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Geek Vibes Nation
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
'Consumed' Blu-Ray Review - Supernatural Creature Feature Impresses With Practical Effects
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.
Geek Tyrant
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Trailer for the Killer Alligator Horror B-Movie GATOR LAKE - "He's a Big Sumbitch" — GeekTyrant
Here's the trailer for the upcoming horror B-movie Gator Lake , which is about a bloodthirsty killer alligator, and it's inspired by a true story of events that took place in 2003 at a real lake in Florida. In the film, 'An unhinged, ex-con hunter, a prehistoric reptile out for revenge, and a slippery gator-preneur with two rage monsters on his tail — inspired by events so 'real' they could only happen in Florida. 'In the summer of 2003, Lake Jesup became the site of a real-life horror story. A massive, genetically oversized, bred-to-kill alligator named Bonecrusher escaped from Gator Galaxy — a glorified swamp circus masquerading as a tourist trap — and slithered into the most gator-infested lake in the entire US. With over 13,000 toothy residents (400 per square mile, many over 9 feet), the water quickly turned into a full-blown blood bath. 'Now, in a race against time and an unstoppable killing machine, Bubba must wrestle his demons, outwit a vengeful apex predator, and decide just how far he's willing to go to save himself–and all of the residents.' Florida's Lake Jesup is the most densely infested alligator lake in the entire United States - known by locals as "the place to take your mother-in-law to water ski." This is the story of 13 hellish days on the lake in 2003. The movie was directed by Michael Houston King and it stars Sarah Voigt, Danny Nucci, and Derek Russo. It looks like it will deliver some B-movie fun. Brainstorm Media will release Gator Lake direct-to-VOD on June 13th, 2025.
Geek Vibes Nation
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
'Unit 234' Review - Cat And Mouse With Nuance And Edge
Unit 234 begins a straightforward cat-and-mouse movie. When the owner of a storage unit facility finds herself in the wrong place/at the wrong time, the bad guys put her on the run. This is a familiar concept, and the movie explores its premise but does something clever. The story takes a subversion and becomes more poetic about personal justice and revenge. Complete with a gripping performance, this is a tightly paced thriller that delivers a heartwrenching tale of loss and gain. When a group of criminals comes to collect the contents of a storage unit, the owner finds herself in a cat-and-mouse game. Laurie (Isabelle Fuhrman) runs her family business. She works the graveyard shift as a gang of criminals led by Jules (Don Johnson) arrives. She discovers a man, Clayton (Jack Huston), tied to a gurney and missing a kidney. Laurie sets him free, believing they are attempting to harvest his organs. Escaping, they are pursued throughout the night by Jules and his crew. While Clayton initially seems innocent, Laurie soon discovers he is hiding a secret. As the chase with Jules and the crew intensifies, Laurie discovers Jules's more complex motivations, driven by a personal need for revenge. While the film offers little reinvention, the pacing is gripping. The story may be a tad over the top, but the performance grounds it. Here, Fuhrman and Johnson excel by bringing an air of complexity and grit to the characters of Laurie and Jules, respectively. Jack Huston and Isabelle Fuhrman in 'Unit 234'. Photo Courtesy of Brainstorm Media. We meet Johnson, a stereotypical high-class criminal with an entourage and a Mercedes. By the film's end, Jules is much less a one-dimensional character but instead a complex one. His character is much less a black-and-white construct but instead lies on a spectrum of gray. Here, Johnson creates a character who can be equally terrifying and sympathetic. The same is true of Fuhrman. Her character is given agency to react in ways that feel relevant to the story. She is far from a damsel-in-distress, but instead a character like Jules, who, while more morally centered, is put on a journey of self-discovery as the mystery unfolds. Jack Huston in Unit 234. Photo Courtesy of Brainstorm Media. The film works in tandem, first by weaving an element of mystery that unfolds through the character's eyes instead of a simple information dump. The situation unveils itself in clever ploys that never feel contrived. Second, a psychological underpinning guides this story out of the realm of a straightforward cat-and-mouse thriller. The tale deftly puts the audience in the shoes of the characters of Jules and Laurie. This is done in part to examine the justification of actions, but moreover allows for the audience to question in their own way: what would we do in this situation? Unit 234 does not bog down in providing the audience with a definitive answer, which is the film's strength. The movie cares less for a perfect conclusion or firmly establishing who the 'bad guy' and 'good guy' are. The film speaks to the complexities of humanity and the decisions people make for good or ill. Don Johnson in 'Unit 234'. Photo courtesy of Brainstorm Media. At its core, this film is less about a high-stakes game of cat and mouse and more about a story of revenge. Unit 234 weaves a narrative about the cycle of ongoing violence that never distracts from the intensity. Part of the film's strength is its simplicity. The story takes place over a single night. It offers a snapshot into their character's motivations without the need to provide an abundance of exposition or neatly tie up the loose ends by the end. Unit 234 is a surprise from the start; there is an expectation that the film will be a fun but empty thrill ride. The story begins with the former approach and successfully hooks the audience for the ride. Still, by the second act, the film deliberately switches from a thrill ride into a complex morality play. The story is better for it, an d so is the audience. Unit 234 will debut in select theaters and On Demand on May 9, 2025, courtesy of Brainstorm Media.
