Bloodsucking Bastards

Bloodsucking Bastards" graces the Blu-ray platform courtesy of Scream Factory, under Shout! Factory’s banner, boasting an AVC encoded 1080p transfer. While presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, this release is something of a mixed bag. Technical enthusiasts will notice the slightly anemic contrast and a peculiar choice of color grading, veering towards a dull green hue, which unfortunately detracts from the overall detail and vibrancy expected in a modern HD presentation. Despite these hiccups, the video shines in instances of natural lighting, unraveling impressive clarity that highlights the minute details in makeup, wounds, and textures, with a commendable depth that enhances the spatial relationship between characters and their bleak office environment.

The palette, when not subdued by the film's color grading choices, displays an array of colors with reds and blues making a significant impact amidst the otherwise murky visuals. In these moments, the blood splatters become memorably vivid against the backdrop of slackened office life, with clothing and environmental textures coming into sharper focus. Black levels generally provide the necessary depth, though occasional crushing and a minor noise presence break through the otherwise clean transfer.

Detail retention varies across different lighting conditions; under optimal circumstances, viewers can appreciate the granularity of skin textures and subtle nuances in facial expressions. However, this clarity occasionally succumbs to softness, hinting at a potential filtering issue that adds to the visual inconsistency. Despite these drawbacks, "Bloodsucking Bastards" offers a video experience that, while flawed by stylistic choices and occasional technical limitations, still manages to display moments of brilliance in high definition, making it a worthwhile albeit imperfect visual feast for fans and collectors alike.

The audio presentation of "Bloodsucking Bastards" on Blu-ray offers viewers a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that generally excels in clarity and depth, delivering an immersive experience particularly in its portrayal of the office atmosphere which, almost to a fault, encapsulates the listener in its mundane yet perilous soundscape. However, the mix is not without its quirks; the score, vibrant and dynamic as it may be, occasionally overpowers other audio elements, leading to moments where dialogue and sound effects marginally lose their footing against the backdrop of the assertive soundtrack. Despite these few scenes where balance is tipped, the overall fidelity remains uncompromised, showcasing well-balanced sound effects with commendable directionality and robust ambient sounds filling the room from the surround speakers.

The dynamics of the track benefit from a wide range, with crystal-clear dialogue that holds its ground even when the score asserts dominance. The bass delivers a satisfying rumble during action sequences without muddying the audio landscape, thanks in part to an excellent low-frequency extension that adds weight to musical hits and some action scenes. The surround sound presentation is meticulously handled; the front channels lead with precision, while the rear channels offer more than mere ambiance, engaging with unique sounds and contributing to a fuller aural environment. Every subtlety in the dialogue is captured, from breaths to enunciation, ensuring that the narrative remains front and center.

In terms of technical finesse, the Blu-ray’s audio track achieves a fine balance, marrying a robust score with the film’s soundscape without compromising on dialogue clarity and sound effect precision. The vigorous score can sometimes overshadow other elements, but this is mostly a minor hiccup in an otherwise excellent auditory experience. Enhanced by an effective use of the surround channels that envelops the viewer in sound and a keen eye for detail in dialogue reproduction, this DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix is a commendable effort that supports the cinematic experience with vigor and meticulous sound design.

The "Bloodsucking Bastards" Blu-ray extras provide an insightful and humorous look behind the scenes, spearheaded by a lively audio commentary with the Dr. God comedy group, who share their multifaceted roles in the film's creation, including producing, directing, writing, and acting. This commentary is a standout, offering fans a deeper appreciation for the film's journey from script to screen, spotlighting the practical effects and the camaraderie on set. The inclusion of outtakes (3:21) showcases missed cues and flubbed lines, bringing a genuine sense of fun from the production. B-roll footage labeled 'BSB: On Set' (3:45) offers glimpses of on-set antics, spliced with film clips for context. The 'Easter Eggs' section, albeit mistakenly flagged as such due to their direct identification within the menu, contains amusing deleted scenes including quirky vignettes like Dave discussing his cat's health among others, contributing a unique edge to the extras. The trailer rounds off the package, framing the film for potential viewers.

