The Lazarus Effect (DVD): Review

The Film

The Lazarus Effect, an interesting take on an age old fascination of man to bring back the dead and prolong life. It’s a horror / sci-fi.

A group of medical students, while trying to find a way to prolong the time doctors have to treat a patient, stumble upon a possible way to bring recently dead patients back to life. However, as would be expected, things will inevitably go wrong.

While not a story that will tax the brain by any means, the film is likely to promote some debate on religion and the ethics of modern day medicine.

There are a decent amount of “jump scares” in the movie, and even in subsequent viewings, those still manage to catch the viewer on occasion.

While engrossing, the film is a bit short, and one is left feeling cheated slightly. There is a lot more that could have been covered in the story, had the premise been pushed just a little more. The Lazarus Effect, however, is bound to appeal to lovers of horror and sci-fi alike, and it’s refreshing to see Olivia Wilde (who plays Zoe in the film) in a slightly different role, playing opposite Mark Duplass (Frank in the film).

The Lazarus Effect is an entertaining film, and one to pass the time on a lazy winter’s day.

Disc And Bonus Features

The disc is encoded at a high average bitrate, so can be scaled up to a larger screen via software or hardware if desired. However, the black letterbox bars are not a solid black. Looking closely, there are some visible dark green artefacts there. This don’t distract from the actual video image though. There was also a slight encoding issue at one point on the disc. This lasted only a brief moment, and does not cover anything vital.

Sound is presented in a 5.1 mix, however it makes very little use of the surround channels. The viewer also has the option to select a stereo downmix.

There are unfortunately no bonus features included on the disc.

The Lazarus Effect is now available to purchase on disc in South Africa.

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb

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