Survival of the Dead Blu-ray Review

'Survival of the Dead' presents itself on Blu-ray with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that pleasantly surprises, catering both to fans of the undead genre and those with an eye for video quality. Utilizing the RED high definition video camera for its production, the film achieves a very filmic quality, largely avoiding the pitfalls common to digital cinematography. The transfer shines particularly in daylight scenes, offering fantastic sharpness and detail, displaying textures and lines with clarity and without falling prey to artificial enhancements. Colors break the mold of the typical zombie film palette, embracing rich, vivid tones that breathe life into the eerie narrative. Though occasional video noise is present in lower light conditions, it doesn't detract significantly from the overall viewing experience, avoiding the more jarring distractions of compression artifacts or DNR overuse.

Interestingly, previous releases, notably the UK's Optimum Home Entertainment edition, have set a low bar, making Magnolia's release of 'Survival of the Dead' all the more impressive by comparison. Detail enhancement is immediately noticeable across various elements, from more naturally rendered skin tones to the textures of the environments and costumes within the film's setting. Despite some lighting issues that occasionally overexpose skin tones and a tendency for backgrounds to blur into indistinct masses at distance, the improvement over its UK counterpart is stark. The film maintains its edge definition and three-dimensional quality throughout, with a marked reduction in noise compared to earlier releases. Black levels and shadow details show some improvement; however, they remain a minor weakness in an otherwise robust transfer.

In summary, 'Survival of the Dead' on Blu-ray offers a substantive upgrade over previous iterations, making it almost essential for fans looking for the optimal viewing experience. With its vibrant use of color and significant improvements in detail and cleanliness of the image, it rectifies many of the shortcomings observed in earlier releases. While some issues with video noise and shadow detail persist, they are largely overshadowed by the overall quality of the transfer, making this release a commendable effort and a must-have for enthusiasts and collectors alike.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track of "Survival of the Dead" Blu Ray audio presentation is, undoubtedly, a significant competency of the film. It diligently utilizes its sound mix to accentuate a scenario where the visual tension may fall short, making considerable use of the LFE channel to add a robust, throbbing base to its action sequences. This effort to audibly instill fear might highlight the film's struggle to visually engender suspense, yet it denotes an objectively impressive command over its sound design. The mix takes advantage of the surround spectrum to immerse viewers with natural ambience, discernible cross-channel movements of vehicles, and precisely panned gunfire, all while maintaining a dynamically competent score that includes the typical dissonance and occasional piano keys, enhancing the narrative without overshadowing it.

Further granularity in the sound quality reveals dialogue that is consistently clear and prominently positioned in the mix, ensuring that every word is intelligible against the backdrop of ambient and action sounds. The subtlety in directionality is commendable, as it accurately portrays scene dynamics without ever feeling misplaced or overwhelming. While bass responses aren't incessantly present, their strategic deployment during key moments introduces an effectively unsettling atmosphere, accompanied by calculated vibrations that add to the immersive experience.

Despite these strengths, it's noted that the audio mix doesn’t exhaustively exploit rear channels for movement sounds, a decision perhaps reflective of the film's budget constraints but slightly diminishing its potential for a more enveloping audio experience. However, when bass levels ascend, they do so with intent—crafting significant ambiance and contributing to the film’s climactic moments. The overall audio presentation suggests a well-executed strategy to compensate for the visual elements where they may lack, ensuring the auditory experience is engaging and proficiently mixed with well-timed subtitles in clean white lettering for accessibility.

