Hell's Ground

Image and sound quality on the Region 2 PAL DVD is as you might expect for a low budget, independent, digitally shot production of current vintage: good enough for its likely audience – especially the inclusion of a 5.1 Dolby Mix – if unlikely to win awards for outstanding work, or stretching the possibilities of the medium.

In my film review I discussed the matter of background context and whether the filmmakers were trying to do something more than just make a Western-style scary movie.

The commentary track from co-writer/director Omar Khan provides the answers, as well as one of the most informative and entertaining I have heard for a long time.

He talks about the film’s cinematic reference points, national and international, and of how it engages with various aspects of wider society and culture, to make the film into something more than just a curiosity, along with providing plenty of practical detail on its production – the problems of shooting at night, with an bulky, noisy generator and other things that befall the first time filmmaker through to an outbreak of dengue fever in the vicinity – and its censorship history.

The other extras comprise a seven-minute segment of the film’s premiere in Lahore, giving an impression of the domestic audience it was intended for – young, Westernised filmgoers, especially horror fans – and the kind of reception it received from them, indicating that horror audiences are much the same all over. A 12-minute featurette, Ice Cream Zombieland, with Khan on camera, revisits some of the film’s locations and makes an interesting point on the Pakistani-specific nature of the film’s references and in-jokes, compared to the universal reaction received by the burqa-wearing, morning star wielding maniac.

The music video is worth watching for curiosity value, despite being no different from those included on many Hollywood releases.

The trailer has been constructed and edited to emphasise the shocks and screams. Also included are four other Danger After Dark releases.

All told, a good package that helps elevate the film by giving a better sense of its place and accomplishments.