Ghost and the Darkness Blu-ray Screenshots (Patreon)

Video

Debuting on Blu-ray, Ghost and the Darkness does not appear to use a recent scan. In fact, this looks outright analog in nature, from the buzzy grain to moderate (at best) resolution. On compression alone, this improves over the endlessly outdated DVD, even if that's not saying much. African locales meander in their definition, robbing the natural beauty. Sweaty faces produce appealing textural qualities. At the very least, grain remains intact and all sharpening is dialed down to zero. This does look like film, just a source not well mastered and quite fuzzy.

Passable color saturation enjoys the heated exteriors, filling them with warmth. Greens and blues escape, nicely dense in their purity. British flags flying in the background beam off the screen.

Average contrast makes use of sunlight to glisten off clothing and/or metals. Likewise, decent enough black levels build tension where needed, and especially come nightfall.

Audio

Bold in its width and scale, the 5.1 DTS-HD track (in addition to a stereo mix) isn't shy about ambiance. Insects and birds call out in every speaker, sometimes to a point of over-aggressiveness. The '90s were like that, and Ghost and the Darkness is a premium example. There's life everywhere in this movie, from minor winds to brush being pushed aside as animals stalk their prey. The old hospital attack, with lions on the tin roof, is begging for Atmos, although this track does superlative work too.

Lion attacks generate notable thrust in the low-end. Growls, alongside the pounding drums in the music, create a tense environment that adores the subwoofer. Gunshots make their mark too, the rumble hearty with each bullet.