'Consumed' Blu-Ray Review - Supernatural Creature Feature Impresses With Practical Effects

Geek Vibes Nation

2 days ago

Trapped between a madman and a skin-stealing monster, a married couple must fight to make it out of the woods alive.
For in-depth thoughts on Consumed, please see my colleague Cameron Ritter's review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
Consumed makes its Blu-Ray debut with a sturdy 1080p video presentation that showcases the rural cinematography well. The remote shooting locations provide crystal clear and occasionally upsetting textural details. Some moments are intentionally hazy to capture the headspace of our protagonist as she has nightmares about her health and squares off against the creature. The presentation reveals a significant amount of depth while traversing the woods. The image has a somewhat cold quality about it, yet the rich colors of the forest nonetheless make a big impression. The film employs some complex hues in the expanses of nature which delivers a very stark image. Black levels exhibit discrete signs of banding in some of the darkest enclaves, but primarily they maintain their depth. The flesh tones are natural with a favorable amount of detail present in close-ups. This Blu-Ray is a grand representation of this movie that should more than please fans.
Audio Quality
Brainstorm Media gives this Blu-Ray a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that effortlessly executes all of the creepy sonic elements. Environmental sounds of the world creep through the room in a very immersive manner. When the characters move through the woods, some distinct ambient details flesh out the setting to nice effect. Thrilling moments only come in sporadic bursts, but key developments deliver some exquisite texture to the proceedings. The nimble and effective sound design blooms with careful utilization of the surround speakers. Dialogue always comes through crisp and clear without being overpowered by any competing sounds. The score is capably balanced while maintaining its fidelity. The audio track provides a terrific experience that brings this narrative to life without issue. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.
Special Features
Audio Commentary:
Director Mitchell Altieri and writer David Calbert provide an informative commentary track in which they discuss the movie and production in depth. The pair discusses incorporating folklore into the narrative, the collaborative nature of the set, the performances, the shooting locations, and more.
Interview with Creature Effects Supervisor Jim Ojala:
A 17-minute interview is provided in which the creative discusses his involvement in the movie, crafting a memorable creature design, challenges faced along the way, and more.
Behind The Scenes Footage:
A nearly 38-minute selection of fly-on-the-wall footage captured during the production.
Creating The Creature Effects:
A nearly 32-minute piece that dives deeper into the creation of the special effects.
Still Gallery (3:08)
Original Trailer (1:45)
Booklet:
A multi-page booklet featuring an essay by film critic Don R. Lewis is provided here. This piece gives a well-rounded analysis of the creatives, themes, and plot developments, which strengthens your appreciation overall.
Final Thoughts
Consumed has a very promising premise that finds our protagonists battling creatures and internal struggles in equal measure. It has become less common to see practical effects used to conjure up a thrill, but director Mitchell Altieri and his team take the care to create tangible nightmares that stick in your memory more than most fully CGI sludge. This portion of the production is the best element in the end, as the script feels rather rote and repetitive. The performers bring what they can to the material, but it does not handle the mythical lore at the center of the narrative with enough creativity. The movie is fine for a fleeting distraction, but it does not hold up as a great film. Brainstorm Media has released a Blu-Ray featuring an excellent A/V presentation and a wonderful assortment of special features.
Consumed is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Brainstorm Media and OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.