Survive Style 5+: Limited Edition – Third Window Films (4k UHD)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 2004
Director: Gen Sekiguchi
Writer: Taku Tada
Cast: Tadanobu Asano, Reika Hashimoto, Pierre Taki, Kyōko Koizumi, Asumi Miwa, Hiroshi Abe, Ittoku Kishibe, Yumi Asō, Shihori Kanjiya, Ryūnosuke Kamiki, Kanji Tsuda, Yoshiyuki Morishita, Jai West, Vinnie Jones as Jimmy Funky Knife, Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, Tae Kimura, Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba, Tomokazu Miura

Release Date: October 19th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 119 Minutes 58 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 HDR10
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 Japanese/English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: £24.99 (UK)

"Five bizarre stories with no apparent connection to one another eventually become intertwined, resulting in surreal circumstances." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new director approved 4K transfer."

Survive Style 5+ comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 88 GB

Feature: 71.4 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, colors look appropriately vivid, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic appearance.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Japanese/English with removable English subtitles. The track sounds excellent; dialogue comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an archival Making of featurette (28 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Taku Tada (30 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with director Gen Sekiguchi (13 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), a 0-Ring slipcover (limited to 2000 units), and a 12-page booklet (limited to 2000 units) with archival material and an essay titled Viva Friends! Ways of Seeing and Coping in Survive Style 5+ written by Simon Abrams.

Summary:

The narrative follows five paths: a man who keeps killing his wife only for her to return from the dead, a hypnotist who transforms a father into a chicken, a trio of friends who break into homes, an advertising executive who makes outlandish commercials that only she understands, and a British hitman and his Japanese translator. The narrative initially weaves between these characters' stories, which eventually become intertwined by the finale.

Right from the start, it’s evident that Survive Style 5+ is unlike anything that has come before or since. The opening scene—a man burying his wife—immediately captures attention. The first indication that Survive Style 5+ is a unique cinema experience occurs when the wife returns from the dead for the first time. From that point, the narrative shifts seamlessly from one character's story to the next, effectively building tension as it approaches the finale.

All around, the cast are excellent in their roles, as their performances fully embrace the madness that unfolds. Notable cast members are Tadanobu Asano (Ichi the Killer), who portrays the husband who continually kills his wife; Vinnie Jones (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), who portrays a hitman; and Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba (The Street Fighter), who portrays a CEO. While it is always cool to see Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba in a film, his role is very minor and only encompasses one scene.

Although Survive Style 5+ delves into darker subjects such as killing, it is primarily a comedy film, with humor that often leans toward the outlandish. The most humorous moments are scenes where Yoko's absurd commercial ideas come to life. Another strength of Survive Style 5+ is its use of pop culture references. Ultimately, Survive Style 5+ is a highly entertaining black comedy that's infused with style that greatly heightens the mood.

Survive Style 5+ gets an exceptional release from Third Window Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras. Highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

Women in Cellblock 9 – Delirium Home Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Switzerland, 1978
Director: Jesús Franco
Writer: Jesús Franco
Cast: Susan Hemingway, Karine Gambier, Howard Vernon, Cesar Anahory, Dora Doll, Aida Gouveia, Esther Studer

Release Date: September 30th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 77 Minutes 49 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD 5.1 English, DTS-HD Mono German, DTS-HD 5.1 German
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $41.98

"From the fevered, wonderfully perverted minds of Spanish filmmaker Jess Franco and Swiss producer Erwin C. Dietrich comes the notorious women-in-prison shocker Women in Cellblock 9 (aka Frauen für Zellenblock 9 and Tropical Inferno). The film stars Franco regulars Susan Hemingway (Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun), Howard Vernon (Faceless) and Karine Gambier (Satanic Sisters) and tells the tale of a gaggle of female freedom-fighters who are taken to a secluded women’s jungle prison where they endure all manner of violent and sexual humiliations." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Women in Cellblock 9 comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 27.4 GB

Feature: 25.1 GB

Outside of some very minor print debris, the bulk of the transfer looks excellent. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity is solid, black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression or digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD Mono German), 3.75/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 English, DTS-HD 5.1 German)

This release comes with four audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English, a DTS-HD mono mix in German, and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in German. All tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. The differences between the mono and 5.1 tracks are minimal. Included are removable English SDH for the English-language tracks.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 2 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with author and film historian Troy Howarth, trailers for Barbed Wire Dolls, Doriana Gray, Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun, Love Camp, Satanic Sisters, and Rolls Royce Baby, and a spot gloss slipcover (limited to 2,000 units).

