The Apparition Blu-ray Review

"The Apparition" makes its Blu-ray debut with a 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode framed in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. The video quality is fluctuating and inconsistent, impacting the overall viewing experience. The color palette and timing vacillate noticeably, resulting in shifts from natural and accurate hues to more drained and toneless visuals. These changes feel unintentional as they fail to correspond adequately to the on-screen action. Skin tones are particularly affected, shifting quickly between healthy and sickly pale within the same scenes.

On the technical front, black levels vary significantly, looking deep and rich in one moment and flat with dark-grey shadows in another. This inconsistency is most problematic during poorly-lit interior scenes, where background details are often obscured. Conversely, daylight sequences benefit from strong contrast and reveal a good deal of fine detail, especially in southwestern locations. This allows for more appreciation of skintones and extensive depth. While black levels are generally solidified, they occasionally mask textures in clothing and hair. Intermittent softness and mild filtering are also observed, detracting from what should ideally be a sharper and more dimensional image.

Despite these deficiencies, the presentation does offer some merits, especially in terms of cleanliness with whites and high-definition detail. Strong contrast levels are evident, particularly in brighter scenes, lending a degree of visual appeal. Outdoor exteriors stand out as the video’s best segments due to their highly-detailed nature. However, this advantage does not translate well to the movie's numerous nighttime sequences and dark environments, which lack the necessary depth and clarity. Overall, while “The Apparition” avoids being disastrous on Blu-ray, it fails to deliver the dimensional power expected of a 2012 production.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack for "The Apparition" invigorates the Blu-ray experience with a robust and commanding low-end that accentuates the film's scares and unsettling moments. The mix leverages the full potential of surround sound, delivering an immersive auditory experience. Atmospheric sounds come alive with precision, while the intricate sound design maneuvers through speakers seamlessly, enhancing the sense of supernatural dread. The dialogue remains crisp and clear throughout, well-balanced within the front stage intensity, with voices meticulously separated to ensure intelligibility. Soundtrack selections and scoring register with a pleasing broadness, featuring comfortable instrumentation and forceful surround deployment.

Directionality and panning are executed flawlessly, with footsteps, whispers, and other eerie elements moving fluidly between speakers, providing an immersive and terrifying auditory experience. The haunting musical score by tomandandy bleeds into the side speakers effectively, blending with atmospheric sounds to create a persistent wall of sound. The low-end is particularly noteworthy for its power and depth, capable of rattling walls and adding a physically palpable dimension to the scares. Dialogue is well-prioritized amid this dynamic mix, ensuring clarity and prominence at all times. This DTS-HD MA mix is a standout aspect of the Blu-ray and elevates this otherwise pedestrian horror film into a more engaging and atmospheric experience for home theater audiences.

The extras on "The Apparition" Blu-ray serve a unique array of featurettes concentrating primarily on Joshua P. Warren, the film's ghost consultant, and his various ventures into the realm of the supernatural. "A Cinematic Specter" offers a quirky behind-the-scenes look at the séance scene, featuring cast interviews and Warren's insights on paranormal activities. Subsequent featurettes like "The Dark Realm of the Paranormal" and "Haunted Asheville" delve deeper into Warren's background and his ghost-hunting exploits in Asheville. These segments, though occasionally feeling like promotional material for Warren's work, engage with compelling, albeit sometimes dubious, paranormal investigations. "The Experiment of The Apparition" attempts to draw parallels between the movie and real-life experiments led by Warren but unfortunately falls short in demonstrating any tangible evidence. This selection of extras enhances the principal content by giving it an amusing and, at times, offbeat narrative scope.

Extras included in this disc:

A Cinematic Specter: Behind-the-scenes on the séance scene with cast interviews and Warren's thoughts.

The Dark Realm of the Paranormal: Exploration of Warren's career and ghost-hunting segments.

Haunted Asheville: Warren's guided tour of haunted locations in Asheville.

The Experiment of The Apparition: Real-life brainwave experiment inspired by the film's opening scene.

"The Apparition" Blu-ray delivers a profoundly underwhelming supernatural horror experience, largely undermined by its incoherent narrative and inept execution. Todd Lincoln, in his feature-length directorial debut, fails to capitalize on the intriguing premise of a botched séance leading to ghostly havoc. The plot remains frustratingly opaque, riddled with static sequences of unexplained hauntings and tepid character interactions. While the film attempts to channel classics like "Poltergeist," it ultimately stumbles, plagued by poor dialogue and unengaging story arcs. The actors, including Ashley Greene and Sebastian Stan, are left to muddle through the script, often merely reacting to eerie occurrences without significant emotional depth or clarity.

Technically, "The Apparition" does exhibit some promise in its sound design and visual effects. Lincoln demonstrates a competent grasp of creating an unsettling atmosphere, utilizing surround sound to enhance the spooky ambience effectively. Scenes involving poltergeist activities—such as furniture moving on its own and eerie noises—are executed with a degree of skill, providing the occasional effective jump scare. However, these moments are few and far between and cannot salvage the film from its overall lack of substance. The editing is erratic, often feeling like an extended music video that prioritizes style over coherent storytelling.

The third act attempts to redeem the film with a series of rapid-fire scares and a more brisk pacing, yet it only emphasizes the lack of a cohesive narrative. The performances are serviceable but unremarkable, with Greene performing adequately as a damsel in distress, albeit in a role that offers little character development. Despite its attempts at delivering a new spin on the haunted-house genre, "The Apparition" ultimately feels like a forgettable entry, where technical prowess is overshadowed by its narrative shortcomings.

The Apparition on Blu-ray presents a mixed bag, offering flashes of potential overshadowed by significant shortcomings. Todd Lincoln's feature-length debut shows promise in its technical sound design. The use of surround sound technology is adeptly executed, generating moments of genuine auditory tension and delivering effective scares. Unfortunately, these technical accomplishments are undermined by a narrative that fails to captivate. Despite the presence of ‘Twilight’ star Ashley Greene, the film struggles to engage viewers, ultimately leading to disengagement and a lack of sustained suspense.

From a visual standpoint, the Blu-ray release fluctuates significantly. At times the video quality is excellent, showcasing sharp details and clarity. However, these moments are inconsistent, with periods of mediocre quality detracting from the viewing experience. The supplemental material offered is sparse, with a particular focus on paranormal investigator Joshua P. Warren, which might interest a niche audience but fails to broaden the film's appeal. The overall package seems incomplete, lacking substantial bonus content that could have enriched the viewing experience.

In conclusion, while The Apparition concludes with a notably grim resolution, it is insufficient to overcome the narrative confusion and lack of engagement throughout the film. The Blu-ray release, despite its strong audio presentation, does not do enough to elevate the film beyond mediocrity. As such, this is a release best considered as a rental for those curious about its sound design or fans of the genre.