Burying the Ex

The Blu-ray presentation of "Burying the Ex" offers a detailed and visually pleasing experience due to its high-quality digital production and careful post-production work, executed on a digital intermediate. The cinematography, led by Jonathan Hall, reveals a vibrant display of colors and sharp details across a variety of settings, from the sunlit streets of Los Angeles to the dimly lit interiors of Bloody Mary's horror-themed shop. Image Entertainment's 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer, likely sourced from digital files, showcases a commendable balance between the bright and dark elements of the film, with particular attention paid to the practical makeup effects. These effects detail Evelyn's transformation into a zombie with a palette that vividly contrasts the greens and yellows reflective of her character's living preferences. This transfer excels in presenting the diverse visual elements with clarity and depth, especially in darker scenes where solid blacks and shadow details are pivotal, although it's noted that some darker sequences exhibit slight crush issues, slightly affecting the detail in these instances.

The Blu-ray's technical specifications include an impressively high average bitrate of 28.98 Mbps on a BD-25 disc, optimizing the quality for digitally acquired material. The 1080p 2.40:1 transfer shines in delivering fantastic detail throughout the film’s diverse locations - Max's apartment, his workplace at a horror novelty shop, and nighttime exteriors like the Hollywood cemetery. The color rendition is striking, with brights and primaries popping effectively alongside accurate flesh tones. As Evelyn's condition deteriorates, her increasingly grotesque appearance provides a stark yet engaging contrast to the rest of the cast, enhancing the horror aesthetic without compromising on clarity. Despite occasional black level inconsistencies in very dark scenes potentially flattening some details, the transfer remains free from banding or artifacts, making for a strong visual presentation overall. This Blu-ray edition honors both the creativity behind and the horror elements of "Burying the Ex," providing fans with an immersive viewing experience that underscores the film’s stylistic intentions and narrative.

The audio presentation for "Burying the Ex" on Blu Ray, featuring a 5.1 soundtrack encoded in lossless DTS-HD MA, showcases an excellent marriage of dialogue clarity and atmospheric sound design, maintained across an engaging and robust track. This mix delicately balances the unique comedic-horror tone of the film, achieved through a combination of sharp, front-focused dialogue, dynamic environmental effects, and a standout score by Joseph LoDuca. The latter, known for his work on the "Evil Dead Trilogy" and "Spartacus TV Series," enhances every scene with a perfect blend of musical tones that bridge between dark comedic elements and the spine-chilling aspects of horror.

In terms of spatial audio distribution, the mix is predominantly front-oriented but does not shy away from exploiting the surround channels when the opportunity arises. Sounds like the crunching of bones during post-mortem yoga sessions and the forewarning hum of an approaching bus are delightfully placed within the soundscape, providing a textured layer of audio that complements the on-screen action. The intelligent use of surround channels adds a subtle nuance to the listening experience, drawing the viewer deeper into the film’s environments and jump-scene setups.

Dialogue remains crisp and intelligible, anchored mainly in the center and stereo fields, spreading to surrounds only when warranted by on-screen action, ensuring narrative delivery is never lost amidst the backdrop of sound effects and music. The balancing act between all audio elements is finely tuned, allowing Joseph LoDuca’s score, along with essential sound effects and dialogues, ample space to coexist without any element overpowering another. This makes for a refined audio experience that supports both the horror and comedy elements of "Burying the Ex," cementing its place as a solid entry in audiophile presentations for genre-blending cinema.

The Blu-ray release of "Burying the Ex" remarkably stands out for its bare-bones approach to additional content, aligning with director Joe Dante's commentary on the notable absence of significant deleted material, including scenes featuring Max's boss, Bloody Mary, portrayed by Mary Woronov. Upon initiation, viewers are greeted with trailers for "All Cheerleaders Die," "Digging Up the Marrow," and "Odd Thomas," which, while skippable via the chapter forward button, vanish from accessibility once the main menu settles. Beyond this, the disc shies away from the inclusion of customary extras, save for a singular special effects outtake post-credits, which scarcely qualifies as an added feature. The stark dearth of supplemental material serves as a missed opportunity to enrich the viewer's experience with behind-the-scenes insights and extended narrative content.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailers: Previews for "All Cheerleaders Die," "Digging Up the Marrow," and "Odd Thomas" available at startup.
• Special Effects Outtake: A singular bonus feature found following the film's credits.

Burying the Ex" is a horror-comedy helmed by Joe Dante, a filmmaker celebrated for his knack for blending genres with a deft touch. The film marks Dante's indie return, featuring the late Anton Yelchin as Max, a horror merchandising aficionado whose life takes an eerie turn following the death and zombification of his overbearing girlfriend, Evelyn, portrayed by Ashley Greene. The narrative weaves Max's struggle to move on with his life alongside his budding romance with Olivia (Alexandra Daddario), a fellow horror enthusiast, against the backdrop of Evelyn's unwelcome resurrection. The movie, which expands from Alan Trezza's short film, is shot over 20 days, emphasizing Dante’s ability to create a compact yet engaging story with a limited cast and minimal effects, a testament to his storytelling prowess.

At its core, "Burying the Ex" explores themes of love, obsession, and the quest for personal freedom through the lens of horror-comedy. Yelchin delivers a convincing performance as Max, whose genuine love for horror is matched by his complicated relationship dynamics. Greene stands out as Evelyn, whose transformation from a controlling partner to a jealous zombie ex-girlfriend adds both humor and horror, showcasing Dante's flair for balancing the gruesome with the comedic. The film’s practical effects work and nuanced performances elevate the story beyond its simple premise, engaging audiences in a narrative that is both amusing and chilling.

Despite its strengths, the film at times struggles with pacing, particularly in its effort to establish character dynamics between Max, Evelyn, and Olivia. These foundational elements, although crucial, occasionally detract from the film's momentum. However, once past these initial hurdles, "Burying the Ex" finds its stride, offering a blend of laughs and scares that pays homage to classic horror while establishing its own identity. This mix, alongside Dante's direction and a strong cast performance, positions "Burying the Ex" as a noteworthy entry in the horror-comedy genre, embodying both the challenges and charms of blending frights with laughs.

The Blu-ray presentation of "Burying the Ex" stands out for its superior visual clarity and audio quality, thanks to the meticulous encoding by Image Entertainment. Featuring superlative fine details, exceptional black levels, and shadow details, the visual experience is undoubtedly exceptional, although it might come across as slightly clinical or stale to some viewers. The audio presentation shines with clear, sharp dialogue and a dynamic, standout soundtrack by Joseph LoDuca, known for his work on the Evil Dead Trilogy and the Spartacus TV series. However, it is worth noting that the soundstage could have benefited from a few more moments to truly showcase its capabilities, as it largely remains a front-focused affair without many opportunities to flex its auditory muscles.

In terms of the film itself, "Burying the Ex" is a delightful blend of horror and comedy that may not represent director Joe Dante's pinnacle but undoubtedly serves as a reminder of his distinctive and enjoyable filmmaking style from the 80s. Despite the absence of any bonus features on the Blu-ray—a point of contention among fans—the A/V presentation alone makes this release highly recommended. The lack of extras is a missed opportunity to enrich the viewing experience, especially for a film with such a unique premise and background.

In conclusion, while "Burying the Ex" on Blu-ray excels in its audiovisual presentation, offering viewers a rich sensory experience, the absence of additional content leaves something to be desired. Nonetheless, it's a testament to Joe Dante's enduring talent and offers sufficient merit to be recommended based on its fun factor and quality of presentation alone. Viewers will find enjoyment in the film's blend of genres and technical achievements, even as they may yearn for a deeper dive into its creation and context.