Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

Extras:
• Deleted scenes (6:00)
• Making of (11:25)
• Extended interviews - Director Craig Zobel, Margot Robbie, Chiwetel Ejiofor and screenwriter Nissar Modi (20:03)

DVD

• Deleted scenes (6:00)
• Making of (11:25)
• Extended interviews - Director Craig Zobel, Margot Robbie, Chiwetel Ejiofor and screenwriter Nissar Modi (20:03)

Trailer (2:23)

Postercard

Digital HD download code

Bitrate:

 

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

The Film:

Based on Robert C. O'Brien's sci-fi novel from 1974, Z for Zachariah follows the life of Ann Burden (Margot Robbie) in the wake of a nuclear apocalypse that has devastated life on earth. In her mysterious countryside dwelling, crops continue to grow and she has built a sustainable, albeit lonely, lifestyle. Her new reality is disturbed when a mysterious, radiation-suit-clad scientist (Chiwetel Ejiofor) stumbles upon her peaceful property. Believing she was the only person left on earth, Ann is hesitant to welcome him in, but the two eventual begin an intimate relationship. Their newfound life together is challenged with the appearance of another man, Caleb (Chris Pine), creating a deadly love triangle in this post-apocalyptic tale of human relationship.

Excerpt from Daniel Gelb at B+N located HERE

 

Directed by Craig Zobel, the film positions Ann's tucked-away farm in a protected valley as a literal paradise on earth, unblemished by the radioactivity that has rid the globe of all other life. The drama brims with religious allusion and questions of how faith manifests in a world without hope.

With a quiet nuance and grace, Z for Zachariah holds up science as one possible path to rebuilding, but without discounting the role of belief. And with mesmerizing cinematography that captures the feeling of paradise regained, and enchanting performances from its only three cast members, the film avoids pitting reason against faith. Instead, this postapocalyptic parable offers a muddier and far more satisfying picture of their entanglement.

Excerpt from TheGlobeandMail located HERE

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Z For Zachariah is an excellent modern apocalypse film and that the VVS Blu-ray is cropped, in the incorrect aspect ratio, seems unthinkable. The Canadian Blu-ray is in 1.78 and should be around 2.35:1, like the Lionsgate. What a blunder...we've seen it before with 2007's The Lookout, Fincher's Se7en, Anh Hung Tran's The Scent of Green Papaya and recently 1963's The Day of the Triffids. If that's not enough the Lionsgate is more technically robust and looks as competent as a modern transfer should - bright colors, depth and solid detail. IOt doesn't appear as you lose anything via the widescreen - the VVS was just severely cropped. Shameful.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

I really enjoyed the score of Z for Zachariah by Heather McIntosh. There are some outdoor effects - waterfall, a couple of rifle shots etc. with separation but the film is not peppered with aggressive audio. The score is gentle, some church organ and a wonderful theme. For some reason the VVS uses a weak Dolby TrueHD surround track (16-bit) for the, original, English but far more robust, and 24-bit, for the French DUB ?!? The Lionsgate is superior with a healthy DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 3514 kbps (24-bit)  There are optional English and French subtitles on the VVS and English and Spanish on the Lionsgate My Oppo has identified both as being a region 'A'-locked.

Extras :

VVS - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 

Lionsgate - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
Z For Zachariah is great - I've watched it four times now. It's one of those 'Apocalypse' chamber pieces (limited survivors) with two men and one woman, like Retreat, or The Quiet Earth. Chris Pine must gravitate to this genre as he was also in Carriers - a superior Apocalypse flic. So I loved this and the review is more a warning to avoid the VVS. Those keen on this genre won't go wrong picking up the Lionsgate. Thumbs up!

Gary Tooze

October 18th, 2017

Also available on Blu-ray, and a 3D Blu-ray version both from Germany: