Dom Robinson reviews
Black Sheep
Distributed by
Icon Home Entertainment
DVD: 
Blu-Ray:
Producer:
Screenplay:
Music:
Cast :
Henry Oldfield: Nathan Meister
Angus Oldfield: Peter Feeney
Experience: Danielle Mason
Tucker: Tammy Davis
Mrs Mac: Glenis Levestam
Grant: Oliver Driver
Doctor Rush: Tandi Wright
Muldoon: Richard Chapman
Winston: Louis Sutherland
Mike: Mick Rose
Filmed in New Zealand where it's claimed there are 40 million sheep and 4 million people, the premise of Black Sheep
is that Henry (Nathan Meister, right) has always been at loggerheads with his older brother Angus (Peter Feeney, below-right) and,
returning to the farm 15 years after trying to get over the time when Angus killed his pet sheep in the most gross way possible,
he gets his share of the farm after his father died around the same time.
However, you know he's not just going to pocket the cheque and go home, otherwise it would make for a very short film,
and the farm is broken into by a couple of environmental protestors, one of whom, Grant (Oliver Driver), inadvertently
*causes* the problem that brings about the zombie sheep, while the female half of the duo, Experience
(Danielle Mason, right) becomes the heroine of the day.
However, it all turns out to be connected with Angus' plans to genetically modify the way sheep are and how they behave,
but he seriously gets more than he bargained for.
Clearly made on a small budget, the direction of all the set pieces, and the landscape shots of the countryside, throughout
the film are fantastic. The cast work together very well, including support from Tammy Davis as farm-hand Tucker and
Glenis Levestam as token old woman Mrs Mac.
The film paces itself brilliantly and, overall, while it's certainly no
Shaun of the Dead, it's a good laugh and well worth a look.
The DVD box and even the
IMDB state that this film was shot in 2.35:1,
but presented here in 1.85:1 it shows no sign of cropping and with great attention to detail in each frame, as well as with
regard to directional sound. Checking the technical side of things on the latter, it states the film process as Super 35,
one from which a decent 16:9 print can be struck, so that explains that although it's going to confuse the average punter
who's not familiar with such things nor explain why Icon went with the open-matte version. Still, it doesn't detract
from the overall enjoyment of the film at all.
Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1, Black Sheep brings you fantastic surround sound FX for sheep bleating all over the
place, plus a shocking moment in the opening scenes In fact, such great sonic moments are dropped in throughout the movie.
The Extras consist of a feature-length Audio Commentary with writer/director Jonathan King and Nathan Meister
(Henry) and a Making Of Black Sheet (31:32) in anamorphic 16:9. Expect soundbites from key cast and crew members,
plus lots of on-set footage, anamatronics and mentions of genetic engineering.
There are also five short deleted scenes, totalling around four minutes, and all with optional audio commentary. Presented
in 2.35:1 letterbox format, I wouldn't rush to put any of these scenes back in the main feature as they're so short that they
barely have any substance to them.
Finally, these are rounded off with a Blooper Reel (2:27) - again with 2.35:1 letterbox clips, which is worth a quick
look but isn't essential, and a Trailer (1:59) in anamorphic 1.85:1.
Pre-DVD letterboxed trailers for Hot Tomale, Brooklyn Rules, Unearthed and 30 Days of Night are also included
but these should only be in the extras menu, not before the main DVD menu.
The film contains 16 chapters, which is fine given how short it is, subtitles are available in English for the hearing-impaired
and the main menu has some subtle animation and is scored with a looped piece of music from the film.
FILM CONTENT
PICTURE QUALITY
SOUND QUALITY
EXTRAS
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OVERALL
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Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 2008.
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DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
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