Pearl 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		0.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Pearl 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Note: This version of this film is available as part of A24's X Trilogy 4K collection.

A24 is offering this new collector's edition box set of Ti West's trilogy, and a cursory examination of previous 1080 and 4K releases of the various films is kind of an object lesson in how kind of peculiar the boutique label / studio is and how its relationship with Lionsgate makes for some variant release strategies (those with long memories will know I actually put A24 as a studio in my top spot in my Top 10 list a few years ago, so when I say "peculiar" it's actually kind of a compliment). As the sticker on this set announces, this collector's edition offers the first 4K releases of X and Pearl in the U.S., which itself kind of begs the question as to previous 4K releases for other nations in other territories (a search of our database will reward sleuths in that regard). But here in good ol' 'Murica (a coinage which seems somehow particularly apt for this triptych), X received a 1080 release under Lionsgate branding in 2022, pretty quickly followed by Pearl that same year also under Lionsgate branding, and then MaXXXine and MaXXXine 4K (which included the 1080 presentation) in 2024 following suit by being offered by Lionsgate. There have been a number of A24 offerings that have had initial Lionsgate 1080 and/or 4K releases which were then followed by A24 exclusives (Everything Everywhere All At Once 4K and Everything Everywhere All At Once 4K spring instantly to mind, though there are others), but this is the first time to my memory where an A24 release is offering 4K debuts like this where there's already been a 4K release of one film in a series by Lionsgate.

The collector's edition also includes some packaging extras, covered in the supplements section of the X Trilogy 4K Blu-ray review .

A24 is also offering a 1080 X Trilogy for those interested.

Pearl 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: This release does not include a 1080 Blu-ray, so these screenshots are taken directly from the 4K UHD disc and downscaled to 1080 and SDR. Color space in particular is therefore not accurate, and I recommend those interested to look at some of the screenshots in our Pearl Blu-ray review for a probably better representation of the palette. Since this release does not include a 1080 disc, the 2K video score above has been intentionally left blank.

Pearl is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of A24 with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.39:1. Off all three films in this set, Pearl may benefit in terms of really impressive pop of the palette granted by the HDR / Dolby Vision grades. Just look at the very opening scene which offers patently artificial blue skies and cartoon like yellow-white clouds, and some really gorgeous highlights are observable that were more muted in the original 1080 presentation. The outdoor material at the farm is repeatedly intense in its presentation of primaries in particular (the first display of bright red blood is quite memorable). The entire presentation's accounting of tones in the blue to teal range really struck my eyes throughout in all sorts of production design elements ranging from Pearl's blue-green blouse to a bright blue roadster. Detail levels are typically excellent, and fine detail sees some noticeable if subtle upticks from the 1080 presentation in some of the outdoor location work in particular, where things like the textures of husks in the cornfield are virtually palpable. The whole "retro Technicolor" ambience of this film is kind of a showcase for HDR / Dolby Vision, and I can't imagine fans of high dynamic range not being generally very impressed with this presentation.

Pearl 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As with the other films in this set, Pearl gets an audio upgrade to Atmos (the 1080 disc had a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track), and while frankly not mind (and/or ear) blowing, I'd rate the differences in this track to be more noticeable than in the arguably more subtle variances between the 5.1 and Atmos tracks on the various releases of X. Music probably plays an inherently more important role in this film, and the "retro" underscore in particular really sounds sumptuously immersive in that grand Classic Hollywood way. The glut of outdoor material also provides really nice engagement of all the surround channels to offer everything from barn noises to maybe the snap of an alligator's jaw. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English and Spanish subtitles are available.

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

• Featurettes

Coming Out of Her Shell: The Creation of Pearl (HD; 11:38) is an above average EPK, with some good interviews with Goth, West, Wright and Corenswet.




Time After Time (HD; 4:01) looks at how production design had to differentiate between the look of this film versus X.

• Filmmaker Commentary with D.P. Eliot Rockett and Production Designer Tom Hammock


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:09)

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

Pearl is my personal favorite out of the X Trilogy, and I'd argue pretty strongly that it happily shows the biggest uptick in palette nuance courtesy of the HDR / Dolby Vision grades of all three films in A24's new collection. Technical merits are solid and the new commentary enjoyable. Recommended.