Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Men 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Men is a brilliant and complex folk horror feature-film. Produced by Andrew Macdonald (Ex Machina, Trainspotting) and Allon Reich (Never Let Me Go, Annihilation), Men is one of the most original and gripping horror films in recent years. Starring Jessie Buckley, Men is a powerful horror film with a thought provoking and daring title. That rare horror gem that is gripping from beginning to end.

Harper (Jessie Buckley) is a recently widowed woman who has decided to set her sights on a relaxing trip away from the chaos of her life. Determined to have a good time, Harper rents a house in the quiet and idyllic looking village of Cotson, Herefordshire. Greeted by the strange owner of the house, Geoffrey (Rory Kinnear), who has a peculiar grin on his face, Harper finds herself getting a guided tour of the house. Can she enjoy her stay?  

 As the story unfolds, it is revealed that Harper was the victim of extreme emotional distress and manipulation from her partner, James (Paapa Essiedu). As Harper attempts to retrieve from the dark recesses of her mind, she discovers the town isn’t quite as peaceful and charming as it first appeared. The town is full of strange and dangerous men – the kind of men who question her actions and her own words. The town is full of men protecting other men – including a naked man who chases her around thecountryside and stalks her at the rented home. Can Harper escape the town and the madness it inhabits before it is too late?

Jessie Buckley delivers a powerhouse performance. The entire film rests on her shoulders and on her ability to maneuver the role alongside the cast of increasingly creepy and inept men. Buckley is an outstanding star and she provides the film with a wonderful sense of charisma. The role was an outstanding match for her personality and her range as an actress. The performance provides subtleties that enhance the film and the quiet horrors of the story.

The production design by Mark Digby (Annihilation, Ex Machina) is exquisite and stands as one of the most complex elements of the production. Alongside the art direction by Chris Lightburn-Jones (The Lives of the Saints), Men features an incredible array of design elements that build on the concept established from the beginning of the film. The design is surrealistic in some respects (with some sequences providing this eerie element in greater measure than other scenes). While there is an element of naturalism and authenticity to the dramatic scenes as well, Men manages to evoke a exquisite sense of horror that is equally undeniable.

The score composed by Geoff Barrow (Ex Machina, Annihilation) and Ben Salisbury (Free Fire, Annihilation) is epic and haunting. The original score for Men is one of the best horror film scores composed in years. The music has some simple yet eerily effective and haunting notes that are quite impossible to ignore. The score certainly highlights the surrealism of the film and the terror of the story. The effort is undeniably powerful.

The costumes by Lisa Duncan (Been So Long, Awaiting) are evocative and powerful. The designs fit the characters and the story. There is a sense of cohesion to the designs. The work was a perfect match: enhancing the story and the performances. A great design effort by Duncan.

The cinematography by Rob Hardy (Ex Machina, Mission: Impossible – Fallout) showcases the outstanding beauty of the filmmaking. Hardy is a gifted cinematographer and Men is a visual tour-de-force of cinematography. The filmmaking excels with gripping visuals that provide the entire film with gravitas and depth. The effort is unmistakable and the film is all the more haunting, melancholic, and terrifying as a result.

Written and directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation), Men is one of the best modern horror films. The film has a pitch-perfect concept and Garland is a master storyteller exploring the lives of the characters with outstanding social commentary. A character-study as much as it is a horror feature, Men is a tense and captivating experience.

The haunting filmmaking is surrealistic and the visuals from Garland help the conclusion to stay with you long after the end credits roll. Edited to perfection by Jake Roberts (Perfect Sense, Hell or High Water), Men is a must-see modern horror classic. One can’t look away from the piercing visuals.

Men 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on 4K UHD, Men is presented in 2160p HEVC / H.265 in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. The release is presented with an outstanding 2160p encode. The 4K UHD encode provides a massive bit-rate of 67.13 mbps. The release has an impressive looking high dynamic range (HDR) grade. The HDR was enormously well implemented during the presentation – allowing for both brighter whites and deeper blacks.

The entire color spectrum is enhanced by the effective engineering of the HDR grade. The 4K encode provides excellent clarity and detail for Men. The image is razor sharp and looks even more splendid with this stunning presentation than it did when I viewed the film during its theatrical run. It is also worth noting that the 4K UHD disc provides such a huge bit-rate that it is significantly greater in the encode quality compared to any video streaming platforms or services. Even the best streaming video service for bit-rates and encodes (Apple TV), is nowhere near as good as the best encoded 4K UHD discs can provide. The high bit-rate encoding allows for a more immersive and engaging experience – one that remains free from buffering issues or egregious compression artifacts.

Men 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound. The lossless audio track is outstanding. Even despite the lack of an atmospheric Atmos track, the DTS-HD Master Audio sounds as dynamic and engaging as the best audio tracks. The lossless sound mix is first-rate and detail is crisp throughout the presentation. The haunting score is well reproduced and makes a bold impression throughout the feature-film. The soundstage is enveloping and hypnotic. The surrounds are well engaged on the release.

The lossless audio encoding offers a significant sonic improvement over lossy audio options on streaming video services. One of the best advantages of the Blu-ray format has always been lossless audio (and this was a key strength of the format long before streaming services even came into existence). Lossless audio continues to be one of the best aspects of the Blu-ray format, providing audiophiles with a more engaging sound experience. The music is more serene and the soundstage is even more enveloping.

Men 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The 4K UHD was released with a collectors edition steelbook package. The release comes with deluxe packaging and stunning artwork. The art on the steelbook design is phenomenal and easily bests the standard edition copy. Even if one is not equipped for 4K UHD, the change in cover-art might be reason enough to consider this edition with the stunning illustration provided on the front of the steelbook. A nice collectors edition and a copy that would be great to display on a shelf – or even on a steelbook display stand. The release also includes a booklet featuring pictures from the film and text (only in German on this international release).

On disc extras include:

Rebirth: The Making of Men (HD, 24:03)

Alex Garland: Interview 1 (HD, 00:47)

Alex Garland: Interview 2 (HD, 1:14)

Original Trailer (HD, 2:22)

Original Teaser (HD, 1:35)

Teaser (HD, 1:34)

Trailer (HD, 2:21)

Men 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Men is one of the best and most complex modern horror films. From the brilliant mind of writer-director Alex Garland (Ex Machina), Men is a stunning achievement in filmmaking with a great star performance by Jessie Buckley. The entire film takes audiences on a wild ride with the stakes of the story growing throughout the film. The journey is one full of haunting and surreal visuals. The 4K UHD features an outstanding 2160p 4K UHD presentation with an impressive HDR grade. The collectible steelbook packaging is excellent as well. A must-own 4K UHD for fans of the film. Highly recommended.