Hidden
(2015/Warner DVD)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: D Film: C+
Starring
Alexander Skarsgard, Andrea Riseborough, and Emily Alyn Lind, Hidden
(2015) is an serious and interesting film that takes place primarily
underground after a deadly illness spreads to a post apocalyptic
fallout. The look of film is effective with strong production design
and darkly lit atmospheres that make you feel as if you are
underground with the characters. Visual storytelling is effective in
scenes full of tension towards the film's second and third act.
Directed by The Duffer Brothers, Hidden
proves to be a realistic and interesting thriller that challenges its
viewer with the question of what they would do in such a situation.
Ray,
Claire, and Zoe are a normal American family that have found a new
life in an underground shelter after life on the surface was deemed
inhabitable for mankind due to a rapid sickness that spread. With
nothing to distract them from their own fear of the unknown, the
family have nothing left but to hope for some sort of normalcy
someday. Underground, they live on pre-packaged canned food and
teach their daughter as much as they can about what the world once
was. However, soon their normal lives are challenged by a presence
that hopes to force them out of their semi-comfortable lives and
reveals another level of hidden truths.
Some
moments of the film, including Government jets leveling an infected
town with bombs, seem a little close to home as the realistic-telling
of the narrative could one day ring true. In many ways, this is the
anti-Blast
From The Past
with that film poking humor at the subject. No humor here.
Presented
in standard definition with an anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio of
2.35:1 and a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track, the film looks and sounds
fine on DVD but could benefit to a Blu-ray upgrade to sharpen the
presentation.
No
extras, which is a shame, because I would have enjoys some insights
from the filmmakers on this one.
All
in all, an interesting screenplay that's a little sci-fi, horror,
action, and drama wrapped up in one with pretty solid acting, Hidden
is an interesting watch for fans of sci-fi and post apocalyptic fair.
-
James Harland Lockhart V
www.facebook.com/jhl5films
