7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Finney Shaw is a shy but clever 13-year-old boy who's being held in a soundproof basement by a sadistic, masked killer. When a disconnected phone on the wall starts to ring, he soon discovers that he can hear the voices of the murderer's previous victims—and they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn't happen to Finney.
Starring: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Davies, E. Roger MitchellHorror | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Universal has released the 2021 Horror film 'The Black Phone' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio. The UHD disc incudes all of the same extras from the 2022 Blu-ray, a copy of which is also included in this release.
The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.
Universal's UHD release of The Black Phone features 2160p/HDR video. From the opening shot of the baseball game forward, it is clear that the
HDR grading has significantly darkened the film. The Blu-ray is much brighter. The baseball scene looks overcast on the Blu-ray and practically at
sundown or
under a sky on the verge of extremely stormy weather on the UHD. In fact, the entire movie is very dark, so much so that the HDR grading
becomes a nuisance in places. The pervasive darkness in the cellar holding area is only amplified, with small streaks of light and the only
reprieve from near total darkness. To be sure, the movie's tone and tenor and narrative demand such a darkness, but the movie is frankly hard to see
in places, and not in a good, atmospheric way. While much darker, there is some added depth to colors, though not much more vividness. Blacks do
hold to their depth, and crush is not a serious issue. This one simply appears to push the brightness down way too far.
The movie is so pervasively dark that it's difficult to tell what sort of textural upgrades are on display, but when given good opportunity to compare,
there's simply not much going on here, either. The UHD image is definitely a little crisper and clarity gains are obvious. The digital sheen is a little more
pronounced. There are slight improvements to faces, to clothing textures, and the like, but good luck spotting any significant detail upgrades down in
the dark and dank holding cell where some of the roughhewn elements might have excelled at a higher resolution, but it's just too dark to notice or
frankly to even care. The image is sharper, but the gains in the best-lit of scenes are not dramatic.
The image also suffers from some noise and compression issues. Look at the 18:47 mark for some evidence of compression issues along the side of the
television. Such issues run through the film, and noise
management is not great, either. This is a rather poor UHD all around.
Universal upgrades The Black Phone's audio to the Dolby Atmos configuration. This is not dramatically different from the 7.1 track found on the Blu-ray. The Atmos track adds some height elements that are more supportive rather than discrete in nature. The sounds of terror, including piercing music and haunting sound effects, manage to gain some amplified spacing, but nothing at all earth-shattering. Spacing is good, clarity is rock-solid, and low-end extension satisfies. However, it's just not much of a major turn from the previous audio experience. Music enjoys a little more spatial immersion but no discrete top end engagement, Dialogue remains well prioritized and centered for the duration.
This UHD release of The Black Phone includes the same extras from the 2022 Blu-ray. See below for a list of what's included and please click
here for full coverage. A Movies Anywhere digital copy
code is included with purchase. However, this release does not ship with a slipcover.
This is a solid film that chooses to simply build and follow the narrative rather than try to explain it all away. That's a big key to success: it is low key, not very high concept, but it is also unique and captivating within its limited scope and explanation. Performances are wonderful, production design is great, and the film expertly blends jump scares and Horror music cues with core audience emotion and narrative engagement to fine effect. Universal's new UHD release of The Black Phone offers upgrades that are strictly technical in nature, and it would be hard to call this a significant upgrade in any way. Yes, the resolution is higher and yes, the HDR grading is there, but the movie teeters on unwatchable for the prevailing darkness. Textural details are not amplified in any significant way, either. The Atmos track is fine but not worlds different from the Blu-ray's 7.1 track. All extras return and no new extras are included. Keep the Blu-ray. Pass.
Creatures / Warner Archive Collection
1974
2019
2019
2017
The Secret of Marrowbone
2017
2009
2015
2018
2014
2013
2022
2016
2011
Unrated Collector's Edition
2007
2018
2015
2014
2019
2015
Uncut
2003