The Darkest Hour 3D (Blu-ray) Official AVSForum Review

( Max score: 100 )

82

Film Synopsis:

A Sci-fi thriller featuring mind-blowing special effects from the minds of visionary filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) and director Chris Gorak (Art Director Fight Club, Minority Report),The Darkest Hour is the story of five young people who find themselves stranded in Moscow, fighting to survive in the wake of a devastating alien attack.

My Take:

Arriving amidst a mysterious lightening storm, young Internet entrepreneurs Sean (Emile Hirsch) and Ben (Max Minghella) land in Moscow Russia to pursue their business dreams in the international economic center, full of new money and potential. Travelers Natalie (Olivia Thirlby) and Anne (Rachael Taylor), stranded in Moscow by an unscheduled stop over en route to Nepal, make the best of it by seeking adventure in one of the nightlife capitals of the world. After their business meeting doesn't go as planned Sean and Ben head to a glitzy nightclub where they meet Natalie and Anne. The two pairs of best friends get acquainted and hit it but the fun doesn't last as the club is quickly transformed to a scene of terror when faceless, invisible aliens seemingly made up only of electrical energy invade the city killing everyone in their path. Relying solely on instinct the two couples along with, Skylar, the Swedish businessman Sean and Ben met with earlier evade the marauding invaders by hiding. They emerge later to find the once pulsating city is now without power and is all but deserted, yet occupied by a force they don't understand. They learn that their only hope of escape is located on the far end of the city. Throughout their journey across a foreign city, the dwindling band encounter various Russian survivors who help them start to unravel the mysteries of the invaders, their goals, weaknesses, and most importantly, how to fight back.

The Darkest Hour is exactly what it looks like, a dime store alien invasion flick. There isn't much to the story or the characters (including the aliens) and the action/suspense is sorely lacking. The killings aren't tough to see coming, just picture a charging lioness and limping zebra. I couldn't help but be reminded of Skyline. As bad as Skyline is it has a slightly deeper storyline and better special effects which puts it in the weak but tolerable department. There was little here that engaged me, including the repetitive special effects and diminutive action/suspense. I honestly didn't expect much but hoped for a mildly entertaining popcorn movie. The cast, especially Olivia Thirlby (been a fan since Juno), gave it potential however The Darkest Hour is flat, boring and a waste of 89 minutes. This offering from Summit Entertainment contains both the 2D and 3D versions of the film and bonus content on a single BD-50 Blu-ray Disc.

Parental Guide:

The rating is for sci-fi action violence and some language.

Audio: 86

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3D Presentation: 78

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The Darkest Hour 3D comes to Blu-ray Disc from Summit Entertainment featuring 1080p MVC encoded video and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of XXX Mbps.

This film was shot natively in 3D and positively translates to high definition on Blu-ray. The film was largely shot against green screens and the reproduction of the digital effects and wide angle background elements is quite good. Depth is appreciable as evidenced by separation of objects and/or people layered in the foreground/background which creates a discerning sense of virtual space. Dimensionality and apparent resolution is rarely questionable in close ups and brightly lit exterior sequences but it varies some in the limited lighting that comprises over half of the film. There is a distinct lack of 3D effects that transcend the boundaries of the screen which makes for a somewhat less involving experience especially for a film of this type. I didn't notice any overt instances of crosstalk or other video related anomalies. The end result is a satisfying but unremarkable 3D video presentation.

The lossless DTS-HD MA soundtrack doesn't consistently engage the entire surround platform however it has moments where it energizes the room and reproduces the source elements with aplomb. Dialogue has definitive presence with refined vocal character and excellent room penetration. Dynamic range is very good which lends subtle distinction to low level sounds and gravity to broader ones. For a sci-fi action/horror thriller I expected a busier soundtrack but it gets the job done. There are several sequences that engage the entire system to briefly produce entertaining and room filling sound that is measurable. This soundtrack isn't demonstration worthy but it readily delivers a satisfying listening experience.

2D Video Quality:

Video: 86

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The Darkest Hour comes to Blu-ray from Summit Entertainment featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of XXX Mbps

This high definition presentation doesn't consistently lend itself to razor sharp clarity and three dimensional depth but in most regards looks quite good. It features an intentionally stylized visual design that utilizes a limited color scheme that works aesthetically well for the films subject matter. The color range is limited to shades of steely blue, gray and black with splashes of crimson and muted sepia tones. Fleshtones hold up well against the de-saturated chroma and don't appear unnatural. Uneven light and shading are prevalent. Contrast isn't overdriven as whites appear punchy and grays are gradational. Black levels are slightly elevated but respectable. Shadow detail is very good which adds an appreciable level of dimension to low level scenes. The use of CGI and green screens softens some elements during wide angle pans but I never found it to be overtly distracting. I didn't detect any obvious signs of video related anomalies or artifacts and thought that this presentation looked solid.

Bonus Features:

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• Audio commentary with director Chris Gorak
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• (HD) Survivors - An all-new 8 minute short film following the rebel resistance around the globe. The fight continues as freedom fighters in Tokyo, Malibu and Afghanistan work together to develop new technology and strike a major blow to the alien invaders.
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• (HD) The Darkest Hour: Visualizing am invasion - 12 minute production featurette
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• (HD) 5 deleted/extended scenes with optional director commentary

Final Thoughts:

The Darkest Hour is a boring, flat and disappointing sci-fi action/horror flick that tries and fails to make a splash in the space invader popcorn genre. It comes to Blu-ray Disc from Summit Entertainment in 3D and 2D releases. I found the 3D viewing experience to be perfectly acceptable but lacking in the kind of involving dimensionality/effects that often make films like this fun to watch in 3D. The 2D version offers excellent high definition video quality that positively represents the film's stylized visuals. The DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is an engaging one that makes for a rewarding surround sound experience. The supplemental package is par for the course and includes a short film feature, audio commentary and a handful of deleted scenes. Unless you're already a fan this one is a pass.