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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Dead, The

    Featured In Issue 166, April 2012

    Picture3
    SoundNR
    WSR Score1.5
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Anchor Bay Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    BD23469
    (MPAA Rating):
    R
    (Rating Reason):
    Bloody zombi violence and gore
    (Retail Price):
    $29.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Single Layer (BD-25)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    105
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A
    (Theatrical Year):
    2010
    (Theatrical Release):
    No
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    Yes
    (Disc Release Date):
    02/14/12
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Howard J. Ford & Jon Ford
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    Dolby TrueHD 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    When the last flight out of war-torn Africa crashes off the coast, Lt. Brian Murphy (Freeman) is the sole survivor in a land where The Dead are returning to life and attacking the living. On the run in a hostile and inhospitable parched landscape, Murphy has to use his wits and ingenuity if he is to get home alive to his family. When he crosses paths with local solider Daniel Dembele (Osei), a man frantically searching for his son, they join forces. Two desperate men from two very different cultures fight side-by-side to survive across the incredible vistas of Africa as the world around them succumbs to the deadliest of viruses. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include commentary by Writer/Producer/Director Howard J. Ford and Writer/Director of Photography/Co-Director Jon Ford, the Unearthing The Dead featurette (SD 05:12), and a deleted scene (HD 01:41).

    The 1.78:1 1080p AVC picture is inconsistent in picture quality. The cinematography at times delivers sun-scorched imagery with a gritty texture, to capture a landscape infected with death and decay, but contrast is pushed, resulting in blown-out whites and blacks. The color palette is earthy and warmly hued with hot primaries. Fleshtones are naturally rendered. Resolution is generally good, with close-ups better detailed. Still, at times, the imagery is softly focused. Some noise is apparent in the darker scenes but generally is not objectionable. Overall, the picture is a mediocre, uneven visual experience. (Gary Reber)

    The Dolby® TrueHD 5.1-channel soundtrack delivers an enveloping soundfield experience, with an aggressive atmospheric ambiance presence that surrounds. Other sound effects, such as gunfire, are dynamic and powerful. The music score is nicely recorded and sounds dynamic and spatially enveloping, with an aggressive surround presence. Bass energy in the music is terrific, and at times the .1 LFE channel enhances the music's deep foundation and the impact of sound effects. Dialogue is generally limited, and at times unintelligible, or clear and natural. This is an undistinguished soundtrack that services the genre but lacks complete engagement. (Gary Reber)

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