Summary:

Women in Cellblock 9 was one of eighteen films that Jess Franco made with producer Erwin Dietrich over a three-year period. Their collaboration began with Downtown and ended with Girls After Midnight.

Smugglers transporting women are caught at a military checkpoint. The captured women are taken to a notorious prison known for torture.

Women in Cellblock 9 is one of four women-in-prison films that Jess Franco made for producer Erwin C. Dietrich. The other three films are Barbed Wire Dolls, Ilsa, the Wicked Warden, and Love Camp. Barbed Wire Dolls and Ilsa, the Wicked Warden, are among the best examples out of these four films, while Love Camp is easily the weakest. Although I had many of the same problems with Women in Cellblock 9 that I did with Love Camp, Women in Cellblock 9 is still a better film in everyway.

The opening setup does an excellent job setting the foundation. From there, the narrative is very effective at building momentum to a prison break finale. Although the narrative has more exposition than most Jess Franco films from this era, it is still just enough to move things along.

Two familiar faces from Jess Franco’s cinema universe, Susan Hemingway (Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun) and Karine Gambier (Satanic Sisters), are cast in the roles of the prisoners. The standout performances are Dora Doll (Touchez pas au grisbi) in the role of the warden and Howard Vernon (She Killed in Ecstasy) in the role of a sadistic interrogator. Howard Vernon is a delight to watch in any Jess Franco film, as he fully immerses himself in his character, enhancing the overall quality of the movie.

Although there is an abundance of nudity, notably naked women in chains, there is nothing remotely erotic in Women in Cellblock 9. While Women in Cellblock 9 features a significant amount of nudity, particularly depicting women in chains, it is the film's torture scenes that stand out the most. These scenes involve methods such as electroshock and the use of sharp objects, which inflict the greatest harm. The most memorable moment is a scene where classical music is used while a prisoner is forced to degrade themselves, providing a perfect contrast. Ultimately, Women in Cellblock 9 has all of the elements one would want from a women-in-prison film, making it a must-see for fans of this genre.

Women in Cellblock 9 gets a first-rate release from Delirium Home Video that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and an informative extra. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Satanic Sisters – Delirium Home Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Switzerland, 1977
Director: Jesús Franco
Writer: Erwin C. Dietrich
Cast: Pamela Stanford, Karine Gambier, Jack Taylor, Esther Moser, Kurt Meinicke, Marianne Graf, Eric Falk, Walter Baumgartner, Jesús Franco, Mike Montana

Release Date: April 28th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 86 Minutes 53 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD 5.1 English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $41.98

"The comely Pamela Stanford stars as Countess Edna Van Stein, a predatory woman who prowls the streets at night to bring back men for her and her disturbed, sexually insatiable sister Milly (Karine Gambier) to sleep with. As the lurid encounters continue, reality and fantasy collide and the truth about these ""Sexy Sisters"" is revealed. " - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.25/5

Satanic Sisters comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 30.6 GB

Feature: 23.1 GB

No information is provided about the source. While the source mostly looks great, black levels for darker scenes are not always convincing. Flesh tones look healthy, image clarity is strong, and there are no issues with compression or digital noise reduction. That said, colors often look muted.

Audio: 3.75/5

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in English and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. Both tracks sound clear and balanced, and they are satisfactory range-wise. That said, their differences are minimal. Included are removable English SDH.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a photo gallery (17 images—poster/stills), the official theatrical trailer (1 minute 4 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a German theatrical trailer (3 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital mono German, no subtitles), an interview with Stephen Thrower, author of Flowers of Perversion: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco, titled Twins of Evil (22 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with author and film historian Dennis Daniel, trailers for Barbed Wire Dolls, Doriana Gray, Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun, and Love Camp, and a spot gloss slipcover (limited to 2,000 units).

