The Belko Experiment Blu-ray Review

"The Belko Experiment" is presented on Blu-ray by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its original 2.40:1 aspect ratio. Captured using Alexa technology, the film exhibits the typical strengths and weaknesses associated with this platform. In well-lit scenes and during close-ups, the imagery is exceptionally precise and sharp, fully displaying the film's graphic content in unsettling detail. However, the movie often shifts to darker settings, particularly as characters navigate dimly lit catacombs. Here, the detail level subtly diminishes, revealing a minor but noticeable loss in clarity.

Despite these occasional lapses in detail under low-light conditions, the transfer maintains excellent sharpness overall, with realistic color rendering that impressively handles the saturated reds of the film’s bloodier scenes. Contrast is effectively managed to enhance visual depth without introducing noise or instability. The transfer's glossiness and slight flatness, typical of Alexa-captured content, are present but minimally intrusive to the viewing experience. Crucially, no image instability or compression anomalies were observed, ensuring a consistent and uninterrupted visual presentation. The Blu-ray disc further benefits from a meticulous chapter layout, divided into 28 segments for convenient navigation.

The Belko Experiment presents an immersive experience with its 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix that does a commendable job of ratcheting up the tension and maintaining a heavy, claustrophobic atmosphere. The offbeat musical numbers are seamlessly integrated into the overall track, providing a nice contrast to the film's more intense moments. Tyler Bates’ driving score is effectively spread across the surround channels, enhancing the sense of impending doom. The sound mix excels in delivering distinct background noises—tinking, creaking, and other ambient sounds—that contribute significantly to the horror ambiance. Powerful LFE effects truly come alive when armored panels slam shut or during scenes of high violence, with the bass providing a solid punch.

Dialogue is cleanly and clearly anchored in the center channel, ensuring that it remains intelligible even amidst scenes of chaos. The front soundstage allows for a fairly spacious listening experience, complemented by the strategic placement of discrete effects and crowd noises in individual channels. This layering helps in creating a dynamic auditory environment, particularly noticeable during panic-induced moments and sporadic gunfire that injects sonic energy into the mix. Overall, the audio presentation succeeds in being both engaging and technically proficient, thus providing an enveloping and heightened viewing experience for horror fans.

The extras on the Blu-ray of "The Belko Experiment" provide an intriguing deep dive into the making and creative aspects of the film. Rules of the Game: The Secrets Behind The Belko Experiment is a nearly 10-minute featurette where producer-screenwriter James Gunn, alongside director Greg McLean, producer Peter Safran, and cast members discuss the film’s unique story and character dynamics. Lee Hardcastle's Survival Tips presents four engaging Claymation segments that offer humor and strategic insights in vignettes more entertaining than the film itself. Deleted Scenes comprise a 5-minute collection of eight scenes available only as a montage. The Gallery section, with both Auto Advance (1:03) and Manual Advance options, showcases behind-the-scenes production stills. Additionally, the disc includes a Theatrical Trailer.

Extras included in this disc:

• Rules of the Game: The Secrets Behind The Belko Experiment: A featurette with insights from the creators and cast.
• Lee Hardcastle's Survival Tips: Four Claymation promo trailers.
• Deleted Scenes: Eight scenes in a single montage.
• Gallery: Behind-the-scenes production stills.
• Theatrical Trailer: Official movie trailer.

"The Belko Experiment" delivers a ruthless exploration of human behavior under severe duress, effectively blending elements of psychological horror with raw, unabashed violence. The film is set within the confines of Belko Industries' Bogota office, where 80 employees are inexplicably locked in and forced to partake in a deadly game dictated by an ominous intercom voice. Drawing parallels with the Milgram Experiment and historical events like the Nuremberg Trials, the movie dives into the dark recesses of obedience and survival. However, its narrative quickly shifts gears to showcase a brutal, blood-soaked spectacle that lacks the narrative depth needed to elevate its core thematic concerns.

James Gunn’s screenplay provides a simple yet disturbingly effective setup. The immediate descent into chaos begins when the staff is ordered to kill two colleagues within 30 minutes or face dire consequences. As heads start exploding due to implanted chips, pandemonium ensues. Characters split into two main factions: one led by pacifist Mike Milch (John Gallagher Jr.), advocating for unity, and another by COO Barry Norris (Tony Goldwyn), pushing for compliance with the deadly orders. This relentless trajectory is punctuated with graphically violent set pieces and shocking deaths, capturing the primal 'kill or be killed' mentality. Although it wants to probe deep psychological territory, it often sacrifices character development for gruesome spectacles.

Director Greg McLean's execution ensures constant action and a palpable sense of dread, yet the film falls short in establishing meaningful connections between viewer and character. Despite a notable cast including John C. McGinley, Michael Rooker, and Tony Goldwyn, characters often lack depth, reducing them to mere pawns in a gory human chess game. While the frantic pace and graphic violence may appeal to gore enthusiasts, "The Belko Experiment" struggles to leave a lasting emotional impact. It serves well as a visceral horror treat but lacks the profundity to rise above its premise.

"The Belko Experiment" on Blu-ray delivers an intense mix of violence and psychological tension, though it may miss the mark for some. Directed by Greg McLean and penned by James Gunn, the film explores the primal instincts of office employees forced into a deadly survival game. While it showcases some effective gore and thrilling action sequences, the plot's execution and character development leave much to be desired. The thematic exploration of human behavior under duress is captivating at first but loses its grip as predictability sets in.

From a technical perspective, the Blu-ray release boasts impressive audio and video quality. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track captures the tension and chaos well, and the 2.39:1 AVC aspect ratio ensures a crisp and clear visual experience. However, the extras are notably sparse, offering little in terms of added value for viewers interested in behind-the-scenes content or further insights into the film's production.

In conclusion, horror buffs may find some merit in "The Belko Experiment," but its lack of substance and depth may leave both genre enthusiasts and general audiences questioning its direction. While the film delivers in terms of blood and gore, its villains are unconvincing, and its twists are overly predictable. The technical specs are solid, but the overall package might not warrant a purchase. Ultimately, it could be wise to skip this one and invest time in more fulfilling cinematic experiences.

Technical Specifications:

• Starring: John Gallagher Jr., Tony Goldwyn, Adria Arjon
• Directed by: Greg McLean
• Written by: James Gunn
• Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 AVC
• Audio: English: DTS-HD MA 5.1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• Rated: R
• Runtime: 88 Minutes
• Blu-ray Release Date: June 27th, 2017

Recommendation: Skip It