Doom 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Doom 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 12, 2022

Universal has released 2005's video game-based Sci-Fi/Action/Horror film 'Doom' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/HDR video and DTS:X audio. No new extras are included.

In the year 2026, archeologists in the Nevada desert unearthed a portal to Mars, dubbed the Ark. Years later, scientists on the Red Planet are quickly killed off by a deadly force, and an elite squad of soldiers, known as Rapid Response Tactical Squad (RRTS) are sent in on a rescue mission. They are led by "Sarge" (Dwayne Johnson), and are made up of a band of tough misfits with unique personalities, among them John Grimm (Karl Urban). Grimm's sister Samantha (Rosamund Pike) works on Mars and serves as a liaison between the squad and the remaining personnel and facility. As Sarge and his men attempt to piece together the mystery, they begin to encounter the remnants of the missing scientists, bloodied, often severely wounded, and demonstrating highly irregular behavioral patterns. The situation becomes more perilous when it is discovered that the scientists are falling victim to genetic mutations that seek out the most aggressive and dangerous of individuals as host bodies. The team must remain sharp, frosty, and in command, containing the deadly outbreak and ensuring it never reaches the Ark -- and thereby Earth.

For a full film review, please click here.

Doom 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

It should come as no surprise that a Horror popcorn film like Doom, heavy on CGI and pervasively dark in nature, does not reach to the pinnacle of the UHD format. It should also not be a surprise that the end result is still a very good looking image and one that certainly blows the old Blu-ray out of the water. Universal previously released Doom to Blu-ray in 2009 with a VC-1 encoded transfer (that Blu-ray is also included in this set). This 2160p/HDR image greatly improves upon and refines the picture. Gone is the murky, processed look of the old image, replaced here with a more naturally occurring, sharp, crisp, and efficient image. The difference in clarity is night and day. While the old image holds up as a watchable presentation, this new release takes Doom to a whole new level. Skin details are tighter and look real. Clothes and military uniforms enjoy newfound crispness and tactile clarity. Gore and creature effects are revealed for all they're worth. Even the spartan locales find the best in the brushed metal look of the various facilities seen throughout the film. But it's really quite something to see the totality of the upgrade here. This is one of the more dramatic boosts from Blu-ray to UHD one is going to find, in part due to the fairly shoddy state of the original image, but fans are going to find a wonderfully complex picture that greatly improves in all areas. While not the end-all, be-all of the UHD format, make no mistake this is a dramatic upgrade from Blu-ray.

Likewise, the HDR color palette offers a major boost as well. The film's dark elements are stabilized with firmer depth and black level precision. Black uniforms, shadowy corridors, and bleak gray elements delight for radically improved accuracy and definition. The movie is beautifully secure in these newfound black depth details, solidifying the picture in dramatic gains that only secure its foundation. The various shades of gray are precision presented as well. Bright colors, fleeting though they may be, are a standout. Computer screen readouts offer vastly improved brilliance and accuracy. Red blood -- a dissection scene at 58-minute mark -- offers bountiful red gore colors to exceptional effect. Whites are newly brilliant and revitalized, especially Dr. Grimm's white lab coat. Skin tones look perfect within the given lighting and color timing parameters. This is a wonderful presentation from Universal and a massive improvement over the Blu-ray.

Doom 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Doom arrives on the UHD format with an all-new DTS:X soundtrack. The presentation is every bit as aggressive as one would want it to be. Gunfire pumps through with incredible depth and precision. Chaos reigns during action, with surrounds fully engaged and the top end used in great support. Listeners will feel completely immersed into action. Is this the cream of the crop of home theater audio? Not quite, but it's a whole lot of fun. Other elements are likewise in excellent working order. Music plays with the sort of width, power, and precision one would expect of a mainline Action film. Light ambient effects, like dialogue reverb, are naturally occurring throughout the stage. Dialogue clarity and positioning impresses throughout.

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

This UHD release of Doom contains the legacy content from the 2009 Blu-ray. See below for a list of what's included and please click here for full reviews. The legacy Blu-ray copy of the film is included with purchase. Universal has bundled in a Movies Anywhere digital copy code. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.

• Basic Training
• Rock Formation
• Master Monster Makers
• First-Person Shooter Sequence
• Doom Nation
• Game On!

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

Doom may be the ultimate in grisly, mindless fun. It's another so-so video game adaptation, but it has its moments, and enjoys decent performances from its leads, a creepy atmosphere, above-average special effects, and steady but unremarkable photography. The film may have worked better with less science and more creatures and mayhem, but the film features a decent story and average pacing that doesn't drag until the final act. The effort may not satisfy hardcore fans of the Doom video game franchise, but the average moviegoer looking for dark, gory fun with larger-than-life characters wielding super-sized weaponry might find it passable entertainment. Universal's UHD release offers a serious upgrade over the existing Blu-ray. It's well worth the upgrade cost, and the new DTS-X soundtrack is only icing on the cake. Recommended.