Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		0.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Pitch Black 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman October 5, 2020

Arrow is continuing its foray into 4K UHD territory with its release of Pitch Black, but as with the label's first release in the "new (?), improved" format, Flash Gordon 4K, it's doing so with some interesting marketing strategies. As I mentioned in the Flash Gordon 4K Blu-ray review, that release didn't just come in two formats (i.e., "traditional" 1080 Blu-ray and 4K UHD), it also came in two different editions, each with differing supplements and/or non disc swag. The Flash Gordon 4K release was also interesting in that Arrow chose not to include the 1080 disc featuring the film in that package, as usually tends to be the case with most 4K UHD releases, opting instead to offer the second 1080 disc from the Limited Edition of the 1080 release (are you confused yet?) which offered a documentary and other supplements. In this instance, it appears that Arrow has decided not to release Pitch Black and Pitch Black 4K in tandem, at least as evidenced by our database (which shows Pitch Black 4K having been released a couple of weeks after the 1080 version came out. Arrow also seems to be continuing its unusual strategy of not including a 1080 disc featuring the film with the 4K UHD version, and so prospective consumers should be aware that if they want both resolutions, they're going to have to spring for both releases.

Pitch Black was released on Blu-ray by its parent studio Universal many years ago in the early days of the (1080) format. I refer those interested in a plot summary to my colleague Martin Liebman's Pitch Black Blu-ray review of that review. Marty's review is also a good resource for screenshot comparisons as well as seeing what supplements that version offered versus what is on tap with this release (the way we listed supplements back then is a bit different, but for those interested, Marty provides a bit more information on some of the supplements that are shared between the two releases). As I've repeatedly mentioned through the years, different reviewers often means different opinions, and I'm not quite the fan of the film that Marty evidently was. I also might not have been quite as generous in my assessment of the video quality of that release, which would mean the difference between my scores for that release and this one would have been even greater.

Pitch Black 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 Blu-ray. Also note that, as per above, Arrow has not included a 1080 disc along with the 4K UHD disc.

Pitch Black is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video with a 2160p transfer in 2.35:1. Arrow's heftier than usual insert booklet contains the following information on the restoration:

Pitch Black has been exclusively restored by Arrow Films and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1 with 5.1 sound.

The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K resolution at NBC Universal Post. The film was graded and restored in 4K at Silver Salt Restoration, London.

Additional grading was completed at NBC Universal under the supervision of director David Twohy.

In my personal estimation, Arrow is now two for two in their new 4K UHD release strategy, after a largely winning presentation of Flash Gordon 4K. The uptick in detail levels as well as new highlights courtesy of Dolby Vision are apparent virtually from the get go, even as the credits unfold, with increased fine detail on the texture of the spaceship and some of the gorgeous colors in the stellar clouds and planetary objects seen in the upper right part of the frame in some of the opening shots. There's an evocative new orange undertone to some of the sepia footage, and even later there's an overt orange hue pervading several scenes that is more buttery looking in this version. The blue desert material looks almost diaphonous with the added luster of HDR, and kind of surprisingly (at least to me), grain doesn't really spike dramatically in either these gradings or the frequent use of reds. Fine detail enjoys an uptick across the board, with fine patterns like the floor of the spaceship or a latticed wall that Riddick is in front of resolving with very nice precision. As I mentioned in our Pitch Black Blu-ray review of Arrow's 1080 release, there are definitely moments that look pretty roughhewn, and grain tends to spike at times regardless of lighting conditions, and both of those issues are noticeable in the 4K UHD presentation as well. Shadow detail is definitely improved in this version, but the surplus of incredibly dark sequences can still mean there are moments of passing crush, especially in the corners of the frame.

Pitch Black 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Pitch Black features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that to my ears is basically identical to the one on the Universal release, though that said, once again my personal assessment is a bit more positive than Marty's already pretty solid score. The differing environments offered in the film provide a glut of great opportunities for well placed ambient environmental effects, and even general ambience differences as in the variances between some of the cloistered interiors and wide open outside spaces are very artfully handled in this expressive track. The same surround activity that Marty details in his review is again completely evident here, and there is also some very appealing rumbly LFE as well as a nicely spacious accounting of the almost "World Music" tinged score. Dialogue as well as some of the voiceover is all handled with excellent fidelity and no problems whatsoever.

