Every now and again a DVD comes out claiming to have a "unique" feature that then turns out to be rubbish. With the "reality format" horror movie "My Little Eye", the DVD really does offer something special that not only complements but enhances the film.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

Picture There's meant to be a slightly lo-fi grungy quality to the picture as we're supposed to be watching a webcast, but the transfer is sharp.

Sound The 5.1 sound mix is another fine example of how a mildly creepy film can be transformed into a far more terrifying proposition. Listen out for thumps and bumps as your speakers become the house around you, laden with whirring cameras.

DISC ONE SPECIAL FEATURES

Interactive Viewing Mode When you insert disc one, you'll be offered a choice of watching the film in normal or interactive mode. To watch the interactive version, you'll need a pass code (which you'll find on your DVD packaging).

Enter the number and discover a unique DVD feature that is very impressive indeed.

You get to watch the film as if you were on a website. A large window on the left plays the movie. To the right of the screen you get individual windows or "files" for each character. While watching the movie you can click on one of the character windows and watch their audition tape in full.

As the film progresses, you'll notice their pictures update and their individual odds change as to who might survive. Once a character is culled, their window goes blood red.

While the film is playing in the left window, there's an information bar below it to alert you to an alternate audio track allowing you to hear what the producers of the show are saying in reaction to what the characters are doing.

There's also a spare "file" window where you can track the movements of the characters throughout the house, and watch multi-camera shots of selected scenes.

Finally, as the movie goes on, an archive section builds up that you can access at any time to see extra footage of the characters, and what they've been up to around the house while the central action unfolds.

This might sound a little complex or even annoying, but the menu system is simple and the overall effect is quite chilling.

Audio Commentary If you choose to watch the film in normal mode, you can listen to director Marc Evans and producer Jon Finn chat about the production.

Both take time out to bitch about how hideous the Studio Canal logo is, before then settling down to explain what they were trying to create with "My Little Eye".

Given that the action is meant to take place over six months, the problem was where to start the movie within that period, something Marc and Jon agonised long over.

The budget was very low, yet the house that was built for the production was fully-functioning.

A lot of plot details are discussed, as are abandoned ideas and script changes, the footage of which you'll find on disc two.

DISC TWO SPECIAL FEATURES

After the excitement of disc one, this add-on disc is pedestrian by comparison.

Deleted Scenes There is 30 minutes of material here, and quite a bit of it will seem familiar as some scenes are used for the "archive" section of disc one. Other material consists of extended footage, trimmed in edit, and scenes that contributed towards an abandoned plot idea.

Marc and Jon provide an optional commentary for these scenes, but as a lot of the material was cut for timing and pace, there's not much they can say that's of interest.

Making of This 30-minute documentary does meander, but then it reflects the nature of the production, which was about trying out ideas before then deciding what to do with them. There's a wealth of behind-the-scenes footage, and you do get an honest look at what the production team were thinking and doing during and after the shoot.

Additional Extra Features Also on disc two is an image gallery, trailer, teaser, and TV spots.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Region: 2
Ratio: 1.85:1 (anamorphic frame) (1.33:1 viewing area)
Sound: Dolby Digital
Audio Tracks: Multiple languages
Subtitles: Multiple languages
Captions: English
Menus: Interactive animations
Special Features Subtitles: None of the special features come with subtitles.

This DVD was reviewed on a JVC XV-S57 DVD player.