Summary:

Satanic Sisters was one of eighteen films that Jess Franco made with producer Erwin Dietrich over a three-year period. Their collaboration began with Downtown and ended with Girls After Midnight.

A woman, with the help of her doctor lover, tries to convince the courts that her sister is insane before she comes of age and claims the family's fortune.

Although Satanic Sisters has an interesting premise, its sex-heavy opening setup does not do it any favors. It is not until almost 25 minutes in that any worthwhile exposition occurs. Fortunately, once the older sisters' plan is laid out, things pick up considerably as the narrative finds a better balance between erotica and exposition.

A common complaint about Jess Franco’s films is their languid pacing. Although Satanic Sisters moves at a deliberate pace that seems eager to reach its destination, the film ultimately features many flourishes that are sure to please fans of Jess Franco. That said, Jess Franco’s films are more about mood than conventional storytelling, and Satanic Sisters does a superb job in this regard.

The most memorable performance is Pamela Stanford’s (Lorna . . . the Exorcist) portrayal of Edna, the greedy stepsister who will do anything to steal the family fortune. Another performance of note is Karine Gambier (Women in Cellblock 9) in the role of Milicent, a younger sister who’s being driven to madness. Cast members of note are Jack Taylor (Succubus) and Eric Falk (Mad Foxes).

While the narrative is padded with erotica, it does feature some well-played twists. Another strength of the narrative is its use of a flashback that fills in details about a childhood trauma. Visually, Jess Franco never wastes an opportunity to showcase the female cast members who spend a lot of time in the nude. The most Jess Franco moment is a nightclub dance sequence that opens the film. Ultimately, Satanic Sisters is a mid-tier Jess Franco film where the positives outweigh its negatives.

Although the audio/video presentation of Satanic Sisters is not as strong as that of Delirium Home Video’s other Jess Franco release, Stephen Thrower’s interview makes this release a worthwhile purchase.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

Over Your Dead Body – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan/France/China, 2014
Director: Takashi Miike
Writer: Kikumi Yamagishi
Cast: Kô Shibasaki, Hideaki Itô, Toshiaki Karasawa, Ebizô Ichikawa, Toshie Negishi

Release Date: December 15th, 2025 (UK)
Approximate Running Time: 94 Minutes 15 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 18 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo Japanese, DTS-HD 5.1 Japanese, LPCM Stereo English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK)

"Set against the backdrop of a kabuki production, the story follows actors whose personal jealousies and desires dangerously mirror the ghostly play they perform. As tensions rise, the boundary between stage and life dissolves, unleashing a nightmarish spiral of obsession, betrayal, and supernatural horror." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “High Definition Blu-ray Presentation in 2.39:1 Aspect Ratio."

Over Your Dead Body comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 31.4 GB

Feature: 29.7 GB

When compared to Shout! Factory's 2016 Blu-ray release, 88 Films Blu-ray release, is an improvement in every way. Most notable areas of improvement: image clarity and shadow detail. That said, flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, and compression is solid.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD Stereo Japanese, DTS-HD 5.1 Japanese), 4/5 (LPCM Stereo English)

This release comes with three audio tracks, a DTS-HD stereo mix in Japanese, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Japanese, and a LPCM stereo mix in English. All tracks sound clear and balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented. The edge goes to the two Japanese tracks, which sound better sonically than the English-language track. Included are removable English subtitles for the Japanese language tracks and removable English subtitles for the Japanese text when watching the English-language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a poster & image gallery with music from the film playing in the background, a theatrical trailer (1 minute 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with non-removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Takashi Miike biographer Tom Mes, reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings, and a 20-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with cast & crew information, an essay titled Theatre of Cruelty: Miike Takashi and Over Your Dead Body written by James Oliver.

Summary:

An actress starring in a play based on the ghost story Yotsuya Kaidan uses her power to get her lover, an unknown, cast in a significant role.

Takashi Miike has a massive filmography that encompasses over 125 films and television shows, and it spans 35 years. Although less prolific than before, Takashi Miike continues to be active. Where most filmmakers find a genre and attached themselves to it, what is most impressive about Takashi Miike’s filmography is how diverse it is.