Note: I had one momentarily distressing anomaly occur on my initial disc boot up. The Main Menu was showing a Dolby Surround audio track, and when I played either the Director's Cut or the Theatrical Cut, the audio spec did not change and there was no sound. I was able to get to the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track on the Director's Cut by choosing one of the commentary tracks for a moment and then going back to the main audio. Unfortunately since the Theatrical Cut contains only the main audio track, I couldn't figure out a way to get audio on that version. Stopping playback and restarting had the same ineffective result. In ejecting and rebooting the disc, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track on the Theatrical Cut played correctly. This may have just been one of those inexplicable ghosts in the machine, but I'm reporting it here in case anyone experiences similar issues.

Pitch Black 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Commendably, Arrow has included all of the supplements that are on the previously released 1080 disc.

• Theatrical Cut (1:48:06) and Director's Cut (1:51:45)


• Archive Commentary with director David Twhohy and stars Vin Diesel and Cole Hauser


• Archive Commentary with director David Twohy, producer Tom Engelman and visual effects supervisor Peter Chiang


• Nightfall: The Making of Pitch Black (1080p; 23:51) is a newly filmed interview with director and co-writer David Twohy.


• Black Box: Jackie's Journey (1080p; 12:02) is a new interview with actor Rhiana Griffith.


• Black Box: Shazza's Last Stand (1080p; 7:14) is a new interview with actor Claudia Black.


• Black Box: Bleach Bypassed (1080p; 10:44) is a new interview with cinematographer David Eggby.


• Black Box: Cryo-Locked (1080p; 13:00) is a new interview with visual effects supervisor Peter Chiang.


• Black Box: Primal Sounds (1080p; 11:28) is a new interview with composer Graeme Revell.


• The Making of Pitch Black (720p; 4:46) is an archival featurette from 2000.


• Behind the Scenes (720p; 18:13) was originaly a picture in picture extra on the 2009 Blu-ray release, and is rejiggered here as a standalone supplement offering cast and crew interviews and behind the scenes footage.


• Pitch Black Raw (1080p; 11:38) is another former picture in picture supplement from the 2009 Blu-ray release presented here as a standalone supplement. This offers a comparison between early CG tests and the final footage.


• 2004 Special Edition Extras

  An Introduction by David Twohy (720p; 2:24)

  
  

  A View Into the Dark (720p; 4:05) focuses on the connections between this film and the sequel.

  
  

  Johns' Chase Log (1080p; 6:08) is a series of animated diaries supposedly documenting events that occurred before the film, narrated by Cole Hauser.

  
  

  The Chronicles of Riddick: Visual Encyclopedia (1080p; 1:42)

• The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury (1080p; 34:48) is an animated sequel the bridges the events of Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick and which features voice work from Vin Diesel, Keith David and Rhiana Griffith. This has its own submenu with the following supplements:

  Play with English SDH

  
  

  Animatic to Animation (1080p; 32:45)

  
  

  Advancing the Arc (720p; 1:29)

  
  

  Bridging the Gap (720p; 8:31)

  
  

  Peter Chung: The Mind of an Animator (720p; 5:03)

  
  

  Into the Light (720p; 5:04)

• Beyond the Movie

  Slam City (1080p; 8:04) is a motion comic prequel created by Brian Murray and David Twohy done for the film's official website.

  
  

  Into Pitch Black (1080p; 43:55) is a TV special that aired on Sci-Fi (as it was known then).

  
  

  Raveworld: Pitch Black Event (1080p; 20:37) documents a dance music event promoting the film with DJs Carl Cox and Nigel Richards.

• Trailers

  Pitch Black (UK Trailer) (1080p; 2:36)

  
  

  Pitch Black (green band) (1080p; 2:30)

  
  

  Pitch Black (red band) (1080p; 2:33)

  
  

  The Chronicles of Riddick (1080p; 1:34)

  
  

  Riddick (1080p; 2:24)

  
  

  Escape from Butcher Bay (1080i; 1:48)

• Image Galleries

  Production Stills (1080p)

  
  

  Concept Art & Special Effects (1080p)

  
  

  Storyboards (1080p)

  
  

  Publicity Gallery (1080p)

Additionally, Arrow has provided a heftier than usual insert booklet that contains cast and crew information, some technical data, as well as writing from Simon Ward and Mark Shapiro. Original Production Notes (2000) and Black Box Reports (2000) are also included.

Pitch Black 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Arrow continues to curate a hugely appealing slate of releases, and their entry into the 4K UHD sweepstakes certainly has a number of fans (including yours truly) understandably excited, though fans of this particular film are going to have to purchase two releases if they want both 1080 and 2160 versions. This is another fantastic release from the label, one with superior technical aspects and absolutely top notch supplements. Highly recommended.