Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Green Room 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

This "Hitler" guy sounds like a real jerk.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III March 30, 2024

Jeremy Saulnier's harrowing Green Room made plenty of waves upon its 2015 release, shocking audiences with a viscerally thrilling story about a struggling hardcore punk band's violent encounter with neo-Nazis at a small show in the Pacific Northwest. Bolstered by committed performances and even a bit of well-placed stunt casting in the form of a former Starfleet captain, Green Room has stood the test of time and, unfortunately, feels more relevant than ever with a recent resurgence of "white power" jackasses in our increasingly turbulent public and political landscape.

For a synopsis of the main feature, please see Jeffrey Kauffman's review of Lionsgate's 2016 Blu-ray. I obviously take a slightly more favorable view of the film than that earlier review; Green Room isn't the kind of movie you're going to pop in and watch regularly (especially while eating food)... but while it has you in its formidable grip, it's almost impossible to pull away from. And while Green Room honestly kind of speaks for itself, the wealth of new supplements included in Second Sight's new 4K edition might just lead to a deeper appreciation for the filmmaking on display here.

Green Room 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

NOTE: These screenshots are sourced from the included Region "B" Blu-ray disc, reviewed separately here.

While Second Sight's new 2160p/HDR10 (Dolby Vision compatible) transfer of Green Room might easily be dismissed as "just an upscale" of what's very likely the same source material used for Lionsgate's 2016 Blu-ray (no indication was made otherwise), it's fairly clear that every attempt was made to wring the highest level of detail from Green Room's dark and frequently dreary source material. The film's appropriately grimy atmosphere is contained to just a handful of locations during the bulk of its 95-minute runtime, where low lighting and graffiti-lined walls set the mood during its most intense and visually memorable moments. Greens, oranges, and blues prevail depending on the light source, with deep shadows and true blacks even dominating a handful of sequences that, in lesser hands, might be swallowed up by black crush, banding, and other compression artifacts. Not so here -- this is a perfectly well-handled transfer and nicely encoded to boot, with disc mastering and QC credited to the reliable Fidelity in Motion; as such, it runs at a consistently high bit rate from start to finish. Fine detail is tack-sharp even in the most unlikely of places, and the HDR10 pass does wonders for its particular color palette and contrast level; on the whole, it clearly outpaces Lionsgate's Blu-ray in almost every major category. Its native 2K elements don't lead to an overwhelming improvement in certain areas, but this is such a finely-polished presentation that, at times, it might feel like seeing Green Room for the first time. It's absolutely worth the upgrade, even if Second Sight's included Blu-ray is decently impressive in its own right.

Green Room 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The memorable and occasionally heavy DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix featured here sounds more or less identical to the one included on Lionsgate's 2016 Blu-ray, so please see that linked review for more details. Please note that this release lacks optional Spanish subtitles, but retains a set of similar English (SDH) subs during the film only.

Green Room 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc release ships in a rigid slipcase with Second Sight's usual assortment of goodies: in addition to both the 4K UHD and Blu-ray in a dual-hubbed slim Digipak case, also inside is a 120-page, square-bound paperback book with attractive design elements, photos, and a handful of brand-new essays by Eugenio Ercolani and Gian Giacomo Petrone, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Josh Hurtado, Jolene Richardson, Shelagh Rowan-Legg, and Thomas Watson, plus a bound set of six collector's art cards. It's a nicely-made package and remains the only way to get both formats at once; more frugal fans, as always, can opt for the separate stand-alone 4K and Blu-ray editions without the printed extras.

Both discs contain the new supplements below, as well as two legacy extras from Lionsgate's 2016 Blu-ray.

• NEW! Audio Commentary - This exclusive audio commentary pairs up Prince Jackson (the esteemed host of Bloody Disgusting's "Knight Light" podcast) and Reyna Cervantes (horror writer and fellow podcast host). Both journalists are clearly long-time fans of the film; the latter considers it an all-time personal favorite, due to his history as a former punk musician who played in the Pacific Northwest. Naturally, his personal admission sets the tone for the first part of this commentary, which mixes second-hand perspectives with genuine appreciation and analysis of the film and its legacy during the last decade. Not the most essential listen, but entertaining.

• 2015 Audio Commentary - This legacy track features writer/director Jeremy Saulnier. It's definitely the more informative of the two, even if adding a few cast or crew members would've livened it up in several spots.

• NEW! Going Hardcore (32:08) - This interview with writer/director Jeremy Saulnier repeats a few bits and pieces from his 2015 commentary but likewise takes a more retrospective slant, allowing him plenty of time to candidly discuss his early career and financial struggles long before Green Room, and of course how they helped him fine-tune his visual storytelling ability. Unsurprisingly, it soon turns into a more traditional account of the main feature's production, from casting to surrounding himself with a talented crew, but refreshingly details plenty of challenges and even regrets along the way. A solid interview, even if it's familiar at times.

• NEW! Punk Rock (15:45) - Another new interview, this sit-down with actor Callum Turner (lead singer "Tiger") offers an alternate perspective of the production and on-set experience including details about his earlier TV and film experience, auditioning for the role, his personal thoughts on his character, and more.

• NEW! Rocking Out (15:26) - Sibling composers Brooke and Will Blair, long-time family friends of Jeremy Saulnier, speak candidly about their clumsy approach to scoring his earlier films, lessons learned along the way, their excitement about working on Green Room, and the personal experiences they brought to the job.

• NEW! Going Green (15:05) - Production designer Ryan Warren Smith speaks about his time working on Green Room (which began in 2014 after he got the script), visualizing an appropriate style, meeting the writer/director, aiming for realism within this particular subculture, using a defunct punk club for inspiration, and more.

• NEW! Nazi Punks Fuck Off (14:40) - Thomas Caldwell, noted critic from Cinema Autopsy, speaks frankly about Green Room and several older films' portrayals of neo-Nazis and all the pesky socio-political implications that come with it. Needless to say, anyone who proudly wears a red hat in public won't like this one.

• Into the Pit (9:57) - A 2015 behind-the-scenes featurette with cast and crew interviews.

Green Room 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Jeremy Saulnier's harrowing Green Room finds the writer/director in fine form, with its visceral subject matter and ruthless efficiency creating an unforgettably gritty and thrilling atmosphere. Tightly constructed and well-acted with an excellent original score to match, it's a total package film that frequently flirts with greatness. Second Sight's welcome 4K UHD, available as a stand-alone release or as part of this Limited Edition combo pack, clearly outpaces Lionsgate's 2016 Blu-ray with a solid upscaled 2160p/HDR10 transfer and plenty of thoughtful new supplements. It's an essential purchase for fans, whether you choose to go all-in or opt for the more economical standard edition.