Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.0 |
| Video | | 4.0 |
| Audio |  | 3.5 |
| Extras | | 3.5 |
| Overall | | 4.0 |
Creature from the Black Lagoon 4K Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Justin Dekker March 17, 2024
'Creature from the Black Lagoon 4K' returns in this Walmart-exclusive steelbook courtesy of Universal. The 1954 film features the last of the
classic Universal movie monsters, a fraternity that began with 'Dracula' (1931) and includes 'Frankenstein' (1931), 'The Wolf Man' (1941), 'The
Invisible Man' (1933), 'The Mummy' (1932), 'The Bride of Frankenstein' (1935), and 'Phantom of the Opera' (1943). All of the legacy special features
are brought forward to this release.
A
Blu-ray with a 2D and 3D presentation is also included, as is a Digital Code. Please scroll down to the 'Special Features and Extras' section below for a
discussion of this new steelbook.
For a discussion of the film please refer to Kenneth Brown's review of the
2013 Blu-ray release.
Creature from the Black Lagoon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
For a review of the 4K 2160 presentation, please read Martin Liebman's review of the 2023 UHD release. To learn more about the 1080p 2D and 3D presentations, please
revisit the 2013 Blu-ray
release.
Creature from the Black Lagoon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
For an analysis of the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono lossless audio track that accompanies each video presentation, please refer to the review of the
2013 Blu-ray release.
Creature from the Black Lagoon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
Comic legend Alex Ross' beautiful black-and-white art of the Creature from the Black Lagoon, which fans first saw as part of his Universal
Monsters series at the 2017 San Diego
Comic-Con, graces the cover of this Walmart-exclusive steelbook. The image features the Creature (or Gill-man) rising from the murky depths and
reaching out for
unaware swimmer Julia Adams. Various fish swim through the lower half of the artwork while the top half is dominated by Adams' mostly submerged
body. The menacing Creature is, as he should be, perfectly centered, his right arm extended and mere seconds away from his quarry. Ross' signature is
found in the lower right corner. The original giclee on canvas limited edition sells for a princely sum these days, so this is a very economical way for
collectors to add this moody and evocative artwork to their collection. The reverse is simply the film's logo floating in a textured black-and-white field.
Opening the steelbook we find a collage of images from the film, with a profile of the Creature as the main image on the left side, and Richard Carlson
holding a frightened Julia Adams serving as the focal point for the right (under the discs). The text of the title on the black spine is centered and is very
similar to the font used on the back.
Creature from the Black Lagoon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Alex Ross' artwork has always been stunning and the piece used for the cover of this steelbook is no exception. In this one image, the tension and
emotional core of the film are captured
perfectly. While the image of the Creature on the standard 4K UHD release of Creature from the Black Lagoon is certainly attractive, this
release provides a
beautiful alternative for fans of the film and steelbook collectors alike. Recommended.
