PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND is set in the treacherous frontier city of Samurai Town where a ruthless bank robber (Cage) is sprung from jail by wealthy warlord The Governor (Moseley), whose adopted granddaughter Bernice (Boutella) has gone missing. The Governor offers the prisoner his freedom in exchange for retrieving the runaway. Strapped into a leather suit that will self-destruct within three days, the bandit sets off on a journey to find the young woman—and his own path to redemption.
For in-depth thoughts on Prisoners Of The Ghostland, please see my colleague Mike Vaughn’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
Prisoners Of The Ghostland comes to Blu-Ray with a strong AVC encoded 1080p transfer that showcases the look of the film really well. Where the transfer really shines is the impressive level of detail both in the fantasy-esque locations of the Japanese locales and in the more barren ghostland. Everything from the smallest facial details to the texture in the production design is quite impressive. The cinematography features some nice pops of color with everything appearing very natural, especially in the moments when you have arterial spray painting a canvas. These colors bring a vibrancy to the story that is appreciated in the way it keeps with the heightened aesthetic. The picture is mostly clear with only brief instances of murkiness and banding during a few darker scenes. Black levels are admirable but could stand to be a bit deeper. Skin tones are natural throughout with some impeccable details present in certain shots. Overall, this is quite a powerful transfer that should please fans. There is also a 4K UHD Blu-Ray available that was not provided for review for those equipped for that format.
Audio Quality
The film comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that is quite powerful and well balanced in its chaotic presentation. Environmental effects play a substantial role in the film, and this track brings these elements to life quite capably. The use of the rear channels to create a fully enveloping world works quite well. The directionality is quite precise so sounds always present as natural when coming from their respective points. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being overwhelmed by any of the other sounds. Activity in the low end delivers quite a jolt during much of the presentation, especially in the more unhinged moments. RLJE Films has delivered a fierce track for a film that really packs a punch.
Special Features
- The Making Of Prisoners Of The Ghostland: An eight-minute featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the strange narrative and tone of the story, give a broad overview of the characters, relay on-set experiences, delve into their favorite portions of the movie and more.
- Photo Galleries: This disc provides both Movie Still and Behind The Scenes photos.
Final Thoughts
Prisoners Of The Ghostland is an unhinged time meant to appeal to those who love when movies put a dozen different genres into a blender. The result is memorable to say the least, as it seems to be hitting the sweet spot of mania that Cage taps into so well. For all of the looney fun the film delivers, it does not quite reach the line of cult classic due to some pacing and script issues. RLJE Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a strong A/V presentation and a couple of supplemental features. Most mainstream audiences will not take to this odd vision, but certain open-minded genre fans should have a blast.
Prisoners Of The Ghostland is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook, Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: RLJE Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
