Based on various works by Edgar Allen Poe, this gothic horror mini-series is bound to send chills down your spine. A mysterious slew of deaths strikes the Usher family, all of which are explored in grotesque detail throughout the show. In episode 7, when a certain character meets his end, listen out for the haunting, slow strike of a pendulum through your center channels. Chunks of huge debris fall from above, with sounds of impending destruction recreated through your height channels. Your subwoofers will rock your room at ominous intervals, before the inevitable collapse of the building, while the character finds himself helpless to do anything but meet his imminent doom.
Leave the World Behind (R)
Executive-produced by former US president Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama through their Higher Ground Productions banner, Leave the World Behind is an apocalyptic psychological thriller film that digs deep into its criticism of human nature through a series of increasingly unsettling events. Look forward to the hair-raising moment where an oil tanker runs ashore on a leisure beach. The deep rumble of the oil tanker's engine as it approaches, while beachgoers begin to flee, will give your subwoofers a workout. Then, listen out for the shrill screech of wheels through your center channel, as self-driving Teslas that were attempting to evacuate crash into each other at full speed.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Dune (PG-13)
In this wildly acclaimed film adaptation of the book, the heir to the noble Atreides family finds himself embroiled in an interstellar war for the galaxy's most valuable asset. The ability of your surround speakers to reproduce height effects will be put to the test, as characters flee from huge sandworms that displace the desert in looming mountains of sand. Inevitably, the different factions find themselves facing off against each other in the final showdown. Every anti-airship cannon Atreides fires toward the Harkonnen airships will have your subwoofers shaking your room, while the center channel makes the efforts of ground forces known as they engage in a fierce clash of weapons.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐⭐⭐
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (R)
A big Hollywood star is recruited for an undercover mission to stop the sale of a deadly new weapons technology by arms broker Greg Simmonds. Look out for the scene where Simmonds, as part of negotiations, shows off the Maverick Missiles he controls. The center channel will bring out the unnerving nonchalance in his voice as he cues for the missiles to rain down. Your subwoofers will pound with every missile strike, as they destroy the satellites in the background.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐⭐⭐
Fair Play (R)
Fair Play centers on a pair of lovers Luke and Emily that work in the same competitive hedge fund. Lust and love spiral into manipulation and distrust in this emotionally charged show. As a rift opens between the couple following an unexpected promotion, tempers are raised and barbs are exchanged with increasing hostility, both whispered and in direct argument. A powerful center channel will articulate the nuances of these conflicts with clarity, bringing out the crisp, chilling sound of glass shattering during one particular scene. Doubtlessly, this is a show that will keep you on the edge of your seat all throughout.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐⭐
The Equalizer 2 (R)
The action-packed sequel to Equalizer (2014) features the return of Robert McCall, a retired CIA Black Ops operative-turned-Lyft driver who moonlights as a vigilante on the side. When his long-term friend is murdered, Robert embarks on a quest for vengeance that brings him around the world. Your surround channels will capture the crisp sound and positional accuracy of every gunshot as Robert's opponents try to snipe him from afar. As Robert engages in battle, your subwoofers will reverberate with the hurricane raging in the background, bringing you straight into the tension of the fight.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐⭐⭐
Black Mirror (R-21)
Black Mirror is a popular TV series that delves into the dark side of humanity amid advancements in technology. In the "Crocodile" episode (Season 4, Episode 3 - 01:20-02:30), listen for a directional transition in sound when Rob gets into a car accident with the cyclist; you will hear loud thumps at the right, followed by a distant crash of the lifeless body at the left. To complete the surround sound experience, the up-firing speakers will add height effects to the point of impact between the cyclist and the car, giving you the impression that the cyclist's body is sent flying above the vehicle.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐⭐
Witcher (R-21)
Geralt of Rivia is a witcher, a mutant with special abilities who hunts down and kills monsters for money. The Nilfgaard empire is attempting to enlarge its realm, causing unrest throughout the land. As Geralt fights his enemies, pay attention to how the sounds of sword clashes change from the left to the right channels. Also, the low grunts by the river monster (Season 1, Episode 1; 00:20-01:52) and powerful blows delivered to Geralt will fill your room with strong bass effects, putting your subwoofers to the ultimate test.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐⭐⭐
All Quiet on the Western Front (M-18)
The story follows teenagers Paul Bäumer, Albert, and Müller, who voluntarily enlist in the German army, riding a wave of patriotic fervor that quickly wanes once they encounter the harsh realities of life on the front. Paul's preconceptions about the enemy and the right and wrong of the conflict rapidly crumble. However, as the clock ticks down to the armistice, Paul is forced to fight until the bitter end for no other reason than to fulfill the top brass's desire to end the war on a German offensive. If you have a subwoofer, get ready to be amazed by the earth-shattering explosions and pulse-pounding gunfights. When the helicopters fly past the characters, pay attention to the direction of the sound. If you own a home theater system, you can have the epic experience of a large aircraft flying over your head.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐⭐⭐
