{"id":20348,"date":"2019-01-19T01:25:31","date_gmt":"2019-01-19T09:25:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/moviemansguide.com\/main\/?p=20348"},"modified":"2019-01-19T06:47:34","modified_gmt":"2019-01-19T14:47:34","slug":"review-screamers-bd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moviemansguide.com\/main\/2019\/01\/review-screamers-bd\/","title":{"rendered":"Screamers Blu-ray Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Screamers<\/em><\/strong> is a fine B-movie science fiction film that works mostly for the charisma and weight Peter Weller brought to the role as well as Jennifer Rubin who was wonderful in the female lead.<\/p>\n

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Screamers<\/span>
\n(1995)<\/span>
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Genre(s): <\/strong>Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller
\nShout Factory | R \u2013 108 min. \u2013 $29.99 | January 29, 2019<\/p>\n

Date Published:<\/strong> 01\/19\/2019 | Author:<\/strong> The Movieman<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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MOVIE INFO:
\n<\/u><\/strong>Directed by: <\/strong>Christian Duguay
\nWriter(s): <\/strong>Philip K. Dick (short story \u2018Second Variety\u2019); Dan O\u2019Bannon and Miguel Tejada-Flores (screenplay)
\nCast: <\/strong>Peter Weller, Roy Dupuis, Jennifer Rubin, Andy Lauer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DISC INFO:
\n<\/u><\/strong>Features: <\/strong>Interviews, Theatrical Trailer
\nSlip Cover: <\/strong>No
\nDigital Copy: <\/strong>No
\nFormats Included: <\/strong>Blu-ray
\nNumber of Discs: <\/strong>1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Audio: <\/strong>English (DTS-HD MA 2.0)
\nVideo: <\/strong>1080p\/Widescreen 1.78
\nSubtitles: <\/strong>English SDH
\nDisc Size: <\/strong>46.34 GB
\nTotal Bitrate: <\/strong>37.52 Mbps
\nCodecs: <\/strong>MPEG-4 AVC
\nRegion(s): <\/strong>A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Shout Factory provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post.
\nThe opinions I share are my own.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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THE MOVIE \u2014 3.75\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Plot Synopsis: <\/strong>Cmdr. Joe Hendricksson (PETER WELLER) and new recruit Ace Jefferson (ANDY LAUER) set out across the surface of Sirius 6B, where they hope to settle a violent labor dispute at a remote mining outpost. After going too far to turn back, they find the desert riddled with deadly Autonomous Mobile Swords,\u00a0or “Screamers.” Created to protect the mines, these burrowing weapons have learned to replicate themselves. To make matters worse, recent generations of Screamers can assume humanoid form. Aiding in their journey is a member of the opposition, Jessica Hanson (JENNIFER RUBIN).<\/p>\n

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Quick Hit Review: Screamers<\/em><\/strong> was a surprisingly well made, low budget sci-fi horror movie, mostly due to the strong and steely performance from Peter Weller as well as Jennifer Rubin, who does share some, albeit brief, chemistry with Weller. The script, based off yet another Philip K. Dick short story, by Dan O\u2019Bannon (Alien<\/em>) and Miguel Tejada-Flores (Fright Night Part 2<\/em>), isn\u2019t the best as it lacked some set-up with the Tremors-like creatures that could\u2019ve been expanded, however with a $11 million budget (~$18 million with inflation), I will give it credit for being economical in its storytelling.<\/p>\n

Beyond the acting, which had a supporting cast that wasn\u2019t half bad all things considered, some of the technical aspects were rather impressive. Yes, you do have the cheesy looking visual effects that are on the laughable side, but the matte painting backgrounds were fairly good as were the screamer designs and quality miniature works.<\/p>\n

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The film was directed by Christian Duguay whose credits include Scanners II<\/em> and III<\/em> as well as the Pierce Brosnan action-vehicle, Live Wire<\/em> and The Art of War<\/em> starring Wesley Snipes. Nothing particularly special about Duguay\u2019s direction but he does well with the generally barren landscape and the limitations of the visual effects for that time and budget.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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SPECIAL FEATURES \u2013 3.25\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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No slip cover on this but the artwork is reversible. Features include new Interviews<\/strong> with Director Christian Duguay (21:11; HD)<\/u><\/strong>, Actress Jennifer Rubin (18:58; HD)<\/u><\/strong>, Producer Tom Berry (23:56; HD)<\/u><\/strong> and Co-Writer Miguel Tejada-Flores (11:03; HD)<\/u><\/strong> and the Theatrical Trailer (1:56; HD)<\/u><\/strong>. The interviews were routine with each going over their beginnings of their careers and memories of working on Screamers<\/em>; but it\u2019s always nice getting anything new for these B-film flicks.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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VIDEO \u2013 3.5\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Screamers<\/em><\/strong> carves its way onto the Blu-ray format presented with a 1.78 widescreen aspect ratio and given a 1080p high-definition transfer. Given there is no mention of some new scan from the original camera negative scanned in 2K, I assume this was what was given to Shout by Sony. As such, it\u2019s an okay looking picture though there was some artifact-like texture while colors were on the muted side, but that was by design while black levels were fairly deep. On the downside, there were some instances of minor dust marks and specs, however nothing overly distracting.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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AUDIO \u2013 3.75\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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The disc comes with a decent enough DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo track. There is quite a bit to judge with a balance of dialogue which came through with good clarity as well as some decent depth for the action-centric sequences with gunfire or the screamers coming out of the ground and carving up its victims.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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OVERALL \u2013 3.0\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Overall, Screamers<\/em><\/strong> is a fine B-movie science fiction film that works mostly for the charisma and weight Peter Weller brought to the role as well as Jennifer Rubin who was wonderful in the female lead, while the story was just good enough to keep one entertained. This Blu-ray release offers decent\/good video and audio transfers respectively and some okay bonus material with a few new interviews.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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