Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Sliver 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 26, 2025

After dealing with the demands of supporting work and bad movies for a decade, Sharon Stone finally broke through to the big time in 1992’s “Basic Instinct,” making her mark in a charged erotic thriller. Naturally, Hollywood wanted another one just like it, positioning 1993’s “Sliver” as Stone’s next step toward superstardom, playing to her physical and performance strengths as another character caught up in a murder mystery and sexual games. Director Phillip Noyce (fresh off the success of “Patriot Games”) and screenwriter Joe Eszterhas (who wrote “Basic Instinct”) are certainly prepared to deliver a spicy, spooky understanding of personal issues and primal attraction, but “Sliver” is slippery, and it eventually succumbs to stupidity (courtesy of clumsy reshoots). However, all is not lost, finding mood to the offering that’s initially appealing, as Noyce attempts to craft something seductive and disturbing with this take on voyeurism. It has its moments before it completely falls apart.

Carly (Sharon Stone) is a book editor fresh out of a disappointing marriage, beginning a new life in a nice apartment. She’s learning how to deal with her single status, surrounded by men in the building, including Jack (Tom Berenger), a successful mystery novelist who’s interested in the new resident. And there’s Zeke (William Baldwin), a young man coming on strong, eager to engage Carly with games of dominance and seduction. Carly warms to Zeke, drawn to his strange allure and quest to challenge her interest in voyeurism, resulting in a heated affair. But the man has secrets, extending to a video control room where he watches building activity on hundreds of hidden cameras, and pressure arrives when murders occur around the property, connecting Carly to the dead woman who previously lived in her apartment.

For additional analysis and information, please read Michael Reuben’s 2013 Blu-ray review.

Sliver 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

"Sliver" was originally released on Blu-ray in 2013, and now gradates to a UHD presentation, courtesy of Vinegar Syndrome. An introductory card notes that this Dolby Vision presentation was "graded under the supervisor of Phillip Noyce," who "felt that previously releases of the film did not accurately convey his intended noirish vision." Without the previous release on hand to compare, the new "Sliver" does seem a little darker and cooler at times, with a more vivid sense of life outside of the apartment building, which delivers brighter greenery and street activity. Apartment events retain stable hues, exploring decorative additions, and primaries are distinct. Zeke's video lair retains a bluer sense of screen life. Skin tones are acceptable, hitting slight reddishness at times. Detail does decently with skin particulars, and costuming is fibrous, exploring period fashion. Interiors stay dimensional, preserving room expanse. Exteriors are deep. Blacks are strong, handling shadowy encounters and evening interactions. Highlights are tasteful. Grain is nicely resolved. Source is in good condition.

Sliver 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix offers clear dialogue exchanges, following hushed encounters and more aggressive arguments without slipping into distortion. Scoring maintains a defined jazzy mood at times, delivering sharp instrumentation, supporting active suspense sequences as well. Soundtrack selections are also crisp, with defined vocals. Surrounds aren't incredibly active, pushing out a few musical moods, also exploring some atmospherics around the city and group activity. Low-end isn't sustained, with a milder presence for violence and techno beats. Sound effects are appreciable.

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

• Booklet contains essays by Veronica Fitzpatrick, Ingo Petzke, and Justin LaLiberty.

• "The Skinny on 'Sliver'" (32:22, HD) is a chaotically edited interview with director Phillip Noyce (it resembles a YouTube video), who offers the saga behind his breakthrough hit, "Dead Calm," following tangled rights issues to a minor box office hit. Following the success of "Patriot Games," Noyce was targeted for "Sliver," looking to become a "legend" with the project. Armed with a script from Joe Eszterhas, the hottest writer of the era, and star Sharon Stone, Noyce was set for triumph, only to encounter an actress who he suspects didn't want to be part of the film, battling her own insecurities. Casting is explored, as Stone wanted Brad Pitt for the endeavor, while Noyce demanded William Baldwin, and on-set tensions quickly formed between the actors. Technical credits are highlighted, especially work from cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, who took his sweet time to light the picture. Noyce is wonderfully candid during the conversation, pointing out how producer Robert Evans personally edited a masturbation sequence in the movie, and he delves into the test screening process, which resulted in the loss of the original volcanic ending to "Sliver" (this ridiculous conclusion isn't included on this disc) and the near-death of the crew that captured it on film.

• "Taking Chances on 'Sliver'" (12:27, HD) is a pause-free interview with screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, who tracks the growth of his career, self-identifying as a "rebel" in Hollywood, earning a quick reputation via his unmade political satire, "Sacred Cows." The interviewee explores his relationship with producer Robert Evans, hired to adapt an Ira Levin book for him, interested in making his own changes to the material, sending "Sliver" into production. Thoughts on casting are shared, as Eszterhas was friendly with Sharon Stone after "Basic Instinct," earning her trust. The third act of the feature is analyzed, as everything was changed to soften the movie, doing so without the writer, who wanted to take "chances" with "Sliver."

• "Re-Marks on 'Sliver'" (8:49, HD) is an interview with actress Colleen Camp, who chased "Sliver," falling in love with her part and the project, enthusiastically detailing her encounters with producer Robert Evans, who had opinions about her character's appearance. Camp highlights casting challenges, discussing chemistry concerns between Sharon Stone and William Baldwin, and she explores the deleted third act, apparently pushing herself to be the main focus of reshoots to change the movie.

• EPK Interviews (SD) include "Sharon Stone" (3:45), "William Baldwin" (5:52), and "Tom Berenger" (2:44).

• Behind-the-Scenes Footage (7:58, SD) is collected from the EPK. As always, it's fascinating stuff, offered a chance to watch the cast and crew execute scenes from the film.

• Alternate Scenes from the R-Rated Edit (11:15, HD) are provided.

• Image Gallery (6:18) collects poster art, BTS snaps, publicity shots, and film stills.

• T.V. Spots (2:13, SD) offer four commercials for "Sliver."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:35, SD) is included.

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

"Sliver" has its seductive scenes, but there's an issue with chemistry between Stone and a miscast Baldwin, who's not a skilled enough actor to really do something surprising with Zeke's dangerous ways. He's an obvious creep, and the writing needs more time to understand Carly's mental health issues, making her eventual submission easier to believe. Still, Noyce manages to create some atmosphere for the feature, which benefits from excellent cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond and a lively soundtrack of techno and pop reggae tracks. "Sliver" is meant to be a motion picture event, but it works best in sleazy B-movie mode, often resembling a screwy giallo from the 1980s, where motivations aren't prioritized, but lustfulness and exploitation is. It's not a strong offering, but it's not a disaster, as cinematic craftsmanship is there for inspection, generating some decent scenes of mystery and suspense. And perhaps it's best to exit the film as it concludes, allowing the endeavor a sense of mystery before crude reshoots and a blunt final moment conspire to tank the effort's lasting appeal.