings, the Blu-ray release by Anchor Bay is of exceptional quality. The 1080p transfer is stunning, boasting vibrant and crisp visuals that enhance the viewing experience, despite the film's mediocrity. The lossless soundtrack is strong, delivering clear and precise audio that complements the high-definition video. Special features include deleted scenes and a director’s video diary, although these additions do little to add value to the underwhelming main feature.

In conclusion, while 'And Soon the Darkness' falters as a compelling horror or mystery film, those interested in high-quality Blu-ray experiences might find some worth in its excellent video and audio presentation. For most viewers, however, this release will likely be overshadowed by its dull story and lack of originality.