| Picture: Anamorphic Widescreen. Securing good materials and delivering decent transfers of foreign film has about a 60/40 success/failure rate, especially when it comes to smaller films. This is another case where the elements are pretty rough around the edges. The film makers were aiming for an obvious horror look, lots of grain and darkness, as well as some expressive Italian gothic primary color schemes. But, this transfer isn't much to look at- or at least okay to look at, though you'll be squinting- due to some softness. The print is also a little spotty and muddier than I'm sure they intended, making this a low grade (but watchable) affair.
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo or 5.1 Surround. Japanese language with optional English subtitles. Good audio presentation, though the 5.1 surround channel option didn't really have much dynamic mixing or separation. Still, the dialogue is nice and clear, the fx is okay, and the score delivers, even offering up some funeral organ music cues. The subtitle translation is quite good, but they appear a tad fast in places
Extras: Bio/Filmographies.— Interview with director Shinji Aoyama (19:00).— Commentary by author and MidnightEye contributor Jasper Sharp. I've listened to a few Sharp commentaries and, again, he does a good, informed, but dry job of delving into a film's genre history and the particulars of the people who worked on it.
Conclusion: ...Artsmagic gives the film a passable presentation with some good extras, so this one is worth a rental for Japanese film fans. |
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