6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 3.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.4 |
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: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
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.
Universal brings Halloween Kills to Blu-ray with a generally striking 1080p transfer. The presentation is organic and filmic, boasting a handsome cinematic flavor that both hearkens back to the original's look, especially in the 1978 flashbacks (which extends to titles as well) while holding to all of the creature comforts of a modern-day production. The film is very much a technically sound and well-made entry, maybe the best since the original in that regard, which helps to assuage the sting of the otherwise repetitious nature. The material translates beautifully to Blu-ray; viewers will appreciate the level of fine point depth and detail to the frame. There's a fine sense of organic dimensionality even in the 2-D realm. Details are very good, including the charred mask, various examples of clothing, faces, and of course gore which is to be seen in all of its extreme, envelope pushing excess. Color output satisfies; much of the film takes place at night and in low light interiors where there's less opportunity for tonal brilliance, but balance is nevertheless in evidence even in the most challenging of light deprived shots, scenes, and sequences. More brightly lit exteriors or interiors offer positive color depth and contrast, playing to a neutral and attractive balance. Flesh tones are solid, black levels are terrific as a vital structural component, and red blood is as intense as necessary. The image shows no signs of source or encode faults. This is a very good-looking image from Universal.
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.
Note that the DVS track is not available with the Extended Cut version of the film.
This Blu-ray 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 DVD 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 Blu-ray 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