Saw IV 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		3.0

Saw IV 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 27, 2025

Maybe just a little hilariously, this is now the second time I get to joke, Nothing screams the holiday season like the Saw franchise, am I right? (At least if the emphasis is on screaming.) That is in fact exactly how I began my Saw: The Ultimate Collection 4K Blu-ray review three years ago almost to the day when I was tasked with reviewing an extravagantly packaged release from Australia's Via Vision Entertainment that may have made some fan an extremely gruesome gift. Despite that "4K" in its title, only Jigsaw and Spiral were offered in that format (the rest were 1080 presentations). Lionsgate has partnered with Amazon for three exclusive SteelBooks presenting the second, third and fourth films in the series with both 1080 and 4K presentations, though rather interestingly with different cuts offered on the 1080 and 4K discs.

As mentioned above, Saw IV has had previous 1080 releases. Martin Liebman's Saw IV Blu-ray review of Lionsgate's original 1080 release provides plot information, a list of supplements and Marty's reaction to the technical presentation. (That 1080 disc isn't quite as old as the second and third films' original 1080 releases are, but it's still only number 641 in our database, which indicates a relatively early release in the format.) My own Saw IV Blu-ray review of the Australian edition offers a bit more information as well.

Saw IV 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: This is an interesting combo format release from Lionsgate in that the 1080 presentation is in 1.78:1 and offers the Unrated Cut (1:35:32), whereas the 4K disc is in 1.85:1 and offers the Theatrical Cut (1:32:41). Because of the different versions, I've split the difference in this review with screenshots 1 and 2 from the 1080 disc and screenshots 3 through 5 from the 4K disc. Per my usual verbiage, 1080 screenshots offer a more accurate account of the palette in particular than screenshots taken directly from the 4K disc and then downscaled to 1080 and SDR.

Saw IV is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Lionsgate with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.85:1. The included 1080 disc offers an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. While Saw II got a new 4K scan for its 4K UHD version, both this film and Saw III have reportedly been sourced from older 2K DIs. As with Saw III, that may end up meaning many longtime fans of this film may be more immediately struck by the palette highlights courtesy of the HDR / Dolby Vision grades than any perceived huge uptick in detail levels. In that regard, it's perhaps arguable that this film has an even wider gamut (no pun intended) of tones to "play with", and everything from the ice cold blues of the opening autopsy scene to both sepia and almost chartreuse drenched torture scenes have noticeable new highlights in this version. On a possibly minor minus side of things, shadow definition may not see the upgrade here that can be evident in Saw III. There are some nice fine detail improvements at times, as in the fabric underneath the scalpels in the opening segment, and also (horrifyingly) in terms of some of the immolations suffered. Some of the supposed video content looks appropriately degraded (maybe in more than one way). Grain resolves without any issues.

Saw IV 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As with the two other SteelBook 4K offerings in this franchise, the 4K disc has another impressive Dolby Atmos track. This time around, though, some longtime fans may be slightly disappointed that the 1080 disc's audio matches the other 1080 discs in this set by being in Dolby TrueHD 5.1, while the older 1080 discs sported 7.1 mixes in DTS-HD Master Audio. As with Saw III, I had actually gotten a PM on this track about reported amplitude issues, but I'll say that completely as with Saw III I found the track to be quite vigorous and frankly loud a lot of the time. There are fewer of the perceived mix issues in this film with regard to dialogue vs. effects and/or score. Surround engagement including Atmos is evident from the get go with both the (old school "demonic") Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures mastheads. As with the previous entries, some of the most noticeable surround activity is perhaps ironically in the cloistered environments where some of the carnage takes place, with good discrete channelization offering good directionality and immersion. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English and Spanish subtitles are available.

Saw IV 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Note: Both the 4K and 1080 discs in this package sport the same slate of supplements.

• Game Over: Darren Lynn Bousman Looks Back (HD; 9:45) is another interesting retrospective interview with Bousman.


• My Work Will Continue: Tobin Bell on Saw IV (HD; 11:47) offers more thoughts from the actor on the franchise in general and this film in particular.


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 00:31)


• Legacy Special Features

Audio Commentary with Producers Oren Koules & Mark Burg and Executive Producers Peter Block & Jason Constantine




Audio Commentary with Director Darren Lynn Bousman and Actor Lyriq Bent




Darren's Video Diary (HD; 33:00)




The Traps of Saw IV (HD; 16:45)




The Props of Saw IV (HD; 8:58)




Music Video "I.V." - performed by X Japan (HD; 5:07)




Deleted Scene (HD; 00:44)

This Amazon exclusive is packaged in a SteelBook intentionally designed to be part of a "set" with its two siblings. This is probably my personal favorite of the three SteelBooks, with a fun spooky depiction of Jigsaw on the front panel that spills over onto the back panel as well. The outer panels have a bit more of a red tint than the largely brown / black SteelBooks of Saw II and Saw III. The Mylar O ring in this instance somewhat mimics the two others by slightly "masking" Jigsaw's face (though arguably in a somewhat different way this time around). The inner panels offer an illustration of what might be called a "work bench" with various "tools" and a couple of cassettes. A digital copy is also enclosed.

Saw IV 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I'm not a huge fan of the Saw franchise in general, but in terms of the immediate sequels, Saw IV arguably improves on Saw III. Technical merits are generally solid and the supplements interesting. Of the three Amazon exclusive SteelBooks, this one had my personal favorite design aesthetic and should be an extra enticement for anyone considering making a purchase.