Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

The Equalizer 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

In anticipation for and celebration of the upcoming sequel 'The Equalizer II,' Sony has released 2014's 'The Equalizer' to the UHD format. This new release features a 2160p/HDR-10 video presentation, a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack, and several new extras on the 4K disc.

The Equalizer 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

From the first shot, one can see the increase in sharpness and clarity and added visual slickness to the image, almost to the point that a city overhead shot nearly appears plastic and artificially glossy. That's a visual characteristic that occasionally pops up, though much of the transfer offers a much more organic and balanced series of visuals. Though the film was reportedly photographed at a resolution of 2.8K and finished at 2K, there's a tangible increase in general sharpness and clarity over the previously released, and very high standard, Blu-ray. Skin textures are more pronounced and intimate, environments are cleaner and more refined, and clothing textures appear superior in visible complexity compared to the Blu-ray.

Colors do not take a dramatic turn. The palette is more complimentary than it is dazzlingly different, with each hue finding a greater intensity but also a firmer grasp of nuance. Whether blue skies or neon signs at night, whether splashes of bold colors in the home improvement store or blood, there's a tangible sense of pop and vigor, but also nuance and accuracy, to the entire palette. Black level depth is noticeably increased, such as seen in nighttime street shots outside the diner. Shadow depth and detail are more refined, allowing more accurate representations of characters and objects in low-light or shadow-drenched shots. Brights are brighter and whites are more intense.

This is not the end-all, be-all of the UHD format by any means, but this is a solid image, an upgrade over the Blu-ray in every way, and a presentation that should satisfy fans looking for The Equalizer in the best configuration for home viewing.

The Equalizer 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Atmos track springs to life from the opening moments. The scene inside the train that McCall rides to work opens up considerably, with a distinct rattle and hum and recreated sense of location with a prominent full-stage saturation and seamless overhead adds; the listener will feel as if they're riding the train. The warehouse store in the following scene also offers upgraded atmospherics. Intercom chatter emanates from overhead, and the sense of scale and area are impressively defined, capturing, it seems, the entirety of the store within the obviously much smaller confines of the home theater. Additional environmental effects are full and refined, but it's in action that the track shines brightest. Music swells with pinpoint accuracy, intense definition and low end support, and superb spacial awareness and balance, making perfectly harmonized use of the entire listening area. The climactic action sequence in the home improvement warehouse offers tremendously balanced and entertaining sound effects, including a sequence when all of the store's lights power up in chunky grids, followed by a hearty, booming explosion that encompasses the entirety of the soundstage with a burning, whooshing oomph. Gunfire is crisp and all of the support elements -- all of the sounds the various tools and traps and contraptions make -- are pleasing and perfectly integrated. Dialogue is clear, well prioritized, and consistently positioned in the front-center channel. Much like the video presentation, this UHD's soundtrack improves on an already strong Blu-ray; fans will be thrilled.

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

The Equalizer's two-disc UHD release includes new bonuses on the UHD disc and carries over all of the previously released supplements on the Blu-ray, which is identical to the disc issued back in 2014. Below is a breakdown of what's included. For a review of carryover content, please click here. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase, and this release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

UHD Disc:

• NEW! Deleted Scenes (1080p): McCall's Epilogue (1:58), Six In a Row (2:00), Universal (0:24), Crunchy (0:38), and Happy Birthday (1:10).
• NEW! A Villain's Psychosis (1080p, 4:04): An exploration of the film's villain, Teddy: the character's background, the character's complexity and unpredictability, Marton Csokas' performance, and more.
• NEW! A Modern Hero (1080p, 2:24): A quick, closer look at McCall, including the good inside the character and his willingness to dole out punishment to evildoers.
• Joining Forces Again: Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua (1080p, 4:52): Denzel Washington suggested Antoine Fuqua to direct the film. The piece looks at Washington's work to discover the character beyond action, the nuance and detail of his performance, Washington's trust in his director, crafting the "Equalizer Vision" moments, and more.
• NEW! Playing the Part: The Cast of The Equalizer (1080p, 5:06): A closer look at the main cast's work, including Denzel Washington, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Marton Csokas.
• Boston: On Location (1080p, 4:41): A look at how the city plays within the movie and how it is depicted in it. It explores geography and location details as well.
• NEW! The Home Mart Advantage: The Action of The Equalizer (1080p, 5:15): Creating the "hyper real" and "grounded" action and Denzel's performance thereof. It also briefly explores the tools and advantages the hardware store brings to his violent repertoire.
• NEW! Theatrical Trailer 1 (1080p, 2:32).
• NEW! Theatrical Trailer 2 (1080p, 2:32).

• Vengeance Mode
• Inside The Equalizer
• Denzel Washington: A Different Kind of Superhero
• Equalizer Vision: Antoine Fuqua
• Children of the Night
• One Man Army: Training and Fighting
• Home Mart: Taking Care of Business One Bolt at a Time
• Photo Gallery
• Previews

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

The Equalizer's UHD release is certainly not sublime, but as an all-around performer it's quite the package. Rock-solid UHD video that's an upgrade over a very good Blu-ray, a quality Atmos soundtrack, and a handful of new extras make this a fairly appealing release and a worthwhile upgrade over the previously released Blu-ray. Highly recommended.