Clue 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Clue 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Clue is a murder-mystery dark comedy with a lot of surprises up its sleeve – including an ending with multiple scenarios for the answer to the game. Produced by Debra Hill (Halloween, Adventures in Babysitting), Clue is based on the beloved Parker Brothers’ board game. Executive produced by George Folsey Jr. (The Blues Brothers, Coming to America), Peter Guber (Innerspace, Tango & Cash), John Landis (Amazon Women on the Moon, Blues Brothers 2000), and Jon Peters (Innerspace, A Star is Born), Clue is adapted from the story idea by Jonathan Lynn and John Landis (An American Werewolf in London, The Blues Brothers). Fans of murder- mysteries with good dark comedy will find this to be a worthwhile classic.

The stage is set. The game is on. Wadsworth (Tim Curry), the dashing butler, and Yvette (Colleen Camp) the bosom maid, greet a group of six strangers who are gathered together for a suspenseful night at a large New England estate. The mansion is one full of secrets and a mystery that will unfold during the dark night. The entire group finds themselves in a curious scenario: Mr. Boddy (Lee Ving) has been the mastermind blackmailing everyone gathered for the evening festivities. Between the time the lights go out and when the lights are turned back on, a murder has been committed by someone at the estate. Mr. Boddy is dead. Who could the murderer be?

Could the killer be Colonel Mustard (Martin Mull)? Or perhaps the murderer is none other than Wadsworth? Or could it have been the mysterious Miss Scarlet (Lesley Ann Warren)? What about the offbeat and eccentric Professor Plum (Christopher Lloyd)? As the evening unfolds, the suspects must fight for the truth and follow the clues to solve the puzzle – including Mrs. Peacock (Eileen Brennan), Mrs. White (Madeline Kahn), and Mr. Green (Michael McKean). Who can solve the mystery of the murder? There’s even a “Singing Telegram Girl” (Jane Wiedlin) to liven the festivities.

The performances make the film. Clue is a classic comedy largely because of the ensemble cast of performers in the film. The cast do a great job with their respective roles and add a lot of charm. Stealing every scene is Tim Curry – who delivers the must-see performance of the film. Curry is undeniably great in his role and he adds a lot of comedic hijinks and charm to the production.

An energetic and jazzed cast add so much to the filmmaking – Colleen Camp provides some over-the-top ditz-meets-glamour with her maid role, Christopher Lloyd is eccentric in the best of ways performing Professor Plum, Eileen Brennan delivers pitch-perfect dark comedy as Mrs. Peacock, and Lesley Ann Warren is over-the-top showbiz as Miss Scarlet. The entire cast has fun with their respective roles. Everyone contributed something interesting and humorous to the film and this is largely why it has gained a cult following over the years.

The production design by John Robert Lloyd (Midnight Cowboy, The Owl and the Pussycat) is a highlight of the film. The design allowed for the film to fulfill a creative layout – one that walks a fine line within the realm of theatrical and cinematic. The production design is well suited for the storyline and brings the classic board game to life in a fun manner. The “mysteries” of some of the rooms and revolving doors makes for a more engaging tale.

The costumes designed by Michael Kaplan (Blade Runner, Flashdance) are one of the main highlights of the film. The costume designs are exquisite and add a lot to the production. Kaplan is a talented and important costume designer and the effort here adds to the fun in spades. The designs all showcase different sides of the characters and are well thought-out for the cast members. As a result, these costumes stay true to the engaging spirit of the game. Kaplan did great work with the film.

The cinematography by Victor J. Kemper (National Lampoon’s Vacation, The Final Countdown) provides the film a dark and mysterious atmosphere for a comedy. The cinematography isn’t bright, colorful, and bold – it creates a sense of mystery instead. The style of cinematography is well suited for the comedy film. Certainly, Kemper creates a cinematographic style that feels designed to bring the classic board game to life.

