Video: 4/5
Audio: 5/5
Extras: 5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
"This is my Hometown? Wait..."
NOTE: Like "Psycho Street", this is an official release, but burned onto a BD-R for the public.
Hometown, a no-budget horror film from Jay Byrne. It's an anthology that's based around two killers who kidnap a teenager and hold him hostage in a basement until they kill them. The kid stalls the two killers and begins to tell them multiple stories, first one about a girl named Rachel. Then about a man who sells his soul to the devil. Then finally, a story about a killer babysitter.
Why am I not going in depth about this film? It's complicated in a way to describe it without spoiling the whole plot of the film revolving around the kidnapped teen. I think that the stories were interesting, I liked the second short, "The Request". In which Keith Cooper does a good job in doing, mostly, a one man show with the board of "Harold the Goat". I give it a 3/5.
Video: 4/5
Hometown is presented in 1080i and in the aspect ratio of 1.78:1. Shot digitally, video is mostly flawless. However, not much grain is present throughout the film. Some of the digital alterations done in post were kind of a turn off. Like the shots of Rachel seeing herself as a demon in her dreams. And at the end where you see the sky turn red in the trees. I also don't think that the video needed to be switched from color to B&W in all of the basement shots in the "Abduction of Jordan" segments. But, I can say, since this was all shot digitally and it's nice and clean, I give the video a 4/5.
Audio: 5/5
We have the film presented in LPCM 2.0. Sound is pretty good. Considering that there's atmosphere and music comes and goes, I think that this type of audio is suitable for the film. I have no complaints about this portion of the disc. 5/5 for the audio.
Extras: 5/5
Hometown on Blu-ray comes with a bonus DVD disc with extras. Extras on the Blu-ray consist of, "Fund Raising Featurette"; we have Jay Byrne and other cast and crew basically in a room with a few people asking for money and showcasing the first shot segment "House on King Road". A "Gag Reel" which goes for almost 10 minutes. "Still Gallery", which is not the average one you see. We have production shots, promotional shots, lobby cards, and posters. Pretty good. Then we have four trailers present for the film. And final bonus on the Blu-ray is an audio commentary with Jay Byrne, Katie Rysz Byrne, and Mike Welch.
Then on the DVD disc, we have "Now What?" which is what the group is doing after the film was completed. This twenty minute documentary shows them all going to conventions and Jay being interviewed. We have the original ten minute version of "The Sitter" which was made almost twenty years ago. And finally, we have a look at Jay's next film; "You Better Watch Out". A teaser and a video log on the film are included. I give the extras a 5/5. If you have a lot of time to kill, I think it's worth the watch.
Overall: 4.5/5
If you love indie films and search out in the deep, dark bowels of the internet for low/no-budget films, I'd say it's worth a watch. Jay packed the discs with tons of extras which are worth giving it a shot. With great video, sound, and extras; I give this release a 4.5/5.
