Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Death Wish 4: The Crackdown Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 21, 2019

J. Lee Thompson's "Death Wish 4: The Crackdown" (1987) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Australian label Umbrella entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include various vintage promotional materials for the film, audio commentary by author and film historian Paul Talbot; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Back in business

In the United States, J. Lee Thompson's Death Wish 4: The Crackdown was first released on Blu-ray by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. For an in-depth review of the film, please see my colleague Casey Broadwater's review of this release here.

Death Wish 4: The Crackdown Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, J. Lee Thompson's Death Wish 4: The Crackdown arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment.

The release is sourced from the older master that MGM worked with when it prepared the first high-definition release of the film in North America. I think that it is pretty good. It does have that light magenta push that is so typical on older masters that were prepared during the DVD era, but it also has plenty of other decent organic qualities. For example, depth and clarity range from good to very good, and delineation is typically equally pleasing. Some of the indoor footage reveals light black crush, but even there nuances are typically good (see screencapture #13). Close-ups, especially when there is an abundance of light, can look very strong (see screencaptures #3 and 16). There are no traces of digital tinkering (sharpening, contrast boosting, etc.). Grain is nicely exposed, though a new 2K/4K master will undoubtedly introduced an even 'tighter' grain field. Colors are stable, but this is the area where some of the most obvious improvements can be made. A new color scheme with healthier nuances with all strengthen the darker/indoor footage. There are no distracting debris, cuts, damage marks, stains, or warped frames to report. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to access its content regardless of your geographical location).

Death Wish 4: The Crackdown Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (48kHz, 24-bit). Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The audio is excellent. I am convinced that when the existing master for this film was prepared the audio was redone as well because there are no signs of deterioration, stability issues, hiss in the upper register, or other conventional age-related imperfections. Basically, the lossless track reproduces the native qualities of the original audio Mono track.

Death Wish 4: The Crackdown Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

NOTE: All of the supplemental features on this Blu-ray release are perfectly playable on North American Blu-ray players, including the PS3.

• Commentary - Paul Talbot, author of Bronson's Loose! The Making of the 'Death Wish' Films and Bronson's Loose Again!, delivers yet another wonderful commentary in which he offers a wealth of information about the production history of the fourth Death Wish film, some of the familiar and some of the new themes that are part of its narrative, the stylistic appearance of the film, the evolution of Charles Bronson's career, etc. Once again, Mr. Talbot's knowledge of everything Bronson was and did is exceptional.

• Theatrical Trailer - a vintage theatrical trailer for the film. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 720p).

• TV Spot - a vintage TV Spot take from a VHS release. In English, not subtitled. (1 min, 1080i).

• Broadcast Promo - in English, not subtitled. (1 min, 720p).

• VHS Previes - in English, not subtitled. (1 min, 720p).

• Image Gallery - a large collection of vintage promotional materials for the film.

• Cover - reversible cover.

Death Wish 4: The Crackdown Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you compare Death Wish 4: The Crackdown to the other four films in the franchise, it is easy to see that it is the weakest of the bunch. Charles Bronson does his thing, but the drama and the twists are way too predictable. I think that the final film, Death Wish 5: The Face of Death, is vastly superior, though it is also the most uncharacteristic. The fourth and fifth Death Wish films are available in this set from Australian label Umbrella Entertainment, which is Region-Free. Also, the release has the two excellent audio commentaries by Paul Talbot, the author of Bronson's Loose! The Making of the 'Death Wish' Films and Bronson's Loose Again!, whom I consider the ultimate authority on everything Bronson-related. RECOMMENDED.