Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Suicide Squad 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

"This is the good one, right?"

Reviewed by Randy Miller III October 26, 2021

A sorta-sequel in name only, James Gunn's The Suicide Squad confused casual moviegoers who vaguely remembered whatever the hell this was back in 2016. ("Didn't we see that already"?) Unsurprisingly, this confusion -- as well as day-and-date streaming on HBO Max -- led to much lower ticket sales this time around. It's a shame, too: in almost every respect, this take on DC's classic team of miscreants is a much more worthwhile film than its predecessor, and one that clearly doesn't swim with the current. It's a lot of fun at times, and one of my favorite comic-related productions in recent memory due to a potent mixture of big-screen mayhem, absurd detours, and B-movie scrappiness.

The Suicide Squad basically ignores the 2016 film from a story standpoint, so I will too. It leads off with the formation of two "Task Force X" teams assembled by government intelligence officer Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), who sends for a dozen or so disposable inmates from Belle Reve penitentiary. Their mission? To infiltrate Corto Maltese and dismantle an experimental program code-named Project Starfish led by "The Thinker" (Peter Capaldi, Doctor Who alumnus and second cousin to this warbling schlub). Their reward? Lighter prison sentences. Anyway, both teams make landfall and, after a bloody firefight, most of the primary team is wiped out except for field leader Colonel Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie). This allows Team 2 to go in undetected; led by Flag, the group includes Bloodsport (Idris Elba), violent vigilante Peacemaker (John Xina), tragic doofus Polka-Dot Man (David Dastmalchian), the vermin-controlling Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior), man-eating King Shark (voiced by Sylvester Stallone), and, uh, Milton (Julio Cesar Ruiz). Harley, on the other hand, is captured and not really in need of rescue. They'll meet up later.

It's a wild ride that stays entertaining for its two hour-plus runtime, which really does zip by thanks to its lightweight tone, memorable characters, and a handful of terrific set pieces peppered with over-the-top gore and mostly well-placed needle-drop moments. None of these elements should be all that surprising to fans of Gunn's earlier films like Slither, Super, and both Guardians of the Galaxy and its sequel, with much of the film's big budget going to the perfect ensemble cast -- which also includes Nathan Fillion, Michael Rooker, Jai Courtney, and original Suicide Squad comics scribe John Ostrander -- and a slathering of special effects that bring this colorful world to vivid life. (I'm resisting the urge to spoil its "last boss" reveal, a sequence that's as absurd as it is jaw-dropping.) As a total package this is great work, with only a few minor nitpicks along the way -- scene transitions and establishing shots that try too hard, as well as one lazy "rewind" moment that hurts some of its third-act momentum -- that are no match for its most memorable moments. Simply put, it's a fun time at the movies and should earn more than a few spins in the future.

While our own Brian Orndorf wasn't as enamored with The Suicide Squad in his theatrical review, needless to say this one was right the hell up my alley... or maybe I just saw it on a good day. But whether you're a fan or not, Warner Bros.' new 4K edition (also available as a stand-alone Blu-ray) is an outstanding package with top-tier A/V specs and an assortment of solid extras that adds a lot of value. King Shark even gets his own featurette, obviously.

The Suicide Squad 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Seen in its native 2160p glory, The Suicide Squad is a scruffy stunner in 4K and one that impresses with technical proficiency and great use of HDR enhancement (presented in either Dolby Vision or HDR10+, depending on your setup) to deliver a basically flawless presentation. Colors are stunningly rendered; many scenes make use of the trendy but biologically effective "teal-orange" combo to create immediately impressive compositions, such as the subdued interiors of Project Starfish's underground laboratory (above) or the bright orange jumpsuits of Belle Reve inmates (at top). Others go for all-out color, from obvious candidates like Polka-Dot Man's vivid secretions and the cotton candy-colored Starro, as well as flowery fireworks when Harley Quinn goes into all-out badass mode during her violent escape from ruthless captors. Black levels and brighter highlights are balanced nicely, even the white-out downpour during the film's second half that threatens to wash out critical details but instead stands as a visual highlight. Fine detail and textures are likewise perfectly rendered, with many scenes leaving an immediate impression on visual clarity alone. This is a smooth but not waxy picture overall, and one that should delight those who saw The Suicide Squad theatrically or on HBO Max, where it debuted simultaneously. This 4K presentation likely meets or beats both options, offering die-hard fans and first-timers an outstanding visual experience that suits the main feature perfectly.

For my thoughts on the included Blu-ray's inferior but still pretty decent 1080p transfer (which is what all of this review's screenshots were sourced from), please see my separate coverage of that title.

The Suicide Squad 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Unsurprisingly, The Suicide Squad's Dolby Atmos mix swings for the fences, offering a nice mixture of playful sonic flourishes and all-out chaos during the film's most intense moments. Dialogue follows these rules as well, staying up front during normal conversations but sneaking into the surrounds and rears in group settings. From the opening sequence and first firefight in Corto Maltese to the gleefully absurd showdown with its oversized final villain, the action sounds very satisfying during critical moments and, more often than not, totally envelops the listener in an aggressive but not overcooked manner. Other sequences and specific moments, including a sudden approaching storm with its rumbling thunder and foggy white-out downpour, make fantastic use of the height channels, as do the crumbling buildings and urban destruction of the film's final act. Circular movements, such as a fatal showdown between two of the Squad's main characters over the fate of a Project Starfish hard drive, have fun with panning effects that pair nicely with creative visuals. All told, it's a perfectly satisfying mix that really can't sound better on home video; one that consistently maintains The Suicide Squad's potent mixture of playful detours and extreme intensity.

Optional subtitles (including English SDH) are included during the main feature and all applicable extras.

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

This two-disc set ships in a dual-hubbed keepcase with dynamic cover artwork, a matching slipcover, and a Digital Copy redemption slip. All extras below can be found on the included Blu-ray disc, although two are repeated on the 4K.

• Audio Commentary - Director James Gunn serves up an enjoyably laid-back and informative feature-length track that covers the expected bases: casting, special effects, previous versions, editing, other post-production stuff, cameos and Easter eggs, the final showdown, and much more. Also available on the 4K disc.

• Deleted and Extended Scenes (8 scenes, 17:27 total)

• Gag Reel (10:23) - Pretty substantial, as far as these things go.

• Bringing King Shark to Life (5:40) - An overview of the techniques used to bring Nanaue to doofy life, which involved using Steve Agee (who also played John Economos, underling of Amanda Waller) as a stand-in for the CGI finished product. We also get a look at the special effects, earlier designs, and even a few comments from Sylvester Stallone, the creative team's third and final choice as voice actor for the role.

• Gotta Love the Squad (11:37) - A brief history of the title team as told by original Suicide Squad comics writer John Ostrander, director James Gunn, and others, plus plenty of panels from vintage issues.

• The Way of the Gunn (7:50) - Key cast and crew members fawn over the directorial efforts of James Gunn. Even when I like the subject in question, these aren't my favorite.

• Scene Breakdowns - Four short featurettes highlighting specific scenes from the main feature, each including candid on-set footage and interviews with key cast and crew members.

• It's a Suicide Mission (6:37)
• My Gun's Bigger Than Yours (5:44)
• Harley's Great Escape (7:16) - Also available on the 4K disc.
• The Fall of Jotunheim (5:38)

• Starro: It's a Freakin' Kaiju! (6:17) - A tribute to the last boss, including VFX used to create him.

• Retro Trailers - None of the film's actual teasers or trailers are included, so fans will have to settle for these three fake ones instead. Each presents The Suicide Squad in the style of a different genre.

• War Movie (3:24)
• Horror Movie (1:23)
• Buddy Cop Movie (1:17)

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

James Gunn's The Suicide Squad is an absurdly fun spectacle with colorful characters, over-the-top action, and a few huge set pieces that launch what otherwise feels like a goofy, low-budget romp into much bigger territory. Although slightly derivative of other superhero films and franchises, it skates by on pure charisma and confidence alone, even if it sadly underperformed at the box office... even compared to the much less impressive 2016 film, which is just a crying shame. (I guess the Joker really is that big of a draw.) Regardless, Warner Bros.' 4K edition is terrific, pairing top-tier A/V specs with a nice collection of extras. Highly Recommended to fans and first-timers alike.