The Demented Blu-ray Review

"The Demented" arrives on Blu-ray with a notable 1080p, 1.78:1 video presentation that is a mixed bag of impressive strengths and some notable weaknesses. Primarily sourced from an HD transfer shot on a Red Epic camera system, the video boasts exceptional fine detail, particularly in facial textures, clothing lines, and environmental elements such as grass and pavement. The clarity remains steadfast throughout the entire runtime, delivering a squeaky-clean image devoid of noise or visual artifacts. Likewise, color balance maintains a natural, vivid feel in bright scenes, providing bold primaries and warm tones in exterior greens and estate interiors.

However, the image does suffer from a few critical shortcomings. Some scenes exhibit a sterile, overly artificial look with occasional banding in shadowed areas. Despite a reasonably well-balanced contrast, certain sequences fall flat, unexpectedly turning monochromatic while experiencing blooming highlights. Additionally, soft edges produced by unusual bokeh photography serve to create depth but can occasionally detract from the overall image quality. Black levels are generally solid, offering excellent shadow detail, though some scenes reveal minor flaws in these aspects.

Overall, while "The Demented" delivers a commendable high-definition display with several standout attributes such as detailed texturing and vibrant colors, inconsistencies in contrast and minor technical issues prevent it from reaching full potential. The video quality remains strong enough to make it the most compelling feature of this release.

The Demented" features a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack that delivers an occasionally energetic experience, especially during its guitar-heavy Rock opening, which spills into the soundstage with high clarity and aggression. Despite these promising moments, the audio presentation falters, notably in its front-heavy focus. During quieter, dialogue-driven segments, the soundstage wavers, creating a narrow and sometimes hollow auditory experience. This inconsistency is apparent throughout much of the film, detracting from the overall immersion.

While the soundtrack attempts to make good use of the surround channels by introducing ambient effects, these often come across as artificial and forced. The music does better in this regard, bleeding into the surrounds, yet it lacks the engagement and suspense needed to elevate the listening experience. The dynamic range of the mix is relatively flat and exhibits minimal distinction between frequencies, adding to the perceived artificiality of the overall track. Additionally, during action sequences, the mix struggles to balance the elements of effects, music, and dialogue, resulting in a monotonous and uninspired soundscape.

Vocals present another area of concern; they are not always perfectly synchronized with the video and tend to feel distant and disconnected. Although the low bass extension is present in some scenes, it is not a defining feature worth noting. Ultimately, this high-resolution soundtrack displays a form of effort but consistently fails to engage the listener or enhance the cinematic experience of "The Demented.

The Blu-ray release of "The Demented" offers minimal extras, focusing instead on the core content of the film. There is no substantial bonus material included except for a DVD copy of the film. Viewers will also find a trailer for "The Amazing Adventures Of The Living Corpse" before accessing the main menu. This release would benefit significantly from additional behind-the-scenes features or interviews for those interested in the film's production.

Extras included in this disc:

• DVD Copy: An additional DVD version of "The Demented".
• Trailer: A preview for "The Amazing Adventures Of The Living Corpse".

"The Demented" ambitiously tries to blend together the familiar elements of the zombie and post-apocalyptic genres, but it falters significantly in its execution. Starring Richard Kohnke, Kayla Ewell, and Ashlee Brian, the narrative involves six college friends caught amid a biochemical terror attack while on vacation in Louisiana. The primary flaw lies in its uninspired execution—the direction lacks vision, the script is loosely coherent, and the characters are thoroughly unlikeable. These teenagers inexplicably become stereotypical horror-movie fodder, engaged in tiresome melodramas that add nothing to the story. Not only does this detract from the sense of impending doom, but it also forces audiences to endure cliched disputes and predictable outcomes.

Technically, the film suffers from its low-budget constraints. Special effects are minimal and largely unimpressive, as evidenced by poorly rendered digital explosions and unsatisfactory makeup for the infected antagonists. The zombie-like creatures react conveniently to sound, providing little consistency or tangible threat to raise the stakes effectively. The acting ranges from passably indifferent to outright poor; stilted performances devoid of believable emotions further burden the already weak script. Critically, the lack of engaging dialogue and character depth means there’s little reason to root for anyone’s survival, making it difficult to care about their fates when disaster strikes.

While the final 20 minutes provide some satisfying moments of heightened tension and visible violence, it is too little, too late to salvage the overall experience. The filmmakers exhibit earnest efforts but ultimately fall short across nearly all aspects—from narrative development and character plotting to technical execution. "The Demented" embodies a mediocrity that fails to deliver on both scares and storytelling, relegating it to the doldrums of forgettable, direct-to-video horror fare.

"The Demented" falls disappointingly short in offering a fresh or engaging horror experience. While it begins with the promise of novelty, it quickly devolves into a parade of clichéd and banal horror tropes. Despite Christopher Roosevelt's evident enthusiasm in his directorial debut, the film often meanders with predictable plotlines and unconvincing characters. The lack of creativity or depth hampers emotional investment, rendering its unexpected ending less impactful.

Anchor Bay’s Blu-ray release does at least manage to shine in terms of its technical presentation. The video quality is sharp and clear, capturing the gory details of the infected well, though the audio track leaves much to be desired, maintaining a somewhat murky feel. Unfortunately, the Blu-ray is devoid of any bonus material or behind-the-scenes content, which hardly seems to be a missed opportunity given the overall lack of compelling features in the film itself.

In conclusion, "The Demented" may serve as a minor diversion for hardcore zombie enthusiasts in need of a quick fix, but it brings little to the table for general horror fans. Its derivative nature and shallow character portrayals significantly detract from any potential entertainment value. Strong video quality on the Blu-ray isn't enough to redeem this uninspired effort. The best advice would be to rent it if desperate; otherwise, it's skippable.