Kill List 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Kill List 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 10, 2026

Ben Wheatley's "Kill List" (2011) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films. The supplemental features on the release include an exclusive new audio commentary by Ben Wheatley and Mike Hewitt of Severin Films; new program with stars Neil Maskell and Michael Smiley; new program with director of photography Laurie Rose and sound recordist Rob Entwistle; new program with editor Robin Hill; archival cast and crew interviews; vintage trailer; and more. In English, optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Note: The text below was first used in our review of StudioCanal's Region-B release of Kill List, produced in 2011.

Plenty in Ben Wheatley’s Kill List is left for the viewer to figure out. But this is why Kill List works so well. It is a constantly shifting puzzle that makes sense only until the next piece is added. Then the viewer must go back and reevaluate everything he has seen.

Jay (Neil Maskell, The Football Factory), a retired hitman, is visited by Gal (Michael Smiley, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer), his best pal, also a hitman, who asks him to get back in the business of killing. At first Jay declines the invitation because he does not want to face old demons, but his Swedish wife (MyAnna Buring, The Descent) changes his mind. A couple of days later, Jay and Gal end up in a hotel room, where The Client (Struan Rodger) gives them a list with the names of three men they must kill. Before they part ways, The Client also mentions their work in Kiev and that he is pleased to have them assist him because the two come highly recommended.

Jay and Gal are surprised to hear that someone actually knows about their work in Kiev. They did a job there years ago, and those who knew about it are no longer amongst the living. Nevertheless, they begin preparing for their new assignment.

Their first target is a priest. Jay and Gal quickly track him down in a remote church somewhere on the outskirts of the city. Moments before they kill him, he smiles and thanks them. Their second target is a librarian obsessed with pornographic videos who also appears grateful. Before he is taken out, Jay goes berserk and seriously scares Gal. Their third target is a prominent M.P. who lives alone in a large mansion. Jay and Gal arrive there on the night before the target is to be executed and witness a brutal Druidic ritual. When they foolishly attempt to stop it, all hell breaks loose.

Kill List is formerly divided into three large episodes. The first episode focuses on the two hitmen and their new lives. Both have tried to find peace and start from scratch, and both have failed. Jay is having serious problems with his wife, while Gal has finally met a girl he likes, but she does not understand him. Because their private lives have ruined the peace they require to be strong, the two have returned to the business of killing. While killing, they are regaining their strength.

The second episode focuses on the first two killings. This is where things begin to unravel. There are shockingly brutal scenes here that reveal why Jay and Gal come highly recommended. In the beginning of Kill List, they look like two ordinary blokes who are getting old like most other blokes do -- drinking, arguing with their wives and girlfriends, and playing tough rather than being tough. But they are not ordinary blokes. They are legitimate veteran hitmen. Of the most brutal kind, too.

The final episode is a genuine mind-bender. It can be interpreted in at least three different ways, and all make sense (to me). It turns Kill List upside down, and pushes it into a territory explored by several big David Cronenberg films. However, the atmosphere is such that it feels like Wheatley is paying tribute to Robin Hardy's cult shocker The Wicker Man.

Kill List is a journey, not a conventional genre film that tells a coherent story. It is slightly ambiguous but not irresponsible, moody but not pretentious. If seen at the right time, with the proper mindset, it could surprise in a way few contemporary films still can.

Last year, Kill List won Best Supporting Actor Award (Smiley) at the British Independent Film Awards.

Kill List 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Severin Films' release of Kill List is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-A "locked".

Please note that some of the screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc.

Screencaptures #1-27 are taken from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #29-35 are taken from the 4K Blu-ray.

On the 4K Blu-ray disc, Kill List can be viewed with HDR10. I viewed the film in its entirety on 4K Blu-ray and later performed several comparisons with its 1080p presentation on the Blu-ray.

I have one other release of Kill List in my library, which is this Region-B Blu-ray, produced by StudioCanal in 2011. I think that Kill List still looks rather incredible on it.

My understanding is that Kill List was not finished in 4K, so the current presentation of it on the 4K Blu-ray is not a native 4K presentation. Regardless, on my system, the 4K Blu-ray produced outstanding visuals, routinely boasting what I consider 'reference quality' delineation, sharpness, and depth. Obviously, Kill List is a very recent film, shot with modern cameras, so these great-looking visuals are not surprising. However, even on a very large screen, they can be pretty impressive. The HDR grade slightly expands the vibrancy, and possibly sharpness, of the visuals, but not everywhere. In several darker areas, most notably in the final act, there is plenty of footage that looks practically identical in 1080p. Also, blacks tend to be quite thick, but they look this way in 1080p as well. The fluidity of the visuals remains the same.

So, what does all of this mean? Should you consider an upgrade if you already have a previous Blu-ray release of Kill List? You probably should not. The HDR grade is effective, but the 1080p presentation already looks great. The 4K Blu-ray produces visuals that can appear marginally tighter on a very large screen, and therefore, they are preferable. However, I suspect that the discrepancy will be appreciated only if one is performing direct comparisons between the 4K and 1080p presentations. Considering all of the above, I would recommend the 4K Blu-ray only to folks who use very large screens or consistently project films on even larger screens.

