BLU-RAY REVIEW

Reef, The

Featured In Issue 164, February 2012

Picture4.5
Sound4.5
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):
Image Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
LIG7005BDLIT
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Language
(Retail Price):
$29.97
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Single Layer (BD-25)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
88
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
2010
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
07/19/11
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Andrew Traucki
(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):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

In The Reef, ship delivery man Luke (Walshe-Howling) is accompanied by four friends (Grantley, Pickering, Naylor, and Simpson) as he charts a yacht to its new owner. Along the way, their ship is ripped open by the coral reefs hiding just below the ocean's surface. They are forced to choose: stay on board with slim hope of rescue or swim twelve miles to the nearest island..through shark-infested waters. Those that abandon ship are faced with the race of their lives, for as soon as they enter the water a Great White catches their scent, and the white-knuckled chase is on! (Gary Reber)

Special features include a making-of featurette (SD 23:55) and the theatrical trailer.

The 1080p AVC picture is frighteningly real with a perfectly natural appearance above and below the sea. The sea is naturally blue toned, with the people in the water contrasted with accurate fleshtones and deep, solid black wet suits. Every detail on the sail boat appears natural. The night scene, lit by the moon, is revealing of shadow delineation, which highlights the divers in the water. Resolution is excellent, particularly during close-ups of facial features, wet suits, and water splashes. This is a pretty intense visual experience that is effectively photographed, with a balance of color that is always pleasing. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is nicely rendered and effectively captures the sound of divers in the deep ocean and the surrounding sound of water atmospherics. Dialogue is integrated spatially, with an emphasis on an up-close presence. The orchestral music score is haunting and spatially enveloping across the soundstage and into the soundfield, with a nicely balanced surround presence. The music is dynamic, with a solid low-frequency foundation. At times, during intense striking moments, the .1 LFE is energized effectively to provide enhanced terror. This is a very well-crafted soundtrack that really delivers tension. (Gary Reber)