The Descent 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The Descent 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 19, 2025

For any introverts who may be considering climbing into a cave what with all the impending social activities the holiday season tends to bring with it, The Descent may be a gentle reminder that maybe spending a few hours with friends and family can't be that bad. The Descent had a 1080 release by Lionsgate so long ago that it actually made the "Top 200" in our database, coming in at number 174 (you can do that in Casey Kasem's voice if it helps). This new 4K SteelBook edition now becomes the latest offering from Lionsgate's Lionsgate Limited website.

As mentioned above, The Descent had a 1080 release from Lionsgate on the day after Christmas (speaking of the holiday season) 2006 (!), and Martin Liebman's The Descent Blu-ray review provides a plot summary, list of supplements on that edition (almost all commendably ported over here), and Marty's reaction to the technical presentation.

The Descent 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc in this package.

The Descent is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Lionsgate Films' Lionsgate Limited etailer with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.35:1. It's worth mentioning that the 1080 disc in this set sports the same following prefatory text, so it's based off the same new transfer as the 4K disc:

The Descent (dir. Neil Marshall, 2005) 4K restoration was supervised by Pathe in collaboration with the director from the original 35mm negatives scanned in 5K.

The photochemical and digital restoration was carried out by VDM laboratory in 2025.

This is an impressive presentation in both 1080 and 4K, but the 4K UHD's really evocative HDR / Dolby Vision grades add both significant luster to a rather interesting palette (given the main setting, at least) and some equally noticeable uptick in shadow detail, something that brings a whole new sense of dread to the cave sequences. Marty was quite enthusiastic about the old Lionsgate's 1080 presentation, but of course a 2006 score might not warrant the same appreciation today, but one way or the other, based solely on screenshots alone, the palette has observable new suffusion in both the 1080 and (understandably especially) the 4K presentations. The ice blue cold of the opening rafting sequence and some of the completely unusual but somehow "appropriate" uses of green both "outside" and in the cave are two notable examples of how the HDR grades measurably alter the palette. Also gaining new highlights are the orange to sepia tones utilized repeatedly throughout the cave sequences. Some of the more "normally" graded and/or lit material, as in the original approach to the cave relatively early on, look invitingly natural and offer superb fine detail levels on everything from outfits to foliage.

The Descent 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The original 1080 release from Lionsgate sported an LPCM 6.1 codec, one of the few times I remember seeing that particular multichannel audio. Both the 1080 and 4K discs sport DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 tracks, though kind of humorously the 1080 disc in this package still has the old style DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 interstitial. All of the really nicely designed immersive effects Marty mentions in his review ranging from the scattering of the scavenger birds early in the proceedings to some of the later marauding creature effects consistently engage the side and rear channels. LFE gets a definite workout both in terms of scoring but some of the booming quasi-startle effects that populate the cave sequences. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

The Descent 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Both the 4K UHD and 1080 discs in this package sport the same slate of supplements. More information on the previously released supplements can be found in Marty's review of the old 1080 release, linked to above. It looks like the only previously released supplement not included here is the PiP feature Marty describes in his review.

• Rated (1:38:45) and Unrated (1:40:00) Versions are offered.


• What Lies Beneath: Reexploring The Descent (HD; 46:53) is a newly produced retrospective with some great interviews and background information.


• Poetic Pain: The Film Score (HD; 9:31) is another newly produced featurette focusing on the film's memorable music.


• Director and Crew Commentary - Unrated Version


• Director and Cast Commentary - Unrated Version


• The Descent: Beneath the Scenes (HD; 41:19)


• Deleted and Extended Scenes (HD; 9:56)


• Outtakes (HD; 5:13)


• DescENDING - Interview with Director Neil Marshall (HD; 7:13)


• Caving - A High Definition Experience (HD; 8:38)


• Storyboard and Scene Comparisons (HD; 10:26)


• A Special Breed of Effects & Actors (HD; 11:51)


• Creating an Underground World (HD; 9:58)
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• The Fine, Fearless & Feisty (HD; 9:34)


• Trailer Gallery

International Teaser (HD; 00:53)




International Theatrical A (HD; 00:56)




International Theatrical B (HD; 00:57)




US Theatrical (HD; 2:10)




TV Spot (HD; 00:29)

The moodily designed SteelBook offers outer panels drenched in the same orange adjacent tones as the cave sequences in the film. The front offers the explorers with lighted helmets, while the back panel offers the "natives" with lit eyes. The interior panels offer a drawing of a little swimming excursion in the cave. A mylar O ring offers a "see through" window with a view of the explorers on the front panel, with the film's title below, and typical summary and credits on the rear. A digital copy is also included.

The Descent 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Descent may not have quite the impact it did when it was first released, but it's still a viscerally unnerving film that delivers regular chills. Technical merits are first rate and Lionsgate has assembled two enjoyable new supplements along with porting over almost all of the previously released supplements. The SteelBook packaging should make this especially appealing to collectors. Recommended.