Resident Evil 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Resident Evil 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Sony has released Director Paul W.S. Anderson's video game adaptation film 'Resident Evil' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio. The UHD contains a single new supplement, but the bundled Blu-ray, identical to that which Sony released nearly 13 years ago, includes the full stable of legacy supplements. See below for a review of new content. The UHD is currently only available as part of a 'Resident Evil' franchise collection box set.

Resident Evil 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

Resident Evil's 2160p/HDR UHD presentation may be understated next to some others, but it's impressively faithful and gorgeous in its own right. The picture is stout and well defined, filmic and attractive within the film's fairly cool, blue-gray dominant structure. The film is not to be confused with "eye candy" in its natural state, as it is seen here, but Sony's UHD delivers a firm, confident picture that holds tight to a very fine natural grain structure while bringing accurate, elevated details and deeper colors. The image is a massive improvement over the very aged Blu-ray but also something of a subtle UHD in its own right. The picture benefits from that refined grain presentation which was clumpy and inorganic on the older Blu-ray. This is firm, fine, filmic finesse at work. Textural gains are in evidence as well. The image is sharp across the board, capably exploring fine skin details, hair, and clothes with exceptional intricacy. The same holds for the set pieces which find great gains in clarity, stability, and accuracy. The Blu-ray may have looked good enough back in the day, but here the picture is reinvigorated and seems like a perfect transition from film to home video.

While the film's colors are grounded rather than splashy, cool rather than hot, HDR brings a transformative depth and intensity to what's available. This is a very natural HDR application, refusing to push too gaudy or otherwise counter the film's inherent aesthetic. It maintains that feel for environmental bleakness and slight tonal depression as it favors the aforementioned blues and grays as well as greens and blacks with some pop and punch seen in contrast throughout, including Alice's red dress and some of brighter light points, like the famous laser grid. HDR adds a good bit of depth to general characteristics like backgrounds and skin. Skin tones are deeper, healthier, more lifelike here compared to the Blu-ray, and black levels are likewise deeper – shadows, military-style uniforms – without absorbing detail. The picture is clean and free of any unwanted print blemish. The encode is rock-solid, too, revealing no compression artifacts. While there's not a "wow" factor in the more classic sense, the "wow" comes from the transfer's grace and faithfulness to the source. Fans are going to be delighted with Sony's work on this one.

Resident Evil 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Dolby Atmos track is endlessly excellent. In the opening minutes, alarms blare, sprinklers go off, and power drops inside an elevator, all with resounding depth and a tangible overhead component, vital in pulling the audience into a familiar office environment that quickly transforms into a terrifying death trap. Later, when Alice is introduced, creaks and moans shuffle along, behind, and above the listener in a symphony of superbly defined sound elements that find just the right volume, spacing, and draw into the world. These characteristics remain throughout: perfect placement, intense detail, and full immersion. Effects are loud but never seem overly invasive or unnatural within the film's presentation style and structure. Gunshots roar with full stage depth and detail. Music is likewise loud but in full command of clarity and detail through the range, including a prominent low end. Music is completely immersive, spilling from every speaker in the most aggressive scenes. Environmental details are precise and often incorporate that same depth as the more vigorous examples. The sound design shines in this configuration. This is a fully charged soundtrack and an absolute immersive delight. Dialogue is also clear, center positioned, and well prioritized with some slight expansion when the Red Queen speaks, such as in chapter six. As with the video, fans are going to be in for a treat.

Resident Evil 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Resident Evil's UHD disc contains one new extra, the film's Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 2:16). The bundled Blu-ray includes the extras outlined below. Please click here for full coverage.

• Cast and Filmmakers Commentary
• Visual Effects Commentary
• Playing Dead: Resident Evil From Game to Screen
• The Making of Resident Evil
• Scoring Resident Evil
• Storyboarding Resident Evil
• Costumes
• Set Design
• The Creature
• The Elevator
• The Laser
• The Train
• Zombie Dogs
• Zombies
• Alternate Ending
• Music Video
• Previews

Resident Evil 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Sony couldn't have done better by Resident Evil for its UHD debut. Picture and sound alike are stunning, the former not showy but rather sure and the latter every bit as vigorous as the sound design allows. No new supplements of note are included but all of the carryover content is great. Very highly recommended.