As Above, So Below Blu-ray Review

Universal's Blu-ray release of "As Above, So Below" presents a unique challenge for enthusiasts due to its distinctive, hyper-shaky-cam cinematography. This 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation captures the film's raw and erratic visuals with fidelity, notwithstanding its numerous inconsistencies. While the high definition transfer faithfully reflects the filmmakers' original vision, complete with its inherent flaws, viewers might find the experience somewhat disorienting. The image clarity fluctuates significantly throughout, backed by muted black levels that often appear as charcoal gray rather than true black. Despite these issues, colors are rendered with decent saturation, particularly the reds, which are vivid and grotesque in scenes of blood and gore.

The video quality of this low-budget horror flick benefits from a well-executed 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode, despite being shot on inexpensive HD cameras that lend a somewhat unappealing soap-opera effect to the visuals. This effect, intended to contribute to the film’s grimy and filthy look, results in a presentation that's both sterilized and sharply detailed. Fine details in clothing textures, facial features, and the underground catacombs are distinctly visible, showcasing sharp lines and clean delineations. The color palette is somewhat restrained by the cinematographic style, yet it manages to deliver bold primaries and well-rendered earth tones when they do appear.

Contrast levels are intentionally high, though not excessively so as to detract from the image quality, and while black levels aren't the most robust, they remain deep and dark enough to enhance the visual experience with satisfactory shadow details. Despite the variable delineation and occasional visibility issues such as crush, noise, and macroblocking, this release stands as a testament to conveying the director's vision as authentically as possible. Thus, the Blu-ray delivers a viewing experience that is as close to the filmmakers' intent as can be, with all its inherent imperfections included.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track of "As Above So Below" translates the film's haunting atmosphere with admirable skill, delivering an audio experience that both complements and enhances the visual journey into the depths of the Paris catacombs. The soundtrack skilfully navigates the line between clarity and obscurity, mirroring the film's gradual departure from the conventional found-footage style. Dialogue remains clear despite the genre's typical challenges, while sound effects range smoothly from the stifled to the starkly vivid, reflecting the shifting environments with impressive agility. The low-frequency effects are robust, occasionally verging on the predatory in their intensity, adding a palpable sense of dread that is as immersive as it is intimidating. Rear channel activity is effectively utilized to heighten the claustrophobic setting, making the underground tunnels feel ominously constrictive.

Sonically, the mix excels in creating a pervasive atmosphere of tension and unease, leveraging a wide dynamic range and expertly executed channel separation to generate a convincingly eerie soundscape. Ambient sounds are strategically dispersed, utilizing the surround channels to envelop the viewer in a cocoon of subtle yet unsettling audio cues that magnify the film's suspenseful ambiance. The balance between loud and soft moments is masterfully handled, ensuring that every whispered dialogue fragment and distant echo contributes to an overarching sense of looming dread. Low bass responses add a weighty presence to the soundtrack, grounding the ethereal horror with a visceral impact that resonates on a fundamentally disturbing level.

Overall, this audio presentation distinguishes itself by embracing both the limitations and possibilities inherent in the found-footage horror genre, crafting a multi-dimensional acoustic environment that is as intricate as it is immersive. Despite occasional inconsistencies, it faithfully conveys the filmmakers' vision, achieving a harmonious blend of narrative and technical elements that significantly amplifies the film's unsettling effect. Whether through deliberate distortions or precise vocal reproduction, the sound design meticulously orchestrates a symphony of fear, making "As Above So Below" not just a visual, but an auditory descent into terror.

The Blu-ray presentation of "As Above, So Below" comes with an extra feature that is succinct yet leaves much to be desired for those hungry for in-depth details about the movie's production and plot. This feature, titled "Inside As Above So Below," offers a brief four-minute high-definition glimpse into the eerie catacombs setting, adorned with cast and crew interviews lavishing praise upon the filmmaking process and the final cinematic result. While it serves as a basic electronic press kit-like featurette, it unfortunately falls short of satiating the appetite of those seeking comprehensive behind-the-scenes content and deeper insights into the intriguing lore behind the film's story.

Extras included in this disc:

• Inside As Above So Below: A brief tour of the catacombs with cast and crew interviews praising the movie's production.

As Above, So Below" emerges as a divisive entry in the found-footage horror genre, ambitiously intertwining elements of ancient alchemy, the Philosopher’s Stone, and the eerie, bone-filled catacombs beneath Paris. Yet, despite its potential for an atmospheric terror rooted in the claustrophobic depths of history, the film's execution falters under the weight of its own ambition. The Dowdle brothers' direction, combined with a shaky narrative and less-than-convincing performances, renders the experience more exasperating than exhilarating. The film demands a hefty suspension of disbelief from its audience - a task made challenging by the jumbled quest plot and a pervasive sense of implausibility that plagues even the more intriguing aspects of the storyline.

Embarking on what could have been a riveting journey into madness and personal demons, "As Above, So Below" instead gets lost in a maze of its making. The initial setup promises a blend of adventure and horror, invoking comparisons to Indiana Jones with a found-footage twist, yet it ultimately fails to deliver a cohesive or compelling narrative arc. Scarlett Marlowe’s character, intended as a strong, knowledgeable protagonist, too often veils a lack of depth with bravado and implausible expertise. This issue is emblematic of the broader film - promising concepts undermined by shaky execution and a disconnect between ambition and ability.

The second half of the film, while offering a selection of genuinely creepy moments bolstered by practical effects and effective sound design, arrives too late to fully redeem the earlier missteps. These sequences in the catacombs manage to capture some of the atmospheric potential that the premise suggests, adhering to the principle that less is more. However, even these strengths struggle to lift "As Above, So Below" above its foundational issues. As a result, it stands as a standard entry in the found-footage catalog, unlikely to surprise or innovate within the genre. The narrative's reliance on contrivance over coherence and its tenuous grasp on the elements that could have set it apart - historical intrigue, psychological depth, and genuine suspense - leave it wandering, much like its characters, in search of a clearer direction and purpose.

The Blu-ray release of "As Above, So Below" presents a paradoxical viewing experience that mirrors its content: a film that dives deep into the catacombs of Paris yet fails to excavate anything of substantial worth in the horror genre. Critics have highlighted the movie's ambition, set in the intriguing underbelly of Paris, yet it stumbles over its own narrative and character development. The execution is marked by a disjointed plot and underwhelming performances that demand much patience from its audience. Despite its descent into the found footage trope, the film fails to deliver genuine scares, often teetering on the edge of unintentional comedy rather than horror, challenging even the most patient fans of the genre.

Technically, the Blu-ray release shines where the film's narrative falters. It boasts an excellent AV presentation, ensuring that the film can be experienced with the visual and auditory intensity it strives for – albeit in a domain where it only partially succeeds. The picture quality is praised for its faithfulness, capturing the eerie depths of Paris with clarity. The audio presentation slightly outperforms the visual elements, enhancing the atmospheric tension with a quality that at least immerses the viewer into its intended creepy ambiance. However, this technical proficiency cannot compensate for the film's fundamental storytelling flaws, nor does it make up for the disappointing array of supplementary materials accompanying the Blu-ray release.

In conclusion, while "As Above, So Below" explores an intriguing premise beneath Paris, its overall execution leaves much to be desired both narratively and in character engagement. The Blu-ray release serves as a testament to what might have been with its superior AV quality, offering a satisfactory experience for those still intrigued by the subgenre or looking for a visually and auditorily immersive experience despite a lackluster film. Ultimately, it's a curious addition for completists or found footage aficionados but struggles to justify itself as a standout in the horror world.