Deepwater Horizon 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Deepwater Horizon 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

One of the worst environmental and corporate disasters of recent times is memorialized in the often exciting Deepwater Horizon. Lionsgate has released the film in both 1080p and 4K UHD versions.

Deepwater Horizon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date.

Deepwater Horizon is presented on 4K UHD courtesy of Lionsgate Films with a 2160p transfer in 2.40:1. Shot digitally (at various resolutions, according to the IMDb) with Arri cameras and finished at a 2K DI, the film boasts some surprisingly enhanced visual elements in this new 4K UHD version. There's noticeable new shadow detail in the many underwater scenes, and even in the many shrouded interior scenes on the rig itself. The palette, which isn't really extremely varied, does have some interesting new interstitial tones that offer some increased nuance. Fine detail is exceptional (and a little gruesome as the tragedy unfolds), especially in close-ups. Depth of field is also improved in the many establishing shots that offer wide open views of the ocean. I did notice a couple of interesting things in this 4K UHD version, though. A couple of brief scenes with characters outside on the rig suddenly seemed to be greenscreen material in this version, something that wasn't as apparent to me in the 1080p version. And in a continuing anomaly that several of us reviewers have mentioned on 4K UHD releases, the CGI flames look at least incrementally more artificial at this resolution. Interestingly, this (to my eyes, anyway) was much more apparent during interior explosion scenes than in the wide shots of the rig itself going up in flames.

Deepwater Horizon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

This release sports the same fantastic Dolby Atmos track detailed in our original Deepwater Horizon Blu-ray review.

Deepwater Horizon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Commendably, Lionsgate has ported over all of the supplements included on the 1080p Blu-ray which are detailed in our original Deepwater Horizon Blu-ray review.

Deepwater Horizon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Deepwater Horizon may strike some as at least a little exploitative, especially considering how recently these events unfolded, but there's no denying the fact that the film packs some considerable punch, both emotionally but also from a purer "adrenaline junkie" standpoint. This 4K UHD release boasts great looking video and astounding sounding audio, and comes Recommended.