{2jtab: Movie Review}

The Day is as trying and as bleak as its opening scene – of five savaged survivors on a wearily constant move - suggests.  Too bad it’s also as empty as the road they travel as far as meaningful film experiences go.  The drab post-apocalyptic setting suggests a heightened tension but director Douglas Aarniokoski fails to match the passion of The Day’s actors and gives his audience no reason to care about a world gone mad.

Written by Luke Passmore, The Day covers a 24-hour period of hell for a group of survivors – played by Dominic Monaghan, Shawn Ashmore, Michael Eklund, and Shannyn Sossamon - after they take refuge in an abandoned house to restock their dwindling supplies.  Most of them are sick with contamination or the like and, after a brief rest in the house, start to explore their surroundings.  After digging in the basement, it turns out that a trap has been sprung for them and the group turns on Mary (Ashley Bell), a late arrival to their clan, and questions her about her origins as the human forces that have set the trap descend.

The film is full of visually explicit scenes that hearken back to a drab world that has spiraled out of control.  Everything must be gathered from flashbacks as two clans are brought together to “duke” it out over whatever supplies are left.  Each clan is also armed to the teeth and will fight to only live another day.  It really is as simple as a survival story.  There’s simply nothing else to it and, if you’re anything like me when watching films, will be wondering if it’s a test of endurance.

Everyone’s personality is grating.  There’s no hope and no purpose.  Even the stunts seem without direction.  The script is all over the place which its characterization which is a shame because there’s a lot of talent in the cast.  They deliver performances undeserving of the dialogue and the plot.  But even their collective talent can’t save the movie from being an excursion in the pointless void of post-apocalyptic offerings.

With no substance and no real purpose, The Day is best enjoyed … when over.

{2jtab: Film Details}

MPAA Rating: R for strong bloody violence, pervasive language and some nudity.
Runtime: 87 mins.
Director: Douglas Aarniokoski
Writer: Luke Passmore
Cast: Shawn Ashmore; Ashley Bell; Michael Eklund; Cory Hardrict; Dominic Monaghan' Shannyn Sossamon
Genre: Sci-fi | Thriller
Tagline: Fight. Or die.
Memorable Movie Quote: "This world has existed for over 10 years now"
Distributor: Anchor Bay Films
Website: www.facebook.com/the.day.the.movie
Release Date: August 29, 2012
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: November 27, 2012

Synopsis: A group of five survivors, armed with shotguns, axes and machetes, wander the back roads of a ravaged landscape looking for refuge in The Day, a terrifying look into a post-apocalyptic future. As war ravages humanity, destroying civilization and most of life on earth, the survivors realize they must do whatever it takes to stay alive. Lost, starving, and exhausted, they seek shelter in a seemingly safe abandoned farmhouse. However, while searching for food and resources, they unwittingly set off a trap signaling to their ruthless predators lying in wait to begin their deadly attack. With food and ammunition dwindling, the group must make a desperate final stand—over a 24 hour period—battling for their ultimate survival.

{2jtab: Blu-ray Review}

Component Grades Movie Blu-ray Disc Blu-ray Experience

Blu-ray Details:

Available on Blu-ray - November 27, 2012
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Audio: English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Discs: 25GB Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD); DVD copy

Produced by WWE Studios and released by Anchor Bay, the transfer is a pretty polished digital stone. The 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer ripples with Red One digital detail and, while most of the color has been drained from the image, there is a fine distinction between grays and blacks. There’s very little color in the picture per the art direction and that helps to develop the mood of the picture.  Shadows are thick. Grain is digitally added to rough the look of the film up a bit and, with few compression errors, the picture is as good as it gets. Action scenes get a bit of a lift from the 5.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtrack that accompanies the disc.  Dialogue is front-heavy and soft but still nicely separated from the rest of the sounds to be audible.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• Provided by Executive Producer/Director Doug Aarniokoski, Producer Guy Danella and Writer Luke Passmore, the commentary seems to have all the enthusiasm missing from the actual movie. Strange. The filmmakers seem very excited about the project but then totally miss the fact that this comes across as flimsy matinee offerings only. Not worth the listen, folks.

Special Features:

Oh, happy day! The release contains a DVD copy of the same movie.  Nothing to see here.  Move along.

{2jtab: Trailer}

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