Edited by David Bretherton (Cabaret, Sea of Love) and Richard Haines (Lionheart), Clue is a well-paced comedy with a good sense of rhythm throughout the film. The editing is tight and well-constructed throughout the feature. The end of the film (and the three “endings” – so to speak) showcases an interesting editorial concept and the in-between cards fashion a sense of classic silent films.

The score composed by John Morris (Spaceballs, Dirty Dancing) adds some quirky flavor to the film and its sense of comedic timing. Morris has fun with the characters and the odd-ball journey the cast goes on during the course of the tale. The score is a solid backdrop to the mystery element, too.

Written and directed by Jonathan Lynn (My Cousin Vinny, Nuns on the Run), Clue is a reasonably fun and engaging mystery-comedy. The dark comedy element is in full effect and fans of the genre will be more interested in the film than those who prefer a different type of comedy. Lynn enjoys bringing out the best with the ensemble cast and that is where Clue shines the most as a production. Though the film might not be a total slam-dunk in some respects – the film does feel a bit dated at times, Clue is still a charming comedy and one that is easily enjoyed.

Clue 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on 4K UHD by Shout Factory, Clue is presented in 2160p HEVC / H.265 in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. The release is sourced from a brand-new restoration of the original camera negative. The 2023 4K scan was utilized for the presentation. The native 4K presentation also provides high-dynamic range with both the HDR10 standard and Dolby Vision. The presentation is an impressive and pleasing one that is going to satisfy fans of the film.

Clue has never been the most glamorous looking film and it has never been a film that seemed like a prime-example of what the Blu- ray or 4K format could offer audiences. As it stands, I found the 4K UHD presentation to be a faithful transfer that retains a cinematic aesthetic and that offers a nice upgrade for fans of the film. The 4K transfer eeks out a little extra detail in the image (though it might not be night-and-day with some soft scenes making the transfer appear a bit less robust than some feature-films scanned from the original camera negative in 4K).

I don't think the 4K resolution upgrade on Clue is as significant as with some feature-film presentations but it does admirably enhance the presentation. The HDR grade is also something that subtly enhances the presentation. The high dynamic range occasionally adds some nice ambiance to the film and makes the atmosphere even more mysterious. The HDR grade is certainly on the minimalistic side and doesn't cause the film to look as different as it can with some 4K transfers – with even brighter or deeper hues. Despite the 4K being somewhat reserved compared to other Shout Factory 4K presentations, it's an appreciable upgrade for fans looking to get the absolute best presentation possible on the format.

Clue 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono (24 bit). The lossless audio quality on the release is appreciable and enjoyable throughout the presentation. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand. The score is well integrated into the sound mix. The track isn't as engaging without surround sound but the audio dynamics remain faithful to the source. A quality lossless encode.

Clue 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

From the main menu, a selection can be made between viewing the film with the "trilogy ending" (with all three endings) or a random ending selection (adding an element of "mystery" or "surprise" to the conclusion of the feature-film).

NEW - The Perfect Motive: Directing Clue (HD, 27:47) – An exclusive interview with writer-director Jonathan Lynn.

NEW - Scene of the Crime: Producing Clue (HD, 22:04) – An exclusive interview with associate producer Jeffrey Chernov.

NEW - Not Just a Game: Scoring Clue (HD, 9:07) – An exclusive interview with film music historian Daniel Schweiger about the legacy and importance of the John Morris score.

Original Trailer (HD, 1:34)

Clue 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Clue is an entertaining dark-comedy mystery. The feature-film has gained a cult following over the years. The film brings to life the bestselling board game. The ensemble cast does terrific work – with Tim Curry stealing the show. Clue is a film that I have seen several times over the years and though it's not always a laugh-out-loud film for myself, the charm of the comedy makes it an entertaining experience. The 4K provides a subtle but appreciable upgrade over the previous Blu-ray release with some greater clarity and the benefit of high- dynamic-range (although the HDR grade isn't as showy as some 4K releases). Shout Factory has also provided a selection of new and exclusive bonus features that were not included on previous Blu-ray releases. For Clue fans looking for the best overall package, the 4K UHD release is the obvious choice. Recommended.