BLU-RAY REVIEW

Endless, The

Featured In Issue 229, July 2018

Picture3
Sound3.5
WSR Score4
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Well Go USA
(Catalog Number):
WGU01983B
(MPAA Rating):
Not Rated
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$29.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
112
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
6/26/2018
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

"The Endless" is a thriller that follows two brothers (Moorhead and Benson) who receive a cryptic video message inspiring them to revisit the UFO death cult they escaped a decade earlier. Hoping to find the closure that they couldn't as young men, they're forced to reconsider the cult's beliefs when confronted with unexplainable phenomena surrounding the camp. As the members prepare for the coming of a mysterious event, the brothers race to unravel the seemingly impossible truth before their lives become permanently entangled with the cult. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Directors Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson and Producer David Lawson Jr., a making-of featurette (HD 31:38), a behind-the-scenes featurette (HD 13:02), the featurettes "VFX Breakdown" (HD 02:44) and "Ridiculous Extras," seven deleted scenes, upfront previews, and trailers.

The 2.39:1 1080p AVC picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, upconverted to 2160p with greater resolution and luminance, was photographed digitally and sourced from a 2K master Digital Intermediate format. Whether the picture is stylized or not, the colors are desaturated and inconsistent, yet black levels are deep as in the night sky and other effects. The imagery exhibits amateurish quality, yet visual effects are effective. The setting at the camp is visually captivating. Resolution at times is good and revealing of fine detail. Contrast is crushed. Overall, this is a mediocre picture, but the imagery and the well-directed storytelling is unique and spooky. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is uniquely dynamic, with a terrific electronic synthesizer music score, with a wide soundstage presence that extends to the surrounds. Atmospherics sound natural and at times directionalized in the surrounds. The .1 LFE is active throughout as well as bass extension in the normal channels. Dialogue is extremely frontal and at times difficult to understand. The dialogue is close-miked, as in body microphones, which project at times unnaturally. As the story progresses, the electronic score develops more powerfully. This is a compelling sonic experience that effectively complements the unique and spooky quality of the story. (Gary Reber)