6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A young man and his three younger siblings, who have kept secret the death of their beloved mother in order to remain together, are plagued by a sinister presence in the sprawling old country house in which they live.
Starring: George MacKay, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, Mia Goth, Matthew StaggHorror | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
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)
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Magnolia Home Entertainment is venturing into the brave and now not-so-new world of UHD with Marrowbone, the directorial debut of Sergio G. Sánchez, screenwriter of The Orphanage and The Impossible. The title is an interesting choice for a 4K/HDR upgrade, because it's not an action spectacle or an effects extravaganza. Still, the UHD provides a subtle but noticeable visual improvement over the standard Blu- ray of this unexpectedly disturbing tale.
(Note: Screenshots accompanying this review have been captured from the standard Blu-ray.
Additional 1080p captures from that disc can be found here.)
The image on Magnolia Home Entertainment's 2160p, HEVC/H.265-encoded UHD of
Marrowbone appears to be the result of an up-rez from a 2K digital intermediate. Nowhere does
the UHD disc reveal a significant addition to the resolution and detail of the already impressively
detailed 1080p Blu-ray. Nor does the
HDR grading
noticeably alter the film's generally subdued
palette, except perhaps in the greenery of forests surrounding the isolated Marrowbone house,
which are even more lush and inviting in this presentation.
Where the 4K disc shines is in the film's stark contrasts between light and dark, especially
between the light that streams into the house through windows, doors, even cracks in the roof or
is provided by interior lamps. Working within the limitations of his avowed intention to rely on
natural light, cinematographer Xavi Giménez has achieved wonderfully expressive compositions
by balancing these light sources against areas of darkness and figures dimly outlined. The
capacity of HDR to accentuate both the light and the dark adds new contrast to Giménez's
painterly frames and intensifies the sense of a battle between the secret interior world of the
Marrowbone family and the outside world that they are fighting to keep at bay, even as they
contend with even greater darkness inside. The extended sequences in the house's attic that
dominate the film's final act take full advantage of HDR's finer delineation of blacks to make the
dire events clearer and more intelligible (I'm being deliberately vague to avoid spoilers).
Marrowbone's UHD treatment doesn't offer an eye-popping makeover, but it does what a good
4K/HDR presentation should do, which is to improve the visual experience while maintaining its
essential character.
[System calibrated for UHD using (a) a Klein K-10A Colorimeter with a Custom Profile made in
CalMAN using a Colorimetry Research CR250 Spectroradiometer; (b) Murideo Fresco SIX-G
UHD signal generator with HDR10 and Dolby Vision capability; and (c) SpectraCal CalMAN
Software v. 5.8.2.85. Calibration performed by Kevin Miller of ISFTV.]
The UHD contains the same Dolby Atmos track previously reviewed.
Unlike most major studios, Magnolia has included the same supplements on the UHD disc that
appear on the standard Blu-ray. The sole differences are in the additional trailers, where the two features from Shudder Films
have been dropped,
and the omission of the vestigial BD-Live feature. (All of these can still be found on the included 1080p Blu-ray.)
It's always encouraging when another publisher embraces the latest format, and Magnolia's
venture into UHD should be applauded. While the label's first outing may not fall into the "must
have" category, it's a worthwhile upgrade for anyone who is a fan of Marrowbone (or thinks they
might be). It's certainly the best available presentation of the film and, therefore, recommended.
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Extended Director's Cut
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Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
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