Review by Gary Tooze
Production:
Theatrical:
Warner
Video: Shout!
Factory
/ Signal One
Entertainment (UK)
Disc:
Region: A-locked!
/ Region 'B'
(as verified by the
Momitsu region FREE
Blu-ray player)
Runtime: 1:31:18.264
/ 1:31:18.848
Disc Size:
32,929,445,613 bytes
/ 37,326,769,332
bytes
Feature Size:
25,845,454,848 bytes
/ 30,347,811,648
bytes
Video Bitrate: 21.13
Mbps
/ 34.92 Mbps
Chapters: 11
/ 12
Case: Standard
Blu-ray case
/ Transparent
Blu-ray case
Release date: July
12th, 2011
/ January 28th, 2018
Video (both):
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Resolution: 1080p /
23.976 fps
Video codec: MPEG-4
AVC Video
Audio:
LPCM Audio English
9216 kbps 7.1 / 48
kHz / 9216 kbps /
24-bit
DTS-HD Master Audio
English 4728 kbps
6.1 / 48 kHz / 4728
kbps / 24-bit (DTS
Core: 6.1-ES / 48
kHz / 1509 kbps /
24-bit)
Dolby Digital Audio
English 256 kbps 2.0
/ 48 kHz / 256 kbps
/ DN -4dB
Commentary:
Dolby Digital Audio
English 256 kbps 2.0
/ 48 kHz / 256 kbps
/ DN -4dB
DTS-HD Master Audio
English 4495 kbps
6.1 / 48 kHz / 4495
kbps / 24-bit (DTS
Core: 6.1-ES / 48
kHz / 768 kbps /
24-bit)
LPCM Audio English
2304 kbps 2.0 / 48
kHz / 2304 kbps /
24-bit
Commentaries:
Dolby Digital Audio
English 192 kbps 2.0
/ 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio
English 192 kbps 2.0
/ 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles:
N
one
/
English, none
Extras:
• Audio Commentary
with Paul Maslansky
•
Survival Run
(11:34 - 1080P) - a
look at the
challenges of
adapting the
celebrated novel
with co-screenwriter
Alan Sharp
• Road to Hell
(13:22 - 1080P)
Producer Jerome M.
Zeitman details the
process of making
the film and the
difficulties along
the way
• Landmaster
Tales (10:14 in
1080P) - a detailed
examination of how
the now-famous,
Landmaster vehicle
from the film with
Stunt co-ordinator
and car designer
Dean Jeffries
•
Theatrical trailer +
TV Spot (2:52 in
1080P)
•
Audio commentary
with film expert,
Paul Talbot
•
Audio commentary
with Producer, Paul
Maslansky
•
Survival Run
a look at the
challenges of
adapting the
celebrated novel
with
Co-Screenwriter,
Alan Sharp (11:34)
•
Road To Hell
Producer, Jerome
Zeitman details the
process of making
the film and the
difficulties it
encountered along
the way (13:22)
•
Landmaster Tales
a detailed
examination of the
now-famous
Landmaster Vehicle
from the film with
Stunt Coordinator
and Car Designer
Dean Jeffries
(10:14)
•
Still Gallery
•
TV Spot
(0:33)
•
Theatrical trailer
(2:19)
Bitrate:
Shout!
Factory -
Region 'A' -
Blu-ray
- TOP
Signal One
- Region 'B'
-
Blu-ray
- BOTTOM |
Description: The
world is devastated
by a nuclear
holocaust, causing
the Earth to tilt on
its axis and
bringing vast
meteorological
chaos. As the
weather stabilizes,
mutated insects
start to emerge,
preying on the
survivors. The
surviving crew at a
U.S. Air Force bomb
shelter in the
Mojave Desert picks
up radio signals
coming from Albany.
The commander, Major
Eugene Denton
(George Peppard,
The A-Team),
unveils two armored
vehicles he has
constructed and
announces a plan to
cross Damnation
Alley, the
hundred-mile-wide
strip between areas
of radiation hazard,
to join the
survivors. They set
off, taking on two
civilians, a novice
singer they find in
the ruins of Las
Vegas and a wild
teenager (Jackie
Earle Haley,
Watchmen),
along the way. The
journey is also
beset by giant
mutated cockroaches,
storms and crazed
survivalists, making
for some
hair-raising escapes
in this
post-apocalyptic
thriller.
The Film:
Insanely jettisoning
the Hell's Angel
protagonist of Roger
Zelazny's cult novel
of a post-holocaust
odyssey, this dire
slice of uninspired
sci-fi tracks an
amphibious armoured
truck from a
California missile
base cross-country
towards the source
of taped signs of
life in Albany, NY.
Military redneck
Peppard and rebel
Vincent gather a
model post-nuclear
family (one black,
one woman, one kid)
like tokens en
route, hampered by
appalling process
work and by
derivative
confrontations with
mutant mountain men
and man-eating
cockroaches. A real
mess.
Excerpt from TimeOut
Film Guide located
HERE
20th Century-Fox
borrows a survival
script from
Universal—along with
their star director
(Jack Smight) and
contract player
(George Peppard).
Peppard leads a
group of World War
III survivors
(Jan-Michael
Vincent, Dominique
Sanda, and Paul
Winfield) from the
Nevada desert to the
last outpost of
civilization, which
is, ironically
enough, Albany, New
York. The usual
Universal
limitations apply,
although this
imitation of the
formula is often
more fun than the
real thing. Adapted
from a novel by
Roger Zelazny.
