Black Water (DVD)

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I also liked how they used a few different stylish techniques with the cameras. There's a scene where the crocodile is doing its natural "death roll" and the camera viewpoint is shown from the victim's perspective, enabling the viewer to experience a crocodile attack in a much more gruesome manner. My favorite artistic edge, though, was at nightfall when the screen literally went pitch black. The sounds could still be heard clearly, but every once in a while a bolt of lightning would strike somewhere close to instantly lighten up the screen for only a brief few seconds at a time.

Although I enjoyed the tightness of the movie and was relieved that it wasn't bloated with unnecessary fluff like outrageous action sequences or cheesy one-liners, I still felt that there was something minimally missing. I guess the only way to explain it is that there were no real defining moments to make it rise to the level of an instant classic; yet it was certainly better than most of the horror movies that I've seen lately.

Video:
"Black Water" should fill the entire screens of most widescreen TVs having an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. For a standard DVD, I was amazed by the quality of the picture that displayed the full spectrum of brilliant colors found in the Australian wilderness and even went as far as showing miniscule skin imperfections in the cast. I don't know what kind of camera technology they were using, but the filming was noticeably better than some so-called "high definition" programming I've seen via satellite and was without question first-rate.

Audio:
The sound on the disc showcases Dolby Digital 5.1 with English and French audio tracks and optional English, French, or Spanish subtitles. Every little bubbling hiccup emanating from the water can be heard with clarity, and the constant, shrill buzzing from the cicadas virtually teleported my living room into the mangrove swamp. The soundtrack wasn't overbearing or distracting, either; in fact, music was seldom used in the whole picture, and it enhanced the creativeness of the film.

Extras:
Viewers will find a solid assortment of special features tucked neatly inside the "Black Water" DVD, starting with a feature length audio commentary by writers/rirectors Andrew Traucki and David Nerlich. The two of them provide an extensive behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the film, and a large focus went into how often they were at the mercy of Mother Nature. For instance, when the river tides went out, it made it exceptionally difficult getting around by boat, and in the secluded area where most of the movie takes place, the water was only there for three hours a day. During that small window of opportunity the water was also only a few feet deep, so the cast had to create the illusion of an additional foot or two of depth by kneeling most of the time.

The featurette "The Making of Black Water" is a more condensed version of the production details brought to light in the audio commentary, and it runs approximately twenty minutes. It primarily covers the story, cast, crew, effects, and location for the movie in chapters for each of those topics.

Next, there are three deleted scenes with options to "Play All" or access them individually. "Arrival in Seaside Town" expands on their trip to the crocodile park, while Grace is at the store looking at pregnancy tests. "Shower Cubicle" is an awkward moment when Adam walks in on Lee exiting the shower. And "Overturned Boat" is an extension of the scene where Lee has to climb off the boat into the water to try and untangle the rope.

Also included is a trailer for "Black Water," but unfortunately it reveals a little too much of the story for my taste. I'd strongly recommend watching the actual movie before taking a peek at this preview.

Finally, there is a collection of the following previews: "Blu-ray Disc is High Definition," "30 Days of Night," "Zombie Strippers," "Gabriel," "Slipstream," "Boogeyman 2," "Rise Blood Hunter," "Cleaner," "Damages: Season 1," "Hot Action Movies," and "Fearnet.com."

It would have been nice to see a blooper reel or a collection of outtakes, though, since those are always a hoot to watch and usually the very first thing that I make a beeline for when checking out bonus materials on a DVD.

The Final Cut:
I'll be honest: I wasn't expecting too much from this DVD release after briefly skimming the synopsis and noting that the art on the front of the case made the crocodile look more like some sort of prehistoric serpent. However, for a film that operated on a shoestring budget of only $1,000,000 with an entire cast that you can count on one hand, I must say that "Black Water" pleasantly surprised me, and it just goes to show that you should never judge a book (or a DVD) by its cover.