Zombie Massacre Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Zombie Massacre" is impressive, featuring a 1080p transfer encoded with AVC in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The film's digital shooting process results in above-average fine detail and sharpness. The make-up effects are particularly remarkable, with high definition clearly outlining every scar, cut, and drop of blood. This is especially notable given the desaturated color grading that is prevalent throughout the film, enhancing the post-apocalyptic ambiance.

The colors remain muted, aligning with the film's intended aesthetic, though black levels are deep and consistent, contributing positively to overall image quality. The background, however, occasionally suffers from a slightly flat appearance, particularly in green screen sequences. Despite these minor drawbacks, the transfer maintains a reasonably consistent contrast and there are no noticeable compression artifacts or significant instances of motion blur. This Blu-ray provides a solid and visually coherent experience for "Zombie Massacre."

The audio presentation of "Zombie Massacre" on Blu-ray stands out, primarily due to its effective lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix. This audio mix excels in creating an immersive experience, especially during scenes of intense zombie action. The foley effects are meticulously crafted and strategically placed across the side and rear channels, enhancing the sense of spatial realism. Low-frequency effects (LFE) are substantial, with confidently delivered gunshots and explosions creating a dynamic and forceful audio environment. Remarkably, the sound mix maintains excellent fidelity and a wide dynamic range, ensuring rich and vibrant auditory experiences.

Dialogues are presented clearly within the center channel, although some clarity issues arise due to heavy foreign accents of the international cast. Nonetheless, the dialogue remains free from common audio artifacts such as cracks, pops, or hissing, preserving its integrity. The sound effects significantly contribute to the atmosphere, particularly the visceral zombie growls, ferocious roars, and chaotic explosions. These elements intensify the listening experience, placing the viewer at the heart of the chaos. Additionally, ambient noises are precisely balanced and distinctly clear, further complementing the overall soundscape.

In conclusion, "Zombie Massacre" offers a commendable audio experience on Blu-ray. The attentive sound design, robust bass, and wide dynamic range collectively deliver an engaging and immersive auditory experience that effectively supports the film's intense action sequences.

The extras on the Blu-Ray of "Zombie Massacre" provide a comprehensive look behind the scenes, though the content varies in depth and quality. The main featurette, "Superfreak: The Making of 'Zombie Massacre'," offers a decent amount of material, such as insights into the special effects, stunts, makeup, sets, and filming process. Despite running over 40 minutes, it tends to be a standard Electronic Press Kit (EPK) without significant revelations. The storyboard comparisons are presented in standard definition and offer an engaging visual comparison between the storyboards and final scenes. Teasers and trailers round out the offerings, providing a preview of the film in both HD and SD formats.

Extras included in this disc:

Storyboard Prologue: A storyboard comparison side-by-side with final images of the film's prologue.

Storyboard: A storyboard comparison side-by-side with final images of one of the film's scenes.

Teaser Trailer: A teaser trailer for the film.

Trailer: The theatrical trailer in HD.

Superfreak: The Making of Zombie Massacre: A behind-the-scenes featurette discussing effects, stunts, and more.

"Zombie Massacre," despite its intriguing premise and potentially effective opening sequence, ultimately falls short of revitalizing the saturated zombie film genre. The film starts with promise, featuring an eerie Eastern European setting where an unexplained explosion showers an oily substance that transforms the unsuspecting populace into zombies. This initial sequence, with its atmospheric tension and competent use of tracking shots, provides a fleeting glimmer of potential. Yet, this nascent momentum quickly dissipates as the narrative devolves into predictable tropes and lackluster progression.

The plot attempts to hinge on a clandestine U.S. military mishap, leading to a makeshift elite squad endeavoring to contain the outbreak and obliterate the zombie-infested town. Convicted felon and former Iraq vet Jack Stone (Christian Boeving) leads this motley group, which includes a tech wiz, a sniper, and an Irish martial artist. Despite the diversity in character backgrounds, the team members fall into clichéd roles devoid of surprising developments or depth. The film's inability to diverge from formulaic storytelling results in a narrative that is both foreseeable and monotonous.

Furthermore, the performance quality ranges from comical to cringe-worthy, with notably poor script execution further detracting from the film's potential impact. While there are sporadic moments of effective cinematography and practical effects—particularly some of the makeup work on the zombies—the film's overall execution is subpar. The portrayal of American officials with incongruent accents adds an unintended layer of absurdity. Ultimately, "Zombie Massacre" serves as a reminder that attempting to cash in on prevailing trends without delivering substantive innovation or craftsmanship yields little more than uninspired pastiche. For ardent fans of the zombie genre, this film offers scant reason for engagement.

"Zombie Massacre" on Blu-ray proves to be a lackluster entry in the zombie film genre, with its predictable and clichéd plot doing little to engage viewers. The story is chaotic and devoid of coherent narrative structure, reducing it to a series of laughably predictable scenarios. Characters exhibit little to no development, and the dialogue oscillates between uninspiring and outright cringe-worthy. Despite these shortcomings, the film's audio quality stands out, delivering a robust and immersive soundscape that elevates the otherwise lackluster viewing experience.

On the technical side, the video presentation of "Zombie Massacre" is commendable, with crisp image quality that enhances the picture clarity even during the most frenetic action sequences. The Blu-ray transfer appears to handle the film's varying light conditions effectively, ensuring consistent visual sharpness throughout. However, enthusiasts seeking meaningful behind-the-scenes content will be disappointed as the extras offer minimal insight into the production process or artistic intentions, which might have been particularly appealing given Uwe Boll's involvement.

In conclusion, there are two unexpected elements in "Zombie Massacre." First, Entertainment One debuts a new fanfare with this release, although it's hardly thrilling. Second, a bizarre and gratuitous coda features topless women turning into zombies—an oddity that only adds to the film's confused identity. Sandwiched between these moments is the core of "Zombie Massacre," best described as an exercise in tedium. While passable audio and video quality might appeal to some die-hard Blu-ray collectors, the film itself offers little beyond a reason to utilize your fast-forward button.