Road House 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		0.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Road House 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman June 6, 2025

Like any good dive bar, the Double Deuce is hard to put out of business. Road House has had numerous releases on both 1080 and 4K discs in Region A through the years (including one of many 1080 releases which I reviewed), but Arrow is jumping back into the fray for Region B with separate two disc editions (one with two 1080 discs, one with one 4K and one 1080 disc). Arrow's edition ports over the rather generous supplements that the Shout! Factory release I personally reviewed offered, and also adds in the newer supplements that Vinegar Syndrome released with their three disc 4K set from a couple of years ago.

There are several reviews available of previously released editions (in both 1080 and 4K UHD), for those interested:

Road House Blu-ray review is Dustin Somner's take on the first 1080 release from MGM, put out in 2009

Road House Blu-ray review is my take on the two 1080 disc release from Shout! Factory released in 2016

Road House 4K Blu-ray review is Brian Orndorf's take on the three disc set from Vinegar Syndrome put out in 2022

Road House 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: While this is a standalone 4K release without a 1080 presentation of the main feature, I am offering screenshots from Arrow's standalone 1080 release as I think it actually provides a better representation of the look of the palette in particular, rather than offering screenshots from the 4K disc which are by necessity downscaled to 1080 and in SDR. Because this release does not include a 1080 disc of the feature (the 1080 disc included is bonus features only), the 2K video score above has been intentionally left blank.

Road House is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.39:1. Arrow's insert booklet provides the following information on the presentation:

Road House is presented in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio with 5.1 and stereo audio. The film is presented in 4K resolution in HDR10 and Dolby Vision.

The film was restored by Vinegar Syndrome and the 4K master was supplied by Park Circus. Dolby Vision grading was completed by R3Store Studios.

Probably unsurprisingly given the above verbiage, this looks very similar if not downright identical to Vinegar Syndrome's release from a few years ago, down to and including a 2.40:1 aspect ratio as well as what certainly looks to be (based on the admittedly unscientific method of screenshot comparisons) look alike color timings. That said, I would argue that the new Dolby Vision grade offered here only ups the ante in terms of a wider (literal) gamut of tones, especially with regard to some of the incredibly deep blues, which are kind of awe inspiring here at times. Rather interestingly, I found both the HDR and Dolby Vision grades to at least intermittently cool things down a bit, as in some of the interior club scenes. Detail levels are excellent throughout, though there are occasional moments of slight blurriness at the very edges of the frame. Eagle eyed viewers will spot some extremely picayune signs of age related wear and tear during the rather long optically printed credits sequence, but there's nothing of any problematic note afterwards. Grain resolves naturally.

Road House 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Road House features DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 audio options, both of which struck me as being virtually interchangeable with the similar options on the old Shout! Factory 1080 release I reviewed years ago. The 5.1 mix provides good, active use of the side and rear channels in the (many) fight sequences as well the fun if sometimes cacophonous musical performances by Jeff Healey and group (one of the film's funniest if most subtle jokes is how the band is kept in a cage, evidently to keep them from getting injured). Michael Kamen's score is a product of its era and will therefore perhaps not be fully appreciated by those who weren't around in the late eighties, but it's rendered here with quite a bit of force and again spreads quite comfortably in the surround channels. Dialogue (such as it is) is cleanly and clearly presented and is generally well prioritized, though a few really rowdy scenes at the Double Deuce tend to bury brief moments in the general melee. Optional English subtitles are available.

Road House 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc One (4K UHD)

• Audio Commentary with Director Rowdy Herrington


• Audio Commentary with Road House Fans Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier


• 'I Thought You'd be Bigger': The Making of Road House (HD; 1:03:14) is a really fun retrospective with some great interviews. One of the best things on display here is how the cast and crew both take themselves seriously without taking themselves too seriously as they discuss the film.


• A Conversation with Director Rowdy Herrington (HD; 29:38) is a nicely informative chat the covers the genesis and filming of Road House as well as some more general comments.


• 'Pretty Good for a Blind White Boy': The Music of Road House (HD; 19:22) focuses on the great Jeff Healey, who sadly passed away in 2008.


• Remembering Patrick Swayze (HD; 15:06) is another elegiac piece and features interviews with Swayze's widow.


• On the Road House (HD; 17:23) features older archival interviews.


• Patrick Swayze Profile (HD; 2:41) is another archival homage to the late actor.


• Original Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:57)


• Image Gallery (HD; 3:20)

Disc Two (1080)

• I Did It My Way (HD; 30:45) is a remotely recorded interview with second unit director and stunt coordinator Charlie Picerni.


• Henchman #2 (HD; 24:41) is an interview with actor and stuntman Anthony De Longis.


• Blonde Ambitions (HD; 19:14) is an interview with actress Laura Lee Kasten.


• Fightin' Man (HD; 14:02) is an interview with actor Roger Hewlett, kind of interestingly focusing on scenes that didn't make the final cut.


• Ain't Nothin' Gonna Kill Me But Me! (HD; 21:23) is an interview with actor Travis McKenna.


• 'Pain Don't Hurt': The Stunts of Road House (HD; 22:29) features some good interviews, including with stunt coordinator Jimmy Piacini.


• What Would Dalton Do? (HD; 12:26) is another archival piece with folks offering their opinions on how to handle rowdy customers.


• Selected Interview Soundbites (HD; 11:00) is a series of archival snippets of answers to various interview questions by Swayze and others.


• On the Set (HD; 3:44) has some fun (if brief) behind the scenes footage.

While Arrow may not have gone to the extravagant packaging lengths they have with other recent releases, this limited edition offers a reversible sleeve and doulbe sided foldout poster both offering original and newly commissioned art. The keepcase rather hilariously offers a Double Deuce coaster for your brewski(s). A booklet offers original production notes and several stills. Packaging features a slipcover.

Road House 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As I probably made clear in my original review from years ago, I'm not the diehard fan of this outing that many others seem to be, but I still find the film's gonzo energy undeniably fun. Arrow is offering Region B fans a release with solid technical merits and some very appealing supplements. Recommended.