Mutant Chronicles Blu-ray Review

Mutant Chronicles" employs a distinctive visual style characterized by a limited color palette that effectively complements its narrative. The film's color range is dominated by shades of dark blue, gray, and black, punctuated by crimson reds and muted sepias, with occasional golden accents to break the monochromatic scheme. The contrast is expertly managed, empowering whites and grays without washing out detail. Whites are crisp and snappy, while grays are layered, offering a rich depth to the visuals. Framed at 1.85:1, the images possess significant depth and an engaging visual aura.

The 1080p/VC-1 encoded transfer yields mixed results, attributed not to the transfer quality but to the stylized post-production color grading. While certain scenes showcase sharp and well-defined details—most notably the WWI-inspired trench sequences with meticulously textured costumes and faces in pouring rain—the frequent alterations in color toning detract from visual consistency. The film oscillates between desaturated, dingy grey/brown hues and artificially enhanced colors, akin to an amateurish first attempt at Photoshop editing. This inconsistency extends to skin tones, fluctuating unpredictably across scenes.

Additionally, shadow delineation varies; outdoor and daytime shots maintain solid black levels, whereas indoor, darker scenes can appear washed out with a dim grayish cast. Nevertheless, the overall rendering is relatively clean, free of noticeable compression artifacts or extraneous noise. Subtle banding is occasionally detected but minimally intrusive. The digital noise imparts a filmic texture that enhances rather than detracts from the viewing experience, contributing to the high-quality visual aesthetics of "Mutant Chronicles.

Magnolia HE's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound mix on the Blu-ray of "Mutant Chronicles" is nothing short of impressive, as it delivers an aggressively engaging surround experience that truly immerses the viewer. The film, primarily action-based and war-centric, benefits greatly from a dynamic range that renders every explosion and crash with vibrant clarity and depth. The low frequency effects generate deep, demonstrative bass that occasionally reaches skin-tingling infrasonic levels, making action sequences like the escape pod release and crash particularly impactful. The discrete effects and tone-establishing ambience, such as heavy rain mixed with gunfire, create a three-dimensional sound field filled with 360-degree surround activity.

Dialogue throughout the film is reproduced with lucid expression and exacting clarity, maintaining coherence even during intense battle scenes. However, there are moments during these hectic scenes where the mid-range frequency drops out, creating a hollow void that may feel stylistically mismatched to some viewers. Despite these minor hiccups, the overall sonic detail is superb, with seamless integration and rhythmically charged bass extension that provides a stimulating aural experience. This mix serves up a hefty LFE presence balanced by snappy clarity in the upper registers, ensuring a consistently engaging audio presentation. My advice: crank up the volume, sit back, and fully immerse yourself in this wonderfully involving sound design.

The Blu-ray extras for "Mutant Chronicles" offer a comprehensive and engaging deep dive into the film's production. The standout feature is the exhaustive 107-minute documentary, providing extensive insights into every aspect of the movie's creation, including costuming, special effects, and cinematography. The included commentary by director Simon Hunter and actor Ron Perlman offers further behind-the-scenes revelations and practical effects information. Six deleted scenes and various green screen and storyboard comparisons offer additional context to the film's narrative and visual execution. The promotional teaser short film and its making-of segment highlight the project's initial vision. Interviews with key cast and crew members add further depth, along with a variety of short features like the HDNet promo, visual effects reel, Comic-Con Panel Q&A, and 12 webisodes. Storyboard and concept art galleries, along with BD-Live functionality, round out this well-curated collection.

Extras included in this disc:

• The Making of Mutant Chronicles: An in-depth documentary.
• Six deleted scenes: Additional context to the narrative.
• Green Screen and Storyboard Comparisons: Visual development insights.
• Promotional Teaser Short Film: Initial vision highlight.
• Making of Promotional Teaser Short Film: Brief production process.
• Interviews with Cast and Crew: Detailed cast insights.
• HDNet: A Look at Mutant Chronicles: Short promo.
• Visual Effects: Demo reel from Dinamo.
• Comic-Con Panel Q&A: Cast and crew discussion.
• 12 Webisodes: Promotional segments.
• Storyboard and Concept Art Galleries: Over 140 images.
• Mutant Chronicles Trailer: Theatrical preview.
• BD-Live enabled: Interactive features.

In "Mutant Chronicles," set in the year 2707, Earth's four mega-corporations, Capital, Imperial, Bauhaus, and Mishima, are engaged in a perpetual war over dwindling resources. During a fierce battle, an ancient seal is broken, unleashing a mutant army from deep within the Earth. While the premise sets up an intriguing sci-fi horror adventure, the execution falls short. The film, featuring notable actors such as Ron Perlman, John Malkovich, Thomas Jane, and Devon Aoki, aspires to blend B-movie charm with modern cinematic grit but is hampered by a lackluster script and inconsistent performances. Despite moments of geeky fun, the movie struggles within the confines of uninspired dialogue and ambitious yet sloppy execution.

Adapted from a pen-and-paper RPG universe, "Mutant Chronicles" simplifies its expansive backstory into brief voice-over narration by Perlman, setting the stage for a men-on-a-mission narrative. The plot follows warrior monk Samuel (Perlman) as he leads a group of soldiers to destroy the mutant-producing machine. However, the film fails to provide significant stakes or motivations for the characters' dangerous mission. The mutants, portrayed as mindless killers with no clear agenda or depth, further diminish the film's impact. The visual effects rely on a blend of practical effects and green screen work, which, despite some charm, lack polish and coherence.

While the steam-punk aesthetic lends a unique flavor to the alternate universe, with steam-powered rifles and coal-fueled spaceships adding a creative touch, the film's uneven pacing and hollow characterizations undermine its potential. Thomas Jane's effort as a grizzled grunt is overshadowed by clichéd dialogue and underdeveloped characters, while Ron Perlman's usually reliable presence feels disappointingly bland. Overall, "Mutant Chronicles" exhibits glimpses of ambition and creativity but ultimately flounders under the weight of its own mediocre storytelling and technical limitations.

"Mutant Chronicles" on Blu-ray presents a visually intriguing dive into an alternate universe. The high-definition transfer provides a notable improvement in picture quality, showcasing sharp imagery and distinguishing features even amidst darker scenes. While the visual effects and set designs bring forth a unique, gritty ambiance, they still fall short of establishing a captivating and immersive storytelling experience. The narrative itself feels shallow, failing to engage beyond its initial setup, which might be a letdown for those seeking substantial plot development.

Audio performance on this Blu-ray release is commendable. The sound mix leverages the action sequences well, offering a dynamic and robust auditory experience. Action fans might appreciate the film's attempt at delivering high-energy sequences that make use of surround sound capabilities effectively. However, the movie's sound design cannot entirely compensate for the lackluster scripting and character development, leaving the overall impact somewhat diminished.

In terms of value, "Mutant Chronicles" does offer a commendable array of bonus features. Hardcore fans of the original RPG might find these extras particularly satisfying, adding layers of background and insights into the film's production that enhance the overall viewing experience. However, considering the vast array of superior sci-fi films available in high-definition, this title might be better approached as a cautious rental for most viewers.

In conclusion, "Mutant Chronicles" has its merits in terms of visual and audio presentation on Blu-ray and offers some appealing bonus content. Hardcore fans of the original RPG might enjoy this release, but for the average sci-fi/horror enthusiast, it may fall short of expectations. The film's shortcomings in depth and engagement suggest that it is best rented rather than purchased outright.