Extras included in this disc:

Audio Commentary with Dr. God: Insightful discussion by the producers, director, writer, and actors, offering a peek into film creation.

Outtakes: A collection of missed cues and flubbed lines accompanied by laughter.

BSB: On Set: B-roll footage from the set mixed with scenes from the movie.

Trailer: Promotional trailer for "Bloodsucking Bastards."

Easter Eggs Cat: Dave from the movie in a video blog about his cat.

Easter Eggs Printer: A clip of the janitor frustrated over recycling misbehavior.

Easter Eggs Restroom: Cam footage of a beatdown in the women’s restroom.

Easter Eggs Soup: Cam footage featuring a surprise in the lunchroom fridge.

Bloodsucking Bastards" melds the mundane grind of office life with the unexpected terror of vampirism, presenting a unique take on the horror-comedy genre. The film peers into the life of Evan (Fran Kranz), a downtrodden employee of a telemarketing firm, whose days are consumed by monotonous hard sells and unreciprocated romantic feelings for his colleague, Amanda (Emma Fitzpatrick). Director Brian James O’Connell sets the stage within this dreary call center, laying a foundation for both humor and horror rooted in the relatable dread of corporate drudgery. However, the narrative dawdles through its initial phases, overly preoccupied with office banter and frat-boy humor, which, while amusing, dilutes the build-up to its more thrilling vampire revelation.

The film, struggling to consistently strike a balance between scares and laughs, eventually gains momentum as it transitions into a gory spectacle of office employees turning into vampires. The third act redeems the earlier meandering with a satisfying blend of action and comedy. The practical effects shine here, especially in the climactic bloodbath, which is likely to appease genre aficionados. Despite the predictability of its plot and some underutilized comedic potential, "Bloodsucking Bastards" is enlivened by solid performances from its cast. Notably, Pedro Pascal stands out as Max, delivering a charismatic yet sinister charm that captivates the audience.

As a comedy-horror, "Bloodsucking Bastards" ambitiously aims to juxtapose the bleakness of office life against the backdrop of a vampire infestation, yet it falters in its ambition to seamlessly blend these elements. Nevertheless, it provides a good dose of entertainment with notable highs in humor and horror. The engaging dynamics among characters and the eventual upturn in pace and action illustrate a commendable effort within the B-movie sphere. While it may not hit the comedic or horrific highs of its proclaimed inspirations "Office Space" and "Shaun of the Dead," it carves out its niche with a quirky premise and a dedicated cast.

Bloodsucking Bastards" stands at the crossroads of horror and comedy, presenting a blend that hits the mark in terms of entertainment albeit with a slow start. This cinematic piece, woven together by the efforts of the comedy troupe 'Dr. God', eventually accelerates into a fun jaunt filled with blood, guts, and laughs, despite its reliance on potty humor over character-driven wit. The technical execution shines brightly, delivering above-average sound and picture quality that will satisfy the dedicated viewer. The extras, though not exhaustive in depth, add a nice touch for those looking deeper into the movie's creation and behind-the-scenes.

The Blu-ray presentation of "Bloodsucking Bastards" offers a package that, while not without its flaws, delivers a commendable first effort from 'Dr. God'. Fans of horror-comedy hybrids will find themselves amused by the unique blend of "Office Space" meets vampires, backed by a cast that, though not always in the limelight, delivers performances full of commitment and charm. The solid video and audio quality further enhance the viewing experience, albeit with room for improvement, making it a worthy addition to a genre aficionado's collection.

In conclusion, "Bloodsucking Bastards" on Blu-ray serves as a solid—if not spectacular—entry into the horror-comedy arena. Its blend of humor, albeit veering towards the juvenile at times, coupled with a decent technical presentation, makes it a title worth considering. While it may take its time to find its stride, the final product is a testament to the potential of its creators and casts a promising light on their future endeavors. For fans seeking a mix of laughs and scares, this Blu-Ray is indeed worth a look and potentially, a spot on the shelf for repeated viewings.