Child's Play 3 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Child's Play 3 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Shout! Factory has released the fan favorite 1991 Horror sequel film 'Child's Play 3' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/Dolby Vision video and Dolby Atmos audio. This two-disc set includes a bevy of bonus features, most of which are new for this release. Most all of them are included on the Blu-ray, which also includes remastered video and audio. This is a feature-packed set sure to delight fans.

Child's Play 3 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from the remastered 1080p Blu-ray disc included in this set.

Child's Play 3 looks good on 2160p/Dolby Vision UHD. The picture holds to its naturally grainy, filmic roots. Grain is presented with balanced light density in well-lit scenes, but it does spike in lower light scenes (the darker office interior at the 7:45 mark, for example). The picture holds firm to a pleasing textural elegance. The clarity gains are not astronomical over the included Blu-ray, which has also been remastered from the 4K scan, but do present the finer details on the military uniforms, for example, with obviously sharper intricacy and tactile efficiency. This is not the sharpest picture in the history of the UHD format, nor the most complex or perfectly elegant or even the best in the first three films which Shout! has released to UHD (that honor still goes to Child's Play 2). However, this is a good, solid, dependable image that fans should enjoy.

Shout! Factory has also graced the film with Dolby Vision color grading. The result is more color splash and greater tonal robustness. The Dolby Vision grading brings out a brighter overall appearance while still offering reformed tonal depth and accuracy. The picture is not visually intoxicating by its nature; some of the interiors around Kent are either flat and bland or warm and wooden. However, the light blue military hats, for example, show much improved accuracy and vibrance compared to the Blu-ray. Black levels are a bit deeper, and whites are notably crisper. Flesh tones look fine. The UHD shows no encode problems, either.

For those concerned only with the Blu-ray image, it compares very favorably to the UHD. While it lacks the sharper textures and the bolder colors, what is here is very good and format appropriate, capturing essentials like faces and hairs in close-up with all the necessary clarity. Color reproduction is a strength, too, for both natural elegance and overall depth and accuracy.

Child's Play 3 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Dolby Atmos track is in good balance and working order. Sharp musical cues are clear and offer expert stage saturation and precision clarity to individual instruments in the larger orchestral score. The track may not be super high energy but what is present is nicely integrated with good reference level volume and definition. The track incorporates plenty of surround support and honest bass, the latter never pumping out prodigious poundings but certainly helping to give depth to music and horror elements alike. Light atmosphere is nicely defined and immersive while dialogue is clear, center focused, and well prioritized for the duration. The two-channel lossless track offers a very good listen as well. The track is nicely full and wide with clear and efficient musical and action cues. Dialogue images to the center area.

Child's Play 3 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

It appears that this is the second release for Child's Play 3 on physical high definition outside of the disc originally packaged with a franchise boxed set and a year later individually. I do not have access to those Universal discs, but according to the review, that disc only included a trailer. This set includes a healthy assortment of content. Shout! labels most of it as new, minus one of the commentaries, the additional scenes, the TV spot, and the trailer, but since they are new to Blu-ray/UHD they will be marked as such. This two-disc set includes a non-embossed slipcover. No digital code is included.

• NEW! Audio Commentary: Director Jack Bender discusses the film. This is the track that Shout! marks as "new" in its press materials. Also included on the UHD disc.
• NEW! Audio Commentary: Producer Robert Latham Brown shares his thoughts on the film. Also included on the UHD disc.
• NEW! Ride the Frightening - An Interview with Writer Don Mancini (1080p, 13:18): Mancini candidly reflects on the poor script, the film's negative reception, aging Andy, new actors and performances, casting problems, Director Jack Bender's work, production design, the film's Labor Day weekend release, and more.
• NEW! War Games - An Interview with Actress Perrey Reeves (1080p, 5:48): Reeves discusses her audition and landing the role, how her character mirrors Sarah Connor in Terminator 2, working with Director Jack Bender, life on the set, anecdotes from the shoot, the various Chucky dolls, the franchise's longevity, and more.
• NEW! Chucky Goes East - An Interview with Producer David Kirschner (1080p, 6:34): The discussion begins with talk of the franchise's legacy and longevity, hiring Director Jack Bender, re-casting Andy, Mancini's writing, Chucky's fate in the film, the fourth film in the franchise, and more.
• NEW! Carnivals and Campouts - An Interview with Producer Robert Latham Brown (1080p, 4:21): Hiring Jack Bender, resurrecting Chucky following the second film, anecdotes from the shoot, the carnival sequence, and his kids' cameo appearance in the film.
• NEW! Midway Centurions - An Interview with Actor Michael Chieffo (1080p, 4:15): The actor who played a security guard in the film talks about his wife's role in the second film, the carnival setting, the hardest part of playing the part, why the franchise resonates, and more.
• NEW! Shear Terror - An Interview with Makeup Artist Craig Reardon (1080p, 7:36): Turning down the original film, working on this film, building some of the scary elements in the film, helping to make a few of the death scenes, and more.
• NEW! Unholy Mountain - An Interview with Production Designer Richard Sawyer (1080p, 6:58): Chucky's death in this film, Horror production design elements, and more.
• NEW! Extra Scenes from the Broadcast TV Version (1080i, 4x3, 5:38): Complete with the SciFi logo bottom right.
• Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 4x3, 1:40).
• NEW! TV Spot (1080i, 4x3, 0:31).

Child's Play 3 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Iffy film, solid UHD. Shout! has done right by the film, anyway, delivering a very good UHD picture and satisfying Atmos audio (along with a rock-solid original 2.0 track). Plenty of new extras are included. Recommended to film and franchise fans.