Excerpt from Dave
Kehr at the Chicago
Reader located HERE
Image :
NOTE:
The below
Blu-ray
captures were taken
directly from the
Blu-ray
disc.
Damnation Alley
doesn't look
stellar on
Blu-ray
from Shout! Factory.
It's a dual-layered
transfer but the
bitrate is modest
but all said and
done I doubt this
could look
significantly
better. With
limitations in
effects - which can
seem highly
transparent in 1080P
- it doesn't benefit
the film's
suspension of
disbelief. Large
Scorpions and swarms
of cockroaches are
less frightening but
the charm of the
sci-fi encounters
(both with
Jan-Michael on
motorbike) are still
there. Some
close-ups can look
more impressive and
the explosions and
apocalyptic sky are
'B' grade but suit
the presentation.
Grain is less
visible and skin
tones have some
warmth. There is no
real depth. While
this doesn't look
outstanding - it's
less the fault of
the transfer and
more the original
production. I still
imagine this is a
nominal step-up from
SD.
The dual-layered
Blu-ray
transfer from Signal
One has a max'ed out
bitrate and is a
significant
improvement over the
soft, waxy, Shout!
Factory. The film's
modest effects
remain transparent
but the presentation
carries some
appreciated film
grain. It's a
notable step-up.
CLICK EACH
BLU-RAY
CAPTURE TO SEE ALL
IMAGES IN FULL
1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample -
Signal One
- Region 'B' -
Blu-ray
Shout!
Factory -
Region 'A' -
Blu-ray
- TOP
Signal One
- Region 'B'
-
Blu-ray
- BOTTOM |
Shout!
Factory
- Region
'A' -
Blu-ray
- TOP
Signal
One
- Region
'B' -
Blu-ray
-
BOTTOM |
Shout!
Factory -
Region 'A' -
Blu-ray
- TOP
Signal One
- Region 'B'
-
Blu-ray
- BOTTOM |
Shout!
Factory -
Region 'A' -
Blu-ray
- TOP
Signal One
- Region 'B'
-
Blu-ray
- BOTTOM |
Audio :
Shout! Factory
augment the film's
audio with two
outrageous lossless
tracks - an dynamic
linear PCM 7.1 track
at a monstrous 9216
kbps and the option
of a DTS-HD Master
6.1 at 4728 kbps.
Those with more
attuned ears might
be able to
distinguish the
artificial bumps but
for purists there is
also a simple stereo
track. There are
plenty of sound
effects for the
tracks HD tracks to
gobble up and spit
out in various
separations and
unnatural depth.
There are no
subtitle options and
my
Momitsu
has identified
it as being a region
A-locked.
Signal One also give
a hefty DTS-HD
Master a 6.1 track
with a robust 4495
kbps (24-bit) and
there is the option
of a linear PCM 2.0
track that supports
the film well
although without the
immense depth of the
other lossless
choice. Unlike the
Shout! Factory - it
offers optional
English (SDH)
subtitle, The UK
disc is Region
'B'-locked.
Extras :
Shout! Factory
supply a modest
audio commentary
with producer Paul
Maslansky. He's been
involved in quite a
few films - like
Circle of Iron
and the marvelous
Walter Hill/Bronson
flick
Hard Times.
He recalls some
details about
production of
Damnation Alley
that some may find
interesting. There
are also 3
featurettes -
running over
30-minutes in total.
Survival Run
takes a look at the
challenges of
adapting the
celebrated novel
with co-screenwriter
Alan Sharp, Road
to Hell has
producer Jerome M.
Zeitman detailing
the process of
making the film and
the production
hurdles along the
way and
Landmaster Tales
is a detailed
examination of the
now-famous,
Landmaster vehicle
from the film with
Stunt co-ordinator
and car designer
Dean Jeffries. There
is also an HD
Theatrical trailer
running with a TV
Spot.
Same Maslansky
commentary and 3
crew featurettes but
we get a new,
fact-filled,
commentary with
Paul Talbot - that
is well worth the
listen as he
identifies much of
the production
history, evolution,
novelette it was
based, and liberal
use of stock footage
to save money. Also
trailer, TV spots
and Signal One add a
stills gallery of
posters etc.
Shout! Factory -
Region 'A' -
Blu-ray
Signal One
- Region 'B' -
Blu-ray
BOTTOM LINE:
Despite the strength
of the novel - I
doubt anyone was
expecting
masterpiece status
from Damnation
Alley. It's
highly imperfect but
carries the air of
survivalist-apocalypse
adventure which can
lead one down a
rather hokey road.
The film is really
not that bad if you
give over to it a
bit but the
Blu-ray
produces an
unremarkable image -
that is probably a
characteristic of
the theatrical and
production
limitations. Shout!
Factory have given a
solid effort with
the included
commentary and
featurettes. Keeping
your expectations
low on both film and
transfer fronts
would probably be
the most successful
course of action for
a decent 'B' style
night in the home
theater. You could
do worse.
This is worthy of
our
Movies From the End
of the World Article.
A true
post-apocalypse
survival entry.
I have warmed to it
over the years and
the Signal One is
the way to go with
the superior
presentation and the
excellent new
commentary.
Gary Tooze
July 7th, 2011
March 12th, 2018