In the misty forests of North America, a family of Sasquatches find themselves on a collision course with the ever-changing world around them.
For in-depth thoughts on Sasquatch Sunset, please see my colleague Larry Fried’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
Decal Releasing brings Sasquatch Sunset to Blu-Ray with a lovely 1080p video presentation. This particular label is not the best when it comes to encoding, so you will find some intermittent instances of banding and digital noise. Outside of this, there is a world of detail to be found such as the magnificent makeup effects that bring these creatures to life along with subtle environmental flourishes. There are a few grotesque bodily functions that you may wish were less clear. The image is crisp with the lush environments throughout saturating the screen. The green of the foliage is nuanced along with the matted brown coat of our focal characters. Black levels are passably deep with no unforgivable instances of digital noise. Even with some small issues, this is a good release from the label.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with a great DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that makes this world feel alive. Environmental sounds of the natural world fill up the surround speakers effectively. Ambient sounds are carefully placed in the rear channels for a fully immersive experience. The movie obviously does not rely on dialogue to tell its story, so you get to experience some nuanced grunts. Every distinct element comes through clearly without being overshadowed by any competing sounds. The incredible score flows through the speakers with crisp fidelity. The low end wakes up when there are some more intense or perilous moments. The audio track is in good shape throughout. Optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Sasquatch Birth Journal #2: A four-minute short film from 2011 starring Nathan Zellner as a sasquatch giving birth.
Final Thoughts
Sasquatch Sunset is one of the most unique movies you will ever see, and we thank the Zellner brothers for that. A less patient audience may view this as an artistic indulgence that is only fun for those making it, but that is a poor assessment of the film. There are some grotesque moments filled with bodily functions, but there are also moments of great beauty and pain. This traverses all degrees of the emotional spectrum as you witness what it truly means to live. The underlying environmental message is effective without being too preachy. Not to mention, you will be shocked by how much range these performers are able to share underneath the Oscar-worthy makeup effects. Decal Releasing has released a Blu-Ray featuring a pleasing A/V presentation a fun supplemental feature. If you want to experience something creative, this is a must. Highly Recommended
Sasquatch Sunset is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Decal Releasing 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.
