The Remaining Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Johnny Pacar

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: Spanish

Dubbed: French, Spanish

Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Rated: PG-13

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: January 27, 2015

 

        The independent horror film industry actually shares a great deal with the field of faith-based films. Both tend to have poorly written dialogue, delivered by amateur actors and directors with a preoccupation with other elements in the filmmaking process. Horror directors want the scares and gore to overshadow the cheaper production values, while Christian filmmakers are often more interested in the message than with quality. By making a film which fits into either category, The Remaining somehow manages to bring along the worst from both.

       

        This faith-based attempt at a horror film is quite innovative in the integration of biblical text and horror elements, despite a huge gap in the traditional survivalist mentality required of characters in the genre. By setting the film during the biblical Rapture, a unique scenario is created where the fortunate ones die. Surviving takes on different meanings, and it destroys the structure of the horror genre once the characters realize this. This isn’t the biggest problem, however. The most distracting issue within this film is the mere fact that it feels like a melodramatic and humorless This is the End. I can’t help but think that this may have been more effective had it been made first.

 

        Although the integration of faith-based material into the plot is clever, it is absolutely atrocious in the dialogue. A smart plot does not mean that the screenplay can be written like a piece of faith-driven propaganda. Even when set up with a natural scenario to discuss faith and religion, The Remaining still manages to make it feel forced. There is also a gap in logic when considering how the movie was filmed. Bouncing back and forth between found-footage and traditional filmmaking, one can’t help but wonder why you would continue to record footage at the end of the world.

 

        Even with all of the awful aspects to the film, The Remaining contains a few sincerely impressive sequences. Most of this is due to fairly decent effects, some of which can be seen in the making-of featurette included in the special features. Also included are a handful of unnecessary deleted scenes.

 

Entertainment Value: 4/10

Quality of Filmmaking: 3.5/10

Historical Significance:  4.5/10

Special Features: 4/10