THE LONELIEST BOY IN THE WORLD is billed as a modern fairytale—except with zombies. When the sheltered and unsocialized Oliver is tasked with making new friends after the sudden and devastating death of his mother, he decides that digging a few up (literally) might be his best bet. However, when he awakens the morning after his excavating escapades, he discovers that his newly acquired friends have mysteriously come to life overnight, launching them all into a series of misadventures as they try to keep their secret safe from neighbors, classmates and social workers alike.
For in-depth thoughts on The Loneliest Boy In The World, please see my colleague Mike Vaughn’s review from its theatrical debut here.
Video Quality
The Loneliest Boy In The World comes to Blu-Ray with a gorgeous AVC encoded 1080p transfer that captures the look of the film really well. Where the transfer really shines is the vibrancy of the colors that establishes the dazzling aesthetic of the film. The cinematography features some lovely pops of color with everything appearing to have a slightly soft, dreamy quality about it like a fantasy. The feature is filled with deeply saturated hues that are represented on screen without issue. The transfer showcases some impressive level of detail both in the costumes and the production design. Everything from the subtle details of the house to the texture of the costumes and decaying makeup is quite impressive. The picture is pretty clear with only brief instances of murkiness during a few darker scenes. Black levels are admirable but could go a bit deeper. Skin tones are natural throughout with some fabulous details present in certain shots. Overall, this is quite a stunning transfer that should please fans.
Audio Quality
The film comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that has quite a bit of depth and is well balanced, which is appreciated in a film that utilizes music so effectively. Environmental effects play a notable role in the film, and this track brings these elements to life without issue. The use of the rear channels to create a fully immersive world works quite well. The directionality is quite precise so sounds always present as natural when coming from their respective points. Dialogue comes through clearly without being overwhelmed by any of the other sounds. The track is most active when the music is flowing through the room in a really wonderful way. Activity in the low end adds a great deal of texture to various sonic elements. Well Go USA has delivered a top notch track for the film. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Behind The Scenes: A five-minute featurette in which the ensemble discuss what drew them to the project, the preparation that went into bringing this world to life, being queer and portraying a heterosexual relationship, how they feel about the narrative and more.
- Trailer: The nearly two-and-a-half minute trailer for The Loneliest Boy In The World is provided here. There are also trailers provided for Alienoid, Unwelcome and The Witch Part 2: The Other One.
Final Thoughts
The Loneliest Boy In The World is both darkly funny and very poignant in how it approaches loss and the feeling of isolation in the world. The depth of emotion is sincerely appreciated as you learn more about the characters and become invested in where they might end up. The macabre magical realism is inspired in the way it serves so many tonal shifts. Well Go USA has released a Blu-Ray that features a fantastic A/V presentation and some brief special features. If you are searching for a horror comedy with heart, this should fit the bill quite well. Recommended
The Loneliest Boy In The World will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD on December 20, 2022.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Well Go USA 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.