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Alone AKA Final Days
R2 - United Kingdom - Signature Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Rick Curzon (1st April 2021). |
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The Film
 A world in chaos, a pandemic left unchecked and humanity on the brink of extinction… This is no time to be alone! As a deadly virus turns humanity into bloodthirsty plague carriers, it’s a fight for survival. Aiden (TYLER POSEY - TEEN WOLF) awakes to discover the world he knew overnight has become an apocalyptic nightmare. Locked in his apartment alone, he soon begins to lose all sense of time and as food runs out he must face the world in order to survive… Is there anyone out there and can they in turn be trusted? Also starring SUMMER SPIRO (WESTWORLD) and DONALD SUTHERLAND (THE HUNGER GAMES).
Video
One of two films scripted by Matt Naylor that tell precisely the same story although they apparently do it in differing ways. The first released, and by far the more highly regarded, was the South Korean #Alive (currently 88% on Rotten Tomatoes) and the second was this one - called Alone in the US - which Signature have retitled 'Final Days' for the UK (currently 25% on Rotten Tomatoes). They seem to utilise the same script; an unusual situation to say the least as both seem to have been scripted simultaneously. Usually an American remake comes well after the fact. This US version is decent enough with good performances and direction but the script and execution seem to be more formulaic when compared to the Korean which according to reports is funnier, quirkier and all-round more imaginative having greater depth of character; especially for the leading female role (Summer Spiro). In any case, it's worth a look on a slow evening and Donald Sutherland appears just after the one-hour mark in a lovely little cameo. Digitally lensed plague outbreak / zombie variation was shot using Arri Alexa Mini, ZEISS Supreme Prime Lenses (ta, IMDB!) and has an extremely sharp, clean, grainless image ... even in standard definition. Colours are fairly strong for a modern film with natural but warmish flesh tones. Black levels are very dark with some decent shadow detail and a little unintended crush on occasion. Contrast is supportive allowing detail to show best in well-lit exteriors or more brightly lit interiors. Darkly lit sequences can have a little muddy quality as to be expected for DVD although it's certainly not a problem. Obviously, being standard definition we're not seeing the full impact of the image as shot, I suspect being a smaller production it's native resolution is 2K. The brief moments of CGI look fairly low res. A Blu-ray would obviously do this greater justice and a full-on 4K UHD release with HDR (et al) even better. However, for DVD this is a decent transfer. MPEG-2 / DVD5 / 2.39:1 / 88:41 PAL
Audio
English Dolby Digital 5.1 English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: None The soundtrack is modest, typical for the kind of small-scale, closeted straight to video / streaming kind of film we have here. The 2.0 is basic stereo and is not encoded for surround. To get the rear effects you'll need to play via ProLogic II, HD-D.C.S. Studio, Neo:6 Cinema or similar. The 5.1 is obviously the way to go if you have the equipment to play it back with moments of welly and LFE. The opening when our hero discovers that the world has gone to hell is noteworthy with the crash of a Blackhawk helicopter into a building, rising score etc. There's not a great deal of surround activity and when there is is mainly score and ambiance. Actions scenes fair best - the scene where a zombie scales the side of the building and tries to break in for instance - but mostly this is a closeted sound experience. The 2.0 is essentially the same only with less range and depth. No subtitles are provided which is a crying shame.
Extras
Startup Trailers: - Willy's Wonderland (0:57) - Wrong Turn (1:01) The standard promos, meh.
Packaging
Standard black, DVD Keepcase.
Overall
Passable zombie flick although the simultaneously lensed Korean version - #Alive - is reportedly far superior. Alone - retitled Final Days - gets the barebones DVD treatment from Signature Entertainment in the UK. Image and sound are strong for the format but there are no extras. However, even on day one this is a cheap purchase so recommended. Buffs and collectors will want the BD releases from around the world but for the casual purchaser this disc gets the job done.
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