The Adam Project (PG)
Adam Reed, a 12-year-old still grieving his father's sudden death the year before, walks into his garage one night to find a wounded pilot hiding. This mysterious pilot turns out to be the older version of himself from the future, where time travel is in its infancy. He has risked everything to come back in time on a secret mission. Together, they must embark on an adventure into the past to find their father, set things right, and save the world. Feel the room rumble from the gunfights and chase scenes, which will be intensified by your subwoofers. With surround speakers, you will feel like you are in the center of the action and accurately perceive the glass shattering, car engine accelerating, futuristic gunshots and many other fast-moving surround effects around you.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐
Spiderman: No Way Home (PG)
With Spider-Man's identity now revealed, our friendly neighborhood web-slinger is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life as Peter Parker from the high stakes of being a superhero. When Peter asks for help from Doctor Strange, the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man. With the rushing winds and in-air flying actions, you will feel like you are gliding through the air like Peter. Bass rumbles from the fights will also send tremors into your living room to complete the surround sound experience.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐
Athena (M-18)
The tragic killing of a young boy ignites civil unrest in Athena, with the older brothers at the heart of the conflict. The problem is complicated by the siblings' discovery of their family's secrets. Be ready to hear the floor rumble as the smoke bombs and grenades go off. The fighting scenes would showcase the impressive directional surround sound of your system if you have physical surround speakers. Be prepared to feel the intense gunfire and physical blows that were exchanged during the civil unrest with the help of your subwoofer.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐
Bullet Train (M-18)
This movie does not waste any time in getting the heart racing. Ladybird, an unfortunate assassin, is trapped in the world's fastest train with four others who are tasked to kill each other. His mission puts him in direct contact with potentially fatal hazards and adversities. Your living room will shake with the sound of screeching rails and the assassins' heavy blows, giving you a heart-pounding experience if you have powerful subwoofers. The ricocheting gunfire will paralyze you with fear as if you were actually there. Join Ladybird in his comical yet intense adventure in the bullet train.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐
Moon Night (TV-14)
EPISODE 1
This Disney+ Mini TV Series follows Steven Grant and Mark Spector, two alters of a man struggling with disassociative identity disorder as they are trust into a mystery involving ancient egyptian demigods. As Steven falls asleep one night, he wakes up in the Alps where he witnesses a cult meeting. Unbeknownst to him, he has in his possession a mysterious item that they are looking for. Catch the impressive sound direction in the following scenes; there is an explosive energy to the car chase escape scene that will push your subwoofers and surround speakers to the limit, immersing you in a 360° surround bubble. Hear the voices in Grant's head all around you as you are introduced to his alter ego Mark who has a completely opposite personality. The most notable example of amazing sound composition comes at the end of the episode when the Moon Knight makes his introduction. Moon Knight is a show you will not want to miss if you are looking for something to watch with excellent surround sound.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Stranger Things (TV-14)
SEASON 4 EPISODE 1 (00:00 - 09:40)
The 4th Season of this critically acclaimed Netflix original series once again shows us how much attention to detail is placed into the audio mastering for the show's opening scenes. Feel the spaciousness of the soundstage with your surround system as you are taken across the neighborhood on a bike ride for newspaper delivery. The amount of detail that can be heard from surround speakers is astonishing; from the the intricacies of the bike pedaling and the wheel hitting the road, to the drop of the newspapers on the doorstep of homes, to the dogs barking in the background. The deep rumble of the subwoofer will shake your living room as you are taken back in time to a secret factory where a horrible and deadly experiment has gone wrong. Experience a disturbing sense of immersion as you see and hear the dreadful and tragic events that took place over 50 years ago. The combination of gorgeous visual direction and hyperdetailed, immersive sound mixing is hard to beat when experienced with a dedicated surround system that can handle the deep lows, the excellent mids, and the airy and haunting highs. Note: This scene is not for the faint-hearted due to blood, gore and graphic/disturbing imagery.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
No Time to Die (PG-13)
Most Bond films open with a big set-piece, but No Time to Die constrastingly starts off in a more subdued tone, taking time to ramp up to the action which is plentiful as the movie progresses. Hans Zimmer composed a beautiful score to this Dolby Atmos film, enhancing the mood of quieter moments to the most intense brawls. Immerse yourself in the storyline, as you hear well-balanced dialog with great clarity from your soundbar’s center channel throughout the film. As what many would call "the most immersive movie scene of 2021", your surround speakers and subwoofer(s) will be put to the test. Hear and feel the deadly velocity of the bullets as they whizz by your head during the Chase Through Matera. The sounds of the car engine and subsequent explosions in the scene are accentuated, reverberating through your room with deep bass rumble coming from your subwoofer(s). The impressive sound effects and music do an amazing job of supporting the film's adrenaline-filled scenes that will be sure to leave you in the middle of the action. Available On Demand