Something that sets the films of Takashi Miike apart from other filmmakers is how he takes familiar genre elements and makes them his own. A prime example is Over Your Dead Body, a horror film set during the production of Play, which blurs the line between fiction and reality. Instead of leaning into the obvious horror elements, a play based on a ghost story, Takashi Miike focuses on the characters and their relationships.

All around, the performances are excellent; they do a remarkable job drawing you into the story that unfolds. Anyone who’s familiar with the films of Takashi Miike knows they often can be challenging, and Over Your Dead Body’s narrative is a textbook example of that. The first 60 minutes move at a deliberate pace that many will find too slow, while in the last 35 minutes, things get weirder and are filled with flourishes that Takashi Miike is known for.

The worst thing anyone can do when watching a new Takashi Miike film is go in with expectations that are linked to his cinematic past. Takashi Miike’s greatest attribute as a filmmaker is his ability to genuinely surprise you, and with Over Your Dead Body he delivers his spades in this regard. An unfair criticism when discussing Takashi Miike’s more recent films is how they do not hold up well against his most celebrated films. That said, some of Takashi Miike’s films from the last 20 years deserving recognition are Crows Zero, 13 Assassins, Lesson of the Evil, and First Love. Ultimately, Over Your Dead Body is a well-crafted thriller with body horror elements that, in another director's hands, would not have worked.

Over Your Dead Body gets a first-rate release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a pair of informative extras. Recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

Billy Idol Should Be Dead – MVD Visual (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 2025
Director: Jonas Åkerlund
Cast: Billy Idol, Brendan Bourke, Joan Broad, Jane Broad, Tony James, Derwood Andrews, Perri Lsiter, Keith Forsey

Release Date: November 3rd, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 125 Minutes 16 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 English, LPCM Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Billy Idol Should Be Dead is an intimate, unflinching and wildly entertaining portrait of Billy Idol, the punk provocateur who became one of rock & roll's most recognizable and enduring stars. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker and music-video visionary Jonas Åkerlund, the documentary looks beyond Idol's trademark sneer, peroxide hair and leather-clad image to examine the ambition, excess, danger and resilience behind a career spanning nearly five decades.

Beginning with Idol's emergence from the British punk movement as a member of Generation X, the film follows his transformation into an international solo star whose fusion of punk attitude, hard rock and the visual possibilities of the MTV era produced such defining songs as "White Wedding," "Rebel Yell," "Dancing with Myself," "Eyes Without a Face" and "Mony Mony." Rather than simply revisiting the hits, Åkerlund traces the experiences behind them and the contradictions of an artist who repeatedly pushed himself to extremes while continuing to evolve and perform.

The story encompasses extraordinary success as well as the darker consequences of rock & roll excess, including Idol's near-death experiences and the personal and professional upheavals that could easily have ended his career. What emerges is as much a survival story as a music documentary: an examination of how Idol endured the volatility surrounding his fame and remained an active creative force long after many of his contemporaries disappeared from the spotlight.

Idol is joined by an exceptional group of friends, collaborators and fellow musicians who provide perspective on his music, personality and influence. Participants include longtime guitarist Steve Stevens, Miley Cyrus, Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong, Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan, Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, The Who's Pete Townshend, Nile Rodgers, Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump and Perri Lister, among others. With Åkerlund bringing the perspective of a filmmaker deeply versed in both music and visual culture, Billy Idol Should Be Dead presents the story of a genuine rock survivor who lived through nearly everything the mythology of rock & roll could throw at him--and somehow came out the other side." – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Billy Idol Should Be Dead comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.3 GB

Feature: 22 GB

This documentary is a combination of newly shot interviews and archival material. When it comes to the archival material, the quality varies, and the best-looking footage consists of the newly shot interviews.

Audio: 5/5 (Both Audio Tracks)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English and a LPCM stereo mix in English. Both tracks sound clear, balanced, and robust when they should. Included are removable English SDH.

Extras:

Extras for this are limited to a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 29 seconds, LPCm stereo English, no subtitles).

