THE TERROR (2018)
THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON
Label: Acorn Media International
Region Code: B
Rating: Cert. 18
Duration: 453 Minutes
Audio: English PCM 2.0 Stereo and DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.78:1)
Directors: Edward Berger, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Tim Mielants
Cast: Jared Harris, Ciarán Hinds, Tobias Menzies, Adam Nagaitis
The horror-period-drama The Terror is based on the best selling, same-titled novel of the same name by Dan Simmons, and tells a fictionalized account of the real life Royal Naval expedition in 1845 that ventured deep into the Arctic in search of a Northwest Passage, which ultimately disappeared. The expedition of 129-men is led by three captains; Sir John Franklin (Ciaran Hinds, Game of Thrones) who oversees the expedition, while Captain Francis Crozier (Jared Harris, Chernobyl) commands the HMS Terror, and Captain James Fitzjames (Tobias Menzies, Casino Royale) commands the HMS Erebus. The pompous Franklins fails to heed the advice of the more experienced Crozier, a whiskey loving Irishman, who warns that if they continue press on they run the risk of becoming stuck in the winter Arctic ice. Sure enough, both ships end up frozen in the ice for the winter, for what could be months or years.
As the harsh winter wears on the frigid sub-zero environment begins to take a toll on the men. The crew is wracked by strange malady, the food rations have been tainted, and as tensions mount mutiny becomes a possibility. Things grow worse when they encounter a mute Inuit woman, Lady Silence (Nive Nielsen), whose presence is somehow linked to a demonic polar bear-like spirit the Inuit call "Tuunbaq", who begins to savage the crew.
The Terror is a enthralling character study of rugged men whose sanity and resolve is tested by the tribulations of mother nature, the worse elements of human nature, and the influence of the unknown. While it's based on the real life Royal Naval expedition in 1845 the story takes many liberties with the known facts and infuses the story with sublime Gothic horror elements, each episode is taught with palpable dread, and it is impeccably well-made.
The period setting is executed near flawlessly, everything about the series feels authentic, and the horror elements are also top-notch. This show did not shy away from the gore, we get all manner of grisly content, from bloody demon-bear maulings to dismemberment, skulls ripped open to expose brains, and then there's the cannibalism... it's quite a horrific season of television.
Audio/Video: The first season of The Terror arrives on a 2-disc Blu-ray set from Acorn Media International, all 10-eposides are presented in 1080p HD and framed in 1.78:1 widescreen. This is a wonderful looking show and the HD presentation is strong. The period set film was shot with a mixture of practical and visual FX to archive the Victorian era setting both in England and in the cold Artic. The detail in the image is strong, Victorian garb has some great looking texture, close-ups offer fine detailed facial features and hair. The scenes that use an abundance of digital effects look softer and less stellar, but it's a good mix of practical and digital and the world-building on display is fantastic
Audio comes by way of English PCM 2.0 Stereo and DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround with optional English subtitles. The sound design is excellent, throughout the show we get the sounds of shifting timbers creaking on the ships, there's plenty of low-end, and the sounds of the icy wind blowing combined with the snowbound visuals will send a chill down your spine. The score from late composer Marcus Fjellström also has a full-bodied representation in the mix.
Extras on the disc include a 3-minute interview with Ridley Scott discussing the show, a 4-minute Visual Effects featurette, a 4-minute look at the characters and
10 Behind the Scenes featurettes for each episodes that total about 44-minutes. The 2-disc release of The Terror (2018) arrives in an oversized 2-disc keepcase with a one-sided sleeve of artwork. The discs inside feature and excerpt of the same artwork on each.
Special Features:
- Ridley Scott on The Terror (3 min)
- A Look at the Characters (4 min)
- The Boat and Visual Effects (4 min)
- Behind the Scenes Featurettes – Inside the Episodes (44 min)
The first season of The Terror was even better upon re-watch, it has so much going for it, from the the exceptional production design, the period setting, the stellar cast, and the elements of the unknown. It all comes together into a terrific slice of snowbound terror that comes highly recommended for all connoisseurs of well-made, engaging TV terror.
Screenshots from the Blu-ray:
