The Sadness 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		0.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		3.0

The Sadness 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 7, 2025

You've probably seen large swaths of The Sadness before, but arguably never quite like this. While probably unabashedly a "zombie movie", The Sadness offers halting homage (?) to the paranoia of the early days of COVID with a plot that offers a plague infecting people which then provokes them to participate in whatever sick and twisted behaviors their Id demands. The result is almost unrelentingly graphic and those who get their minimum daily requirement of adrenaline from horror movies will probably easily find their needs satisfied, though the film has both narrative and pacing issues that may make it more of a bloody slog for others.

The Sadness received a 4K / 1080 combo release from Shudder for the Region A market in 2024. Brian Orndorf's The Sadness 4K Blu-ray review provides a plot summary, a list of supplements and Brian's reaction to the technical presentation. As I'm fond of reminding readers, different reviewers means different opinions, and those differences are reflected in some of the scores granted by each of us.

The Sadness 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: This release does not include a 1080 Blu-ray, so these screenshots are taken directly from the 4K UHD disc and downscaled to 1080 and SDR. Color space in particular is therefore not accurate, and I recommend those interested to look at some of the screenshots in Brian Orndorf's The Sadness 4K Blu-ray review (which includes screenshots from the 1080 disc in that package) for a probably better representation of the palette. Since this release does not include a 1080 disc, the 2K video score above has been intentionally left blank.

The Sadness is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.00:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the presentation:

The Sadness is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.00:1 with 5.1 DTS-HD MA surround audio.

The film is presented in 4K resolution in High Dynamic Range.

The 4K master was made available by AMC.

The Ultra High Definition master was provided by AMC / Machi Xcelsior Studios.

The Sadness was captured with RED cameras, and as is gone over in some detail in the colo(u)r grading featurette, the source capture was literally just the beginning of things in terms of crafting the "look" of this piece. As such, trying to typify a palette as "normal" looking may be a fool's errand, but as is documented in that featurette and which is of course on full display in the feature itself is some really quite fascinating tweaking of the original imagery in order to attain the desired palette effects. Kind of surprisingly, red blood was actually made less vibrant and more darkened, just one of several key changes made. A number of relatively "normal" looking scenes, like the opening bedroom vignette, were graded fairly aggressively as well, which may surprise some. Highlights have actually been toned down a bit at times according to the above referenced featurette, but the sheer variety of tones and gradings offered here are quite remarkable. Detail levels are typically excellent throughout, perhaps to stomach churning levels as some of the more graphic carnage breaks out.

The Sadness 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Sadness features a nicely immersive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that derives occasional cacophonies of activity in some of the "marauding" attack scenes, notably a Train to Busan adjacent skirmish that, while cloistered, provides really great engagement of the side and rear channels. A glut of outdoor material also offers regular placement of ambient environmental effects around the soundstage. Scoring also is nicely spacious. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly. Optional English subtitles are available.

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

Note: More information on some of the supplements shared with the Region A release from Shudder are available in Brian's review of that edition, linked to above.

• Commentaries

Commentary by Rob Jabbaz & Bai Jie-Li features the film's director and cinematographer and was not included on the Shudder release.




Commentary by Rob Jabbaz & Tzechar




Commentary by Rob Jabbaz & Shu

• Behind the Scenes Featurettes

The Director (HD; 3:16) is an interview with Rob Jabbaz.




The Business Man (HD; 3:22) is an interview with Wang Tzu Chiang.




The Special Effects (HD; 1:08) is an interview with special make up effects artist VIctor Chang. Subtitled in English.




The Art Department (HD; 1:01) is an interview with art director Liu Chin-fu. Subtitled in English.




The Production (HD; 5:27) offers behind the scenes footage.




Colour Grading Comparison (HD; 11:39) is a fascinating account of how grading choices substantially altered the look of the source capture footage.

• Short Films by Rob Jabbaz

Clearwater (2020) (HD; 6:04)




Fiendish Funnies (2013) (HD; 3:16)

• 2021 Fantasia Festival

Introduction and Award Presentation (HD; 7:23)




Post Screening Q & A (HD; 39:28)

• Trailer (HD; 1:10

Additionally this limited edition comes with a reversible sleeve and an illustrated collectors' booklet featuring content from Jabbaz's own archives, along with new writing. Packaging features a slipcover.

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

If watching a plague infected man poke the eye out of a hapless little girl on a subway is your idea of entertainment, The Sadness may well be a "must see" property. The screenplay here probably traffics in a few too many well worn tropes for its own good, but the sheer visceral quality of the incredibly violent visuals certainly makes this a memorable viewing experience, for better or worse. Technical merits are solid and the supplements interesting, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.