Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Misery 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 23, 2021

Rob Reiner's "Misery" (1990) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the disc include archival audio commentaries recorded by Rob Reiner and screenwriter William Goldman; various archival featurettes; and vintage promotional materials for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

In the United States, Misery was previously released on Blu-ray by MGM and Scream Factory. For an in-depth analysis of the film, please see Dustin Somner's review of the MGM release here and Dr. Stephen Larson's review of the Scream Factory release here.

Misery 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The release has 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray copies of Misery, which was previously restored in 4K. We have included two sets of screencaptures with this article. Screencaptures 1-16 are from the Blu-ray disc and are displayed in native 1080p. Screencaptures 20-34 are from the 4K Blu-ray disc, but are downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, when you view them, you should keep in mind that they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.

This film looks really, really good on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray. In fact, if you upscale the 1080p content from the Blu-ray to 4K, you will get some absolutely amazing visuals on your screen that will rival the quality you would get from the native 4K presentation. Of course, there is no need for you to do so since you have the 4K Blu-ray disc, but I wanted to mention it because this experiment instantly reveals just how strong the 4K restoration of the film is.

On the 4K Blu-ray disc delineation, clarity, and depth are outstanding. Some of the panoramic outdoor footage is so striking that from time to time it looks like it was extracted from a painting (see screencapture #31). Density levels are excellent as well. Colors are very rich but natural, plus the HDR grade that was done provides terrific overall balance. However, even with the expanded nuances the darker areas do not look significantly better in 4K. On my system, only some darker nuances appeared slightly better defined. Fluidity is excellent, so if you view your films on a larger screen, I think that you will easily appreciate the difference. I have come to realize that not everyone pays attention to fluidity, but I find tight, flawlessly moving images in native 4K to be very attractive and this is usually where I see some of the most obvious improvements when using a projector. Image stability is excellent. The entire film is spotless as well.

*The 4K Blu-ray release is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray release is Region-A "locked".

Misery 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.

I decided to view the film with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. I thought that it was excellent. Even without any elaborate action footage, clarity, sharpness, and depth were very solid. Balance was very good as well. I don't know if any particular work was done on the audio when the current 4K master was prepared, but whenever the 5.1 track was finalized, it was obviously created with the awareness that balance is of crucial importance. I mention this because while viewing the film I never felt that there were any usual spikes or drops in terms of dynamic activity.

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

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentaries -
  
  1. Commentary One - in this archival audio commentary, Rob Reiner goes down memory lane and discusses in great detail how Misery was put together, the shooting of various sequences, some difficult casting choices (Lauren Bacall's in particular), the choosing of specific outdoor locations and how interior footage was lit, important discrepancies between the original material from Stephen King's novel and the film, etc.
  
  2. Commentary Two - in this archival audio commentary, screenwriter William Goldman discusses some important decisions that were made when Stephen King's novel was adapted, vary particular changes that were and how they altered the original story from the novel, the nature of the relationship between James Caan and Kathy Bates' characters, the claustrophobic quality of the novel and how it was reproduced in the film, etc.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Trailer One - remastered vintage trailer for Misery. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Trailer Two - vintage Season's Greetings trailer for Misery. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Featurettes -
  
  1. Misery Loves Company - in this archival featurette, director Rob Reiner and screenwriter William Goldman recall how a decision was made to turn Stephen King's Misery into a film and discuss its production. There are additional comments addressing the film's visuals style and characterizations by director of photography Barry Sonnnenfeld, Frances Sternhagen, and James Caan, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (30 min).
  
  2. Marc Shaiman's Musical Misery Tour - in this archival featurette, composer Marc Shaiman discusses the quality of the soundtrack he created for Misery and how he typically approaches movie stories. In English, not subtitled. (15 min).
  
  3. Diagnosing Annie Wilkes - in this archival featurette, forensic psychologist and author Reid Meloy deconstructs the psychological profile of Kathy Bates's character. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).
  
  4. Advice for the Stalked - in this archival featurette, forensic psychologist and author Reid Meloy and criminal prosecutor Rhonda Saunders explain how stalkers typically manipulate their targets. In English, not subtitled. (5 min).
  
  5. Profile a Stalker - in this archival featurette, forensic psychologist and author Reid Meloy and criminal prosecutor Rhonda Saunders profile the typical stalker and its behavior. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).
  
  6. Celebrity Stalkers - in this archival featurette, forensic psychologist and author Reid Meloy and criminal prosecutor Rhonda Saunders discuss the typical behavior and fantasies of a celebrity stalker as well as Kathy Bates' character. In English, not subtitled. (6 min).
  
  7. Anti-Stalking Law - in this archival featurette, criminal prosecutor Rhonda Saunders and John C. Lane (The Omega Threat Management Group) discuss California's first stalking law and its three key elements, as well as other similar state and federal laws. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Commentaries -
  
  1. Commentary One - in this archival audio commentary, Rob Reiner goes down memory lane and discusses in great detail how Misery was put together, the shooting of various sequences, some difficult casting choices (Lauren Bacall's in particular), the choosing of specific outdoor locations and how interior footage was lit, important discrepancies between the original material from Stephen King's novel and the film, etc.
  
  2. Commentary Two - in this archival audio commentary, screenwriter William Goldman discusses some important decisions that were made when Stephen King's novel was adapted, vary particular changes that were and how they altered the original story from the novel, the nature of the relationship between James Caan and Kathy Bates' characters, the claustrophobic quality of the novel and how it was reproduced in the film, etc.

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

I think that the 4K restoration of Misery was done right and looks great in 1080p and native 4K. The only other release of this film that I have in my library was produced by MGM way back in 2009 and it was sourced from an even older master, so to see the film in native 4K was quite the revelation. The 4K presentation is gorgeous and in my view this combo release offers the definitive upgrade the film deserved. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.