Chameleon Blu Ray Review (SRS Cinema)

Chameleon is a 1999 science fiction horror short film written, produced, shot, edited, and directed by Chris Woods (Blood, Guts and Sunshine 2, Chaos A.D., Taste Me: Death-Scort Service Part 3, Make Them Die Sleazy!, Amerikan Holokaust, and Earth Girls Are Sleazy). Identity becomes a nightmare when a young nurse finds herself overtaken by an unspeakable hunger. Cathy Myers (played by: Deborah Thomas from The Firm) is attacked by a patient during her hospital rounds but the assault leaves more than just physical scars. Soon after, she begins to lose her grip on reality, she’s consumed by an insatiable urge that drives her to absorb the very essence of everyone around her. As her humanity erodes and her blood thirsty appetite for souls intensifies, Cathy really must confront the monstrous force that has stolen her identity and it’s taken control of her life in the worst possible way!!!! Chameleon is something completely different from Florida director Chris Woods. He’s known for his graphic sleaze and gruesome gore but this sci-fi horror hybrid doesn’t really have either. Chameleon feels a no budget version of The Hidden or Fallen. I’ve always loved this unique sub-genre where bodies are taken over by something evil. Hell even Voorhees did it for Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday. This aims more for suspense, thrills, and a psychological approach rather than straight up violence. Deborah Thomas as Cathy and Jennifer Shumaker (Riley Rewind, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, The Bling Ring, Bad News Bears, and Bewitched) as Sara stand out the most when it comes to performances in this. The rest of the supporting cast includes Louis Iacieviel, Robert Apperson (Navy Seals: Untold Stories), Zach Bressler (Rooster), Helaine Cira (The List), Craig Leitschuh (Bleed), Luis Matos (Shadow of a Victim), Natalie Weaver (Under Suspicion), and Chris Woods (Hobocop). It’s a small cast of unknown characters here. This is definitely a pre-Sleaze Box style from Woods because it’s not really like his later films at all. Body Horror is such a fun concept to run with, the possibilities are endless with it. Cathy is a bad person to run into at this point. Anyone that her encounters her ends up in an awful situation. It’s a curse that keeps on giving. Chameleon actually has a solid look to it’s haunting visuals. It has a rock soundtrack that gives it’s own little atmosphere as it builds up all of the chaos. It has a good flow to it especially since it’s shorter so it doesn’t drag at all. It’s an easy viewing that keeps itself suspensful and entertaining. It was better than expected, it showcases the potential of a young filmmaker!!!! Let’s discuss this high definition presentation and special features from SRS Cinema! This 1080p (1.85:1) uncensored transfer is honestly good for being an independent late 90’s production. I am assuming it’s from a newer restoration because how it looks here. It has an English: Dolby Digital 2.0 track on the disc. The rock soundtrack overpowers at times during Chameleon so that’s what pops out the most when it comes to the audio. All of the dialogue is very clean, the tension is elevated, and the music has huge boost to it. It has English SDH subtitles. It has a little under a minute “Interview” with Chris Woods. He thanks SRS Cinema for giving this it’s Blu Ray debut on home video. He says this was his senior project in college. It was in several film festivals and it’s one of his favorite films of his own. The coolest thing about this home video release is that it has a nice variety of short films directed by Chris Woods. It has the little over 6 minute “Broken Tomorrow” from 2004, it has the almost 3 minute “Red Moon” from 2003, little over 3 minute “Remembrance” from 2002, the little over 13 minute “Sever” from 2005, and the almost 15 minute “To Live Is To Die” from 2003. Most of these shorts are very experimental and they are all different from each other so it has multiple styles to them. Some of them even feel more like they were put together around the same time as Chameleon before Woods went with a totally different vibe for his later efforts. I’m guessing most of these films are either very rare or even unreleased because only one of them is actually listed on IMDB. It has a “Trailer” for Chameleon. It has a variety of SRS Cinema related “Trailers”. It’s a professionally made on demand BD-R. It’s available everywhere right now, CHECK IT OUT!!!!