5.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.1 |
Swamp Thing is a hero of sorts, rescuing attractive horticulturist Abby from her stepfather, Dr. Arcane, whom she suspects is behind her mother's death.
Starring: Louis Jourdan, Heather Locklear, Sarah Douglas, Dick Durock, Joey SagalHorror | 100% |
Comic book | 33% |
Supernatural | 8% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
None
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
I guess maybe this new 4K release should really be called The Return of 'The Return of Swamp Thing', since it's revisiting a (1080) release that MVD Visual's MVD Rewind imprint put out several years ago. That release offered some really rather sweet interviews with various production personnel, and Lightyear Entertainment's Arnie Holland was among them, discussing how MVD "drove [him] crazy" with trying to not just get the film out on Blu-ray, but with some decent supplements attached. Holland, under questioning from director Jim Wynorski (Holland returns the favor for Wynorski's interview), also mentions some of the kind of funny backstage antics, including other actresses considered for the Heather Locklear role, which included everyone from Traci Lords to Elisabeth Shue. In that regard, a trip down an Elisabeth Shue rabbit hole as a result reminded me she's the soon to be ex-sister-in-law of (not necessarily for great reasons) headline making ABC news anchor Amy Robach, a little trivia point which frankly may be irrelevant to the film but which may help to point out that it's perhaps some of these tangential sidebars to this production as disclosed by Holland and others that can provide as much amusement as the film itself.
Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc included in this package. While the back cover touts a "new 4K restoration from the
original interpositive with Dolby Vision HDR mastering", I believe that only applies to the 4K UHD disc in this set, as the 1080 disc seems to be a
duplicate of the previous release, and so these screenshots should be seen in that context.
The Return of Swamp Thing is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Lightyear Entertainment and MVD Visual with a 2160p transfer in 1.85:1. The
only real technical information imparted is the above quote. This is another relatively low budget shot on film production where I'm just frankly not
sure the increased resolution of the 4K disc is particularly helpful in offering a "pleasing" viewing experience. As I mentioned in my original 1080 review
from several years ago, there are some "baked in" deficiencies in the imagery that probably stemmed from the many challenges of the shoot and the
somewhat limited budget, and this 4K UHD version probably only points up some of the ebbs in clarity and especially chunkiness of a pretty variable
looking grain field even more than the 1080 version does. This is another 4K release that tends to improve things where the 1080 version looked at
least relatively well detailed and nicely saturated, but which on the flip side may tend to exacerbate issues like motley looking grain in darker scenes
and what are some definite variabilities in clarity and detail levels. There are some noticeable upticks in fine detail on things like Swamp
Thing's slimy countenance and body at least in the more brightly lit moments. Kind of interestingly, while Dolby Vision and/or HDR does help with some
shadow
definition in the darkest scenes, the overall color temperature here looked a bit less warm than the 1080 version, though again, as with the
1080 version, there are distinct variabilities in palette suffusion throughout the presentation. My score is 3.75.
Kind of interestingly, while the 1080 release of The Return of Swamp Thing features DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 mixes, the 4K UHD release offers DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 options, though I have to say I really couldn't discern any difference between the stereo codecs. The surround mix nicely opens up elements like the wonderful opening use of "Born on the Bayou" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, or some of the ambient environmental effects in the bog, or even some of the background clatter in the lab, but relatively large swaths of the film play out in somewhat more sonically subdued ways, leaving the surround channels fitfully engaged with discrete placement of individual effects. Fidelity is fine throughout, with all dialogue (such as it is) being cleanly rendered. There are no issues with damage or distortion.
The 1080 disc in this package repeats the supplements listed in my The Return of Swamp Thing Blu-ray review (with the exception of the fold out poster). The 4K UHD disc has the following supplements:
The Return of Swamp Thing is goofy fun a lot of the time, and it's obvious from the interviews included on both the 4K and 1080 discs that there was a rather unrepentant amount of love put into the production. This is another release of a low budget shot on film production where I'm just not sure the 4K version is what might be traditionally called an "upgrade", though it does provide an organic and at least at times nicely detailed presentation. Some fans may actually want to stick with the 1080 version, but the new interview with Uslan on the 4K disc is fun and informative, and overall technical merits are generally solid and the sum total of supplements very enjoyable, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.
1982
Collector's Edition
2006
2013
2012
2011
Roger Corman's Cult Classics
1978
1990
2019
1986
Limited Edition
1996
2016
2014
1987
2011
2010
2010
2019
4K Restoration
1987
1989
Limited Edition
1982