6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Minutes after Laurie Strode, her daughter Karen, and granddaughter Allyson left masked monster Michael Myers caged and burning in Laurie's basement, Laurie is rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, believing she finally killed her lifelong tormentor. But when Michael manages to free himself from Laurie's trap, his ritual bloodbath resumes. As Laurie fights her pain and prepares to defend herself against him, she inspires all of Haddonfield to rise up against their unstoppable monster.
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, James Jude Courtney, Will PattonHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 44% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The original Halloween remains the quintessential genre defining Slasher film. The franchise has built up a small army of films, including direct sequels, indirect sequels, more direct sequels, anniversary films, oddities, remakes, sequel remakes, another remake, and probably one or two others that just don't come to mind. That all leads to Halloween Kills, a technically impressive but thematically shallow film that hits all the right notes and introduces a few good and new idea, but not enough to overcome the wash-rinse-repeat formula that has a vicelike grip on its core.
The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.
Universal's 2160p/Dolby Vision UHD presentation of Halloween Kills improves on an already excellent Blu-ray in all key areas. Perhaps most
notably evident as the film begins is the superior black level depth. The nighttime exteriors are much deeper and darker but no more absorbing of
surrounding detail. Such holds through the film, much of which takes place at night and in low light. The contrast is just outstanding in these scenes,
and the flashbacks in particular deliver an insanely beautiful image that is perfectly balanced across the entire color grading spectrum but also
considering
the super crisp textures and practically perfect film-like look. The present-day scenes are exemplary, too, slightly different from a textural perspective
but no less flattering and beautiful. The higher resolution allows for sharper facial and clothing details, superior environmental awareness, and an
overall much more reliably intimate and firm picture than the Blu-ray can provide. Color depth and vividness are greatly improved under the Dolby
Vision
parameters as well. Red blood leaps off the screen, even in low light, with a vividness and authenticity the Blu-ray cannot approach. Skin tones are
excellent and whites are far brighter and more vivid. There are no source or encode issues to report, either. While fans are getting an excellent image at
1080p, this is the far superior picture for color rendition and textural accuracy; it is clearly the best way to watch the film at home.
The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is a well-rounded representation of contemporary Slasher audio engineering. The track takes off from the beginning and never relents. While it may not be as prodigiously loud as some other tracks, its balance and attention to detail and spacing make is a very good listen. The track delivers music with spacious definition and absolute clarity; the series' main theme has never sounded so good or presented so evenly distributed around the listening area. The track sounds full and well detailed, offering a steady diet of high yield atmosphere, including subtle cues and raucous crowd din, that instantly pull the listening audience into the experience. Various action scenes offer clear detail to squishy gore, knife wounds, and various weapons being flung about the listening area. The overheads carry quite a bit of information, most of it supportive rather than discrete, but the extra spacing certainly brings home the terror like never before. Dialogue is clear and center positioned for the duration.
This UHD release of Halloween Kills includes a fairly substantial array of bonus content as well as two cuts of the film: Theatrical
Version (1:45:07) and Extended Cut (1:49:09). A Blu-ray copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere
digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.
Halloween Kills elevates the body count and ramps up the style but ultimately adds little of worth to the franchise. What the film lacks in series defining twists and turns or even unpredictable events it adequately masks with over-the-top gore and some slick filmmaking that prefers to play it cool and simple rather loud and frenzied. The movie is fairly frustrating, then, and maybe just a few tweaks form Slasher greatness. It's on the cusp but the recycled story content keeps it from stepping ahead of the pack. Universal's UHD is brilliant, however, boasting rock-solid A/V presentations with a bundle of extra content. Recommended.
2022
2018
Collector's Edition
1988
Collector's Edition
1978
2022
Unrated Director's Cut
2009
30th Anniversary Edition | Includes "Terror in the Aisles"
1981
2017
2013
1988
1986
Unrated
2010
Uncut
2013
Unrated
2005
Collector's Edition
1989
1981
Limited Edition
1980
Collector's Edition
2013
2014
2023