Komodo (1999)

Jill Hennessy	Victoria the Shrink
Billy Burke	Oates
Kevin Zegers	Patrick Connally
Paul Gleeson	Denby, Oates' Sidekick
Nina Landis	Annie, Patrick's Aunt
Michael Edward-Stevens	Martin Gris, Ferry Operator
Simon Westaway	Bracken, Pontiff Oil Exec
Bruce Hughes	Mr. Connally, Patrick's Father
Jane Conroy	Mrs. Connally, Patrick's Mother
Melissa Jaffer	Patrick's Grandmother
Brian McDermott	Sheriff Gordon
Nique Needles	Hippie in Flashback with Eggs

Director	Michael Lantieri
Producer	Tony Ludwig Alan Riche
Writer	Hans Bauer Craig Mitchell

Michael Lantieri made his reputation in film as a special effects man, helping to create the dinosaurs for Jurassic Park , so for his directorial debut, it's only fitting that he should find himself working with big lizards again. In Komodo , teenager Patrick ( Kevin Zegers ) is visiting an island off the coast of North Carolina when his parents (and his dog) are attacked and killed by a pack of large Komodo dragons. The reptiles were brought to the island by workers from an oil company, who foolishly allowed them to breed at will and run free. A psychiatrist treating the boy ( Jill Hennessy ) tells him (in one of the most poorly considered bits of advice in medical history) that he must face his fears by returning to the place where his mom and dad were attacked. With his aunt ( Nina Landis ) in tow, Patrick returns, only to discover that the dragons are out in force — and quite hungry. As in Lantieri 's previous work, the killer lizards were actually the product of the special effects department — not real Komodo dragons (who might not be inclined to kill on command). — Mark Deming

Edition Details
Chapters	24
Release Date	8/8/2000
Packaging	Keep Case
Screen Ratio	1.78:1
Subtitles	Spanish
Audio Tracks	ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1 ENGLISH: Dolby Digital Stereo
Layers	Single Side, Dual Layer
No. of Disks/Tapes	1

Personal Details
Purchase Date	8/8/2000
Owner	Thomas Eisenmann
Store	Best Buy
Purchase Price	$9.99
Condition	Excellent
Reviewed	Widescreen Review
Bit Rate	448 KB
Anamophic	Yes
Links	IMDB DVD Empire

Anamophic

The Komodo disc menu is terrific! Eye-popping emerald greens, a menacing orange eye and giant Komodo claws ripping apart a chain-locked gate to expose your menu choices...which are: director’s audio commentary, a making-of featurette, a short information piece on komodo dragons, komodo facts, a trivia game, photo gallery, cast and crew biographies, the theatrical trailer, bonus trailers for Onegin, Free Money, The Confession, Space Truckers, and Legionnaire.

Story Synopsis:
There’s a deadly secret on an island off the coast of Florida. An entire family is missing except for one child who is too traumatized to speak. A psychologist (Hennessy) is called in to uncover the truth by taking him back to the island, but she comes up again those 15-foot poisonous menaces as well. Can you guess what they are? (Laurie Sevano)

DVD Picture:
The anamorphically enhanced 1.78:1 DVD picture exhibits images that are generally sharp and detailed. Viewed in a completely blackened room to appreciate definition in the darkest scenes, shadow delineation is nicely rendered. Color fidelity sometimes appears a bit pumped up with reddish fleshtones, and blacks can seem a bit undefined, but otherwise hues are nicely balanced. Edge enhancement is evident, as well as minor aliasing problems and pixelization.

Soundtrack:
The Dolby® Digital 5.1-channel soundtrack, during intense moments, is aggressively engaged with prominent split surround activity. John Debney's music score is well-recorded, with an expansive, penetrating presence along with impressive deep bass extension in all channels. The low-end is certainly an impressive aspect of the soundtrack, with sub-25Hz energy along with substantial .1 LFE engagement. The dialogue has a "laid back" presence, with voices having a somewhat muted character.