The "Survival of the Dead" Blu-ray extras offer a mixed bag for fans and filmmakers alike. The comprehensive Walking After Midnight documentary and playful Sarge short provide behind-the-scenes access and thematic exploration, albeit with varying levels of engagement. The Audio Commentary and A Minute of Your Time shorts present insights and festival snippets that, while occasionally entertaining, reveal the extras' tendency to overlap content, sometimes rehashing footage. Time With George and the Fangoria Interview with George A. Romero stand out for those interested in Romero's perspectives on filmmaking and the zombie genre, despite moments that might test fan loyalty. Technical additions like the Storyboard Comparison and How to Create Your Own Zombie Bite tutorial offer creative insights, though not without their critiques, particularly against CG usage. Overall, this collection is a haven for enthusiasts willing to sift through redundancies for gems of genre filmmaking wisdom.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: With George A. Romero, Peter Grunwald, Michael Doherty, Kenneth Welsh, and Matt Birman.
• Walking After Midnight Documentary: A comprehensive making-of documentary with extensive interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.
• Sarge Short Film: A monologue by Sergeant Crockett on the us versus them motif.
• A Minute of Your Time Shorts: A collection of featurettes including cast and crew interviews and festival footage.
• Time With George: An interview with Romero discussing his thoughts on filmmaking.
• Storyboard Comparison: A comparison of storyboards to final film footage.
• How to Create Your Own Zombie Bite: A tutorial by Eric Beck on creating zombie bite effects.
• Fangoria Interview with George A. Romero: Romero discusses film origins and the future of zombie films.
• HDNet: A Look at Survival of the Dead: Promo footage interspersed with film themes analysis.
• Introduction from George A. Romero: A humorous introduction to the film by Romero.
• Also From Magnolia Home Entertainment Blu-ray: Trailers for various films and series promos.
• Menu Backgrounds: Option to choose between two thematic backgrounds.
• BD-Live Functionality: For additional online content.

In "Survival of the Dead," the once-celebrated auteur George A. Romero continues his foray into the zombie genre he effectively pioneered, drawing upon character dynamics and societal allegories as seen in his previous works. However, this installment falls markedly short of the inventiveness and biting social commentary that characterized his earlier films. Taking place as a direct sequel to "Diary of the Dead," the narrative follows Sergeant Crockett and his AWOL National Guardsmen seeking refuge from the undead apocalypse. The discovery of an ostensibly zombie-managed island off Delaware's coast introduces them to an old feud between two families with opposing ideologies on handling the undead, setting the stage for human conflict amidst the horror backdrop.

Regrettably, "Survival of the Dead" diverts from the harrowing tension and profound exploration of human nature that defined Romero's seminal works. The film is ensnared by its own ambition to meld horror with humor and insightful commentary, resulting in a discordant tone that undermines its potential impact. The zombies, once the central menace and medium for critique in Romero's universe, are relegated to mere plot devices or appear as inconsistent threats, lacking the presence and dread they traditionally commanded. This shift away from suspenseful buildup to sporadic, unimpressive zombie encounters diminishes the genre's essence that Romero himself established.

Technically, the reliance on subpar CGI effects detracts further from the film's authenticity, betraying Romero's roots in practical special effects that once chillingly brought his creations to life. These choices, coupled with a narrative that struggles to effectively convey its themes or engage with its audience on a meaningful level, signal a departure from what made Romero's films resonate. The diluted horror elements and a focus on an uninspired human conflict fail to compensate for the absence of compelling characters or a coherent message, leaving "Survival of the Dead" as a regrettable low point in Romero's illustrious career, sorely missing the originality and impact of its predecessors.

Survival of the Dead" emerges as a remarkable disappointment within George A. Romero's revered zombie saga, unable to breathe new life into its decaying franchise. It modestly outshines its predecessor, "Diary," yet fails to deliver a groundbreaking narrative, instead treading familiar and tired ground. Critics suggest that Romero should pivot away from his zombie niche to explore elements of horror that harken back to the genre's classic scares devoid of heavy-handed social commentary. Despite its shortcomings, die-hard fans of Romero might feel compelled to add this Blu-ray to their collections for completeness sake, benefiting from its high-quality audio and video execution and an extensive array of special features.

Curiously, one of the film's most baffling elements is the inclusion of zombies adept at horseback riding - an absurdity even within the broad allowances of zombie fiction. This choice may seem like a offbeat twist to some, but for many, it represents a nadir in Romero’s storytelling, diluting the horror with implausible comedy. However, the Blu-ray release by Magnolia is commendable and clearly superior to the Optimum Region B edition in every technical aspect. From video and audio quality to the wealth of additional content and the effective use of BD-Live, it exemplifies how a quality release can support even less celebrated films.

In conclusion, while "Survival of the Dead" might falter as a compelling entry in its series, its Blu-ray presentation stands out for its excellence. Magnolia delivers an exceptional product that shines in technical quality and bonus content, offering something of value even when the film itself does not. Nevertheless, this release is best suited for those with deep affection for Romero's work or completists, rather than casual viewers or those seeking the pinnacle of zombie cinema.