Summary:

Billy Idol Should Be Dead offers an in-depth exploration of both Billy Idol's music and the man behind the iconic persona. The story of Billy Idol is linked to the rise of music videos; he was one of the first artists to capitalize on MTV and the exposure it offered recording artists. Jonas Åkerlund has extensive experience with music videos, having directed dozens of them, making him a perfect choice to direct Billy Idol Should Be Dead.

Although Billy Idol Should Be Dead covers Billy Idol's life from birth to the present, it does not unfold in a linear way. The documentary tells Billy Idol’s story via archival footage, animation reenactments of events, and newly shot interviews with Billy Idol, people who worked with him, his family, and friends. While the highlight for most will be seeing old clips and hearing the music, the moment that connects the strongest is when Billy Idol discusses his family, notably his father.

Documentaries serve two primary purposes: to connect fans' nostalgia for the subject being explored or to bring someone new into the fold. Billy Idol Should Be Dead does both of these things extremely well.

Billy Idol Should Be Dead is an excellent documentary and MVD Visual gives it a solid audio/video presentation. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Sky Has Fallen – Unearthed Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 2009
Director: Doug Roos
Writer: Doug Roos
Cast: Carey MacLaren, Laurel Kemper, Cory Knisely, Grant Anstine, Kevin Keppy, Nathan Shelton, Mickey Stone, Amanda Russell, Amanda Ianelli, Natalie LaTurno, Debbie Sutcliffe, Sheri Lynn Baker, Shannon Gregory

Release Date: October 27th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 78 Minutes 43 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $39.95

"Two survivors of an outbreak that wiped out most of humanity decide to fight back when they notice mysterious black figures carrying away the dead." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

The Sky Has Fallen comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34.9 GB

Feature: 21.1 GB

Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM stereo mix in English with removable English SDH. The track sounds clear and balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras: 

Extras for this release include a photo gallery with music from the film playing in the background, a teaser for Bokemono (37 seconds, LPCM stereo with text in English), a trailer for The Sky Has Fallen (1 minute 19 seconds, LPCM stereo with text in English), a featurette titled Prosthetic Application (2 minutes 51 seconds, LPCM stereo with text in English), a featurette titled Mask Making: Step By Step (6 minutes 32 seconds, LPCM stereo with text in English), a featurette titled Special Effects: Making the Monsters (4 minutes 48 seconds, LPCM stereo with music from the film playing in the background), a featurette titled Recording the Score (5 minutes 39 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette titled Pre-Production (3 minutes 56 seconds, LPCM stereo with text in English), a featurette titled Principal Photography (9 minutes 35 seconds, LPCM stereo with text in English), a featurette titled Post-Production (5 minutes 53 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles) an interview with director Doug Roos titled Influences: Asian Cinema and the 1980s (1 minute 37 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Doug Roos titled 20 Years Later: Reflecting on My First Feature (12 minutes 29 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Doug Roos and executive producer James Segars.

Summary:

A deadly disease has decimated most of society, leaving the survivors to battle not only against a horde of zombies but also against shadowy figures who conduct experiments on the recently deceased.

The Sky Has Fallen is a post-apocalyptic horror film that proudly wears its influences. The Sky Has Fallen’s director Doug Roos is a fan of Ryuhei Kitamura’s Versus. Lance, the protagonist, is fashioned after Versus’ protagonist, right down to the sword he uses to dispose of zombies.

Similar to many low-budget horror films, The Sky Has Fallen takes place primarily in a single location. The camera framing of the characters effectively emphasizes the wooded locations where the story takes place. There are few shots that provide a wide view of the surroundings; instead, most camera angles are close-ups or tightly framed, limiting what the viewers can see. That said, the visuals greatly contribute to heightening the mood.

Although the narrative is dialog-driven, that is not to say that gore takes a backseat. The exposition-heavy narrative does an excellent job fleshing out the backstory and it effectively builds to an open-ended finale that offers no resolution. The special effects work well in spite of their limitations, and when it comes to kills, they are gory. Ultimately, despite its familiar elements, The Sky Has Fallen stands out as a well-crafted horror film that will particularly appeal to gore enthusiasts.

The Sky Has Fallen gets an excellent release from Unearthed Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer