Population 436 (DVD)

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Like the screenplay and direction, the performances are competent but not noteworthy. Charlotte Sullivan is decent as the female lead, who's caught in a bind because she wants to leave, but Deputy Caine wants to marry her. Frank Adamson is appropriate enough as the mayor. James Blicq is decent as the creepy kid named Obie, who's kind of like the Opie in this alternate Mayberry. But when you add it all up, the sum of the parts isn't all the great or memorable.

"Population 436" is rated "R" for brief sexuality/nudity and violence.

Video: "Population 436" is mastered in High Definition and presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. There's great color saturation, and the glorious Winnipeg countryside (if I see just one more film shot in Canada I'm going to be tempted to move there) gives plenty of chances to appreciate the vivid colors. There's good clarity and definition, too, with a nicely balanced black level for a comfortable-looking contrast.

Audio: The soundtrack is also decent, with English and Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1 and French 2.0 Dolby Surround options to choose from. The English 5.1 is full and rich, with plenty of rear-speaker action on the FX. Subtitles are in English, French, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Extras: The only extra is an alternate ending. The filmmakers played with two options: the happy ending and the tragic one. I won't tell you which one they went with. But I will say that, given the logic that prevailed throughout the film, the alternate ending would have made a heck of a lot more sense.

Bottom Line: There are good horror/thrillers and bad ones. Then there's "Population 436," which is watchable but undistinguished. It'll have you thinking of "The Village," "Children of the Corn," "The Village of the Damned," and damned near every isolated town story you've ever seen.

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