Kill List 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

I revisited the film with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. It is a great, very effective track. However, a lot of the areas where it impresses are carefully optimized by the sound editor, whose appreciation of silence is the key strength of the original soundtrack. This said, most likely a new Dolby Atmos track would have helped a few areas and the final act become even more impressive. All exchanges are clear and easy to follow.

Kill List 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by Ben Wheatley and Mike Hewitt of Severin Films. The entire commentary is a trip down memory lane, with Wheatley recalling how Kill List came to exist, as well as how different parts of it were shot and what changes were made along the way. Sheffield provided the key locations seen in Kill List, and Wheatley explains why they were chosen. Also, there are some interesting comments about the casting choices that were made.

• Commentary Two - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Ben Wheatley and writer Amy Jump. It is light and entertaining, but also very informative. The commentators comment on how specific sequences were shot, where and how, their importance, etc. Additionally, there is an interesting analysis of the evolution of the main characters, as well as the final act.

• Commentary Three - this archival audio commentary was recorded by actors Neil Maskell, MyAnna Buring, and Michael Smiley. The bulk of the comments address the shooting process, and specifically, how various sequences were done, apparently while the three were still learning about their acting styles. Also, there are some interesting comments about their characters and fates.

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage British trailer for Kill List. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by Ben Wheatley and Mike Hewitt of Severin Films. The entire commentary is a trip down memory lane, with Wheatley recalling how Kill List came to exist, as well as how different parts of it were shot and what changes were made along the way. Sheffield provided the key locations seen in Kill List, and Wheatley explains why they were chosen. Also, there are some interesting comments about the casting choices that were made.

• Commentary Two - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Ben Wheatley and writer Amy Jump. It is light and entertaining, but also very informative. The commentators comment on how specific sequences were shot, where and how, their importance, etc. Additionally, there is an interesting analysis of the evolution of the main characters, as well as the final act.

• Commentary Three - this archival audio commentary was recorded by actors Neil Maskell, MyAnna Buring, and Michael Smiley. The bulk of the comments address the shooting process, and specifically, how various sequences were done, apparently while the three were still learning about their acting styles. Also, there are some interesting comments about their characters and fates.

• The Hitmen Return - in this new program, Neil Maskell and Michael Smiley discuss the early stages of their career, and recall their collaboration on Kill List. The two also have a few interesting comments about MyAnna Buring and her character. In English, not subtitled. (29 min).

• The Gift of Sound and Vision - in this new program, director of photography Laurie Rose and sound recordist Rob Entwistle explain how they transitioned from doing TV work to feature film work, and recall how they became involved with Kill List and what it was like to work with Ben Wheatley while creating a very particular appearance and ambience for his film. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Unsettling Soundscapes - in this new program, sound designer Martin Pavey recall his first meeting with Ben Wheatley and comments on the sound design he created for Kill List. Interestingly, Pavey mentions that one of the big strengths of the sound design is the elimination of sound in key sequences, which he claims was a brave decision that made them very disturbing. Also, explains why psychoacoustics were utilized. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

• Cunning Stunts in the Editing Room - in this new program, editor Robin Hill discusses the evolution of his professional relationship with Ben Wheatley, which started long before Kill List, explains how their admiration for the work of John Cassavetes and Sam Peckinpah strengthened it. Hill also explains how his work was influenced by Partin Pavey's unique sound design. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• Making of Featurette - this archival program presents various camera tests and raw footage from the shooting of key sequences from Kill List. It initially appeared on StudioCanal's Region-B Blu-ray release of Kill List. Presented with sound effects. (8 min).

• Interviews - presented here are several archival interviews, which initially appeared on StudioCanal's Region-B Blu-ray release of Kill List.


• Ben Wheatley - director Ben Wheatley discusses the origin of the film, the complicated narrative, the shocking violence, etc. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).


• Neil Maskell and MyAnna Buring - the actors discuss their involvement with the film, the characters they play, their impressions of director Ben Wheatley, the style of the film, etc. In English, not subtitled. (11 min).


• Claire Jones and Andrew Starke - the producers of the film discuss the origin of the film, its complex narrative, the characters, director Ben Wheatley's style, etc. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

• Assault on Sun Hill - presented here is Ben Wheatley's John Carpenter homage, filmed for FrightFest 2011, featuring Neil Maskell and MyAnna Buring. In English, not subtitled. (5 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage British trailer for Kill List. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

Kill List 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Fifteen years later, Kill List remains Ben Wheatley's best work. It is slightly ambiguous but not irresponsible, moody but not pretentious, a genuine mind-bender that the 1970s would have been proud to produce. I am very happy to see that the folks at Severin Films prepared this lavish combo pack because it is exactly the type of release Kill List deserves. If you do not yet have Kill List in your library, the combo pack should be on your radar. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.