Blu-ray Review: DEVOLVED

Devolved is the debut feature from Severin Films co-founder, John Cregan.  This isn't his first time behind the camera, though.  Like any good independent director, he's done a bunch of shorts, and there are always all of the extra features that he's worked on with Severin Films and the other companies with whom they collaborate.  All of that extra work helps his film go from a micro budget so-so potboiler to a pretty darned decent little satire.

For all of you who are/were picked on in high school and grade school, this film is for you.

When a whale watching boat sinks, its passengers make their way to a deserted island.  The group is split evenly between the populars and the nots.  The populars are basically defined by their desire to remain in high school forever.  It is a world they know and dominate, and they fear what will happen once they leave, so they see their shipwreck as a way to perpetuate high school until they are rescued or die, and they don't seem to care which.  On the other hand, the "nots" HATE high school and can't wait to get started in the real world where they believe their aptitude will get them ahead.  I was part of the latter group, and it is pretty obvious that Cregan was, too.

The film plays out with the two parties fighting for superiority and control of the castaways destiny.  The 'pops use their brute strength and charisma to take power, forcing the 'nots to use their brains to overturn the power structure.  The film takes a few twists and turns on its way to the ultimate conclusion, which shouldn't be too hard to guess, but it is really about the journey, not the destination.

Devolved works as a sort of a mix between Revenge of the Nerds (with slightly fewer tits) and Lord of the Flies (with slightly more tits).  It is a combination that actually does pan out pretty well.  This satire of deserted island films and high school politics is smart, and assumes that its audience is, too, and I like that.

Devolved isn't destined to be a classic by any means, but as a smart independent comedy and a first feature, it succeeds and gives me high expectations for John Cregan.  He's made a good film, but I think he's got a great one in him.

The Disc

Devolved was shot, like most independent features, on HD camera, which means that the Blu-ray is spotless.  The anamorphic image is perfectly clean and well balanced, no complaints here.  The audio is similarly clean and clear.  There is nothing spectacular, but there is nothing in the film that requires flashy surround tricks, so we're okay.

The bonus features are, as expected, plentiful.  Cregan does, after all, have a long history of creating bonus content for home video.  There are two audio commentaries, a rousing and fun cast commentary, and a more technical crew commentary.  I definitely recommend the cast commentary, it is raucous and rowdy, and actually fun to listen to even apart from teh film.  Also included are several making-of featurettes, which are informative, fun, and helpful for any aspiring filmmakers.  Rounding out the features are a couple of interesting "teen themed" shorts from Cregan, audition footage for almost the entire main cast, a music video for Cregan's band, and a trailer.

A very solid first feature and a solid Blu-ray presentation of John Cregan's Devolved.  I'm definitely looking forward to what he does next.