Plot: What’s it about?
A killer is loose on the streets of Chicago, a cold and unfeeling murderer who preys upon anyone who happens to be within reach. This brutal murderer also happens to be a car, a sleek and souped up ride that takes orders from no drivers and seeks to fill the streets with human blood. This motorized beast can also shape shift into other machines, which means the victims face stacked odds against their survival. As dangerous as the car is out on the road, now it has been towed to an impound garage, so those also inside are trapped with the bloodthirsty vehicle. The overnight crew might think most nights are long, but none have ever been as long as this one. As the car stalks those within the garage, changing form to lure them in, it looks as if the rampage will leave no one alive by night’s end. Can anyone somehow survive this onslaught and will the truth about the car be uncovered, or will its violent ways remain a mystery never solved?
I was seriously psyched when I saw a new “killer car” movie was being released, but my optimism dropped when I noticed it was rated PG-13. While this kind of movie can work without scads of blood and naked women, I had hoped both elements would be prevalent. I have to say that Super Hybrid pushes the PG-13 limits in terms of bloodshed, so this one has the kind of violence the premise demands. But in the end, the film couldn’t compete with the films it pays tribute to, like Christine and The Car. The twists in the plot are cool and help it stand out, but they’re not as fleshed out as I’d like. And not to harp on the violence, but more blood and more dark humor would have helped a lot. More potent than your average SyFy original but still on the bland side, Super Hybrid had the potential to find a cult audience. But it tends to play it safe with the violence and is too serious for its own good, which leaves me to recommend it as a rental.
Video: How does it look?
Super Hybrid is presented in 1.78:1 widescreen. The standard release of this film looked good, but this version blows that out of the water. The increase in depth is sizable, with a lot more subtle visual cues apparent. This opens up the visuals and allows the images to shine. The detail isn’t up there with hi-def’s best transfers, but this does look damn good. The colors benefit as well, with richer hues, while contrast is spot on and never wavers. So if you’re going to watch Super Hybrid, this is going to be the way you’ll want to see it.
Audio: How does it sound?
A Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack is on deck and while it sounds good, it wasn’t up to the level I expected. I wanted some vicious engine noise to add to the terror, but this isn’t quite that dramatic. The ambient audio is fine, with more depth than the standard release, but still doesn’t immerse you into the experience. But don’t think this is a bad soundtrack, as it sounds good and shows no errors to speak of. There is a good amount of surround use and while not explosive, this track delivers a solid, active soundtrack that doesn’t disappoint. This disc also includes English and Spanish subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a short promotional featurette.
