8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A successful romance novelist, after being disabled in a car crash, is held captive by a psychotic fan.
Starring: James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen, Lauren BacallHorror | 100% |
Psychological thriller | 23% |
Thriller | 3% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
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.
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".
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.
4K BLU-RAY DISC
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.
DVD Packaging
1990
1990
1990
1990
1990
1990
Remastered | Collector's Edition
1990
2009
2018
Unrated Collector's Edition
2007
Unrated
2010
Uncut
2013
2018
2014
Collector's Edition
1978
Warner Archive Collection
1962
Unrated
2005
2005
2016
2015
2004
2007
2008
The Secret of Marrowbone
2017
2015
2016
2013