The Thing 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

The Thing 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Universal has released Director John Carpenter's cult classic 1982 Horror film 'The Thing' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/HDR video and DTS:X audio. A few supplements not included on Universal's original Blu-ray are now available on the UHD disc. The bundled Blu-ray is identical to Universal's 2008 pressing.

The Thing 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

Universal morphs The Thing onto the UHD format with a solid all-around 2160p/HDR UHD presentation. The picture reveals noticeable improvements over the existing 2008 Blu-ray from the very beginning for both clarity and color reproduction. (note that I cannot comment on how the image compares to the "remastered in 4K" 2018 Shout! Factory release). As so often is the case with HDR color spectrum upgrades, one of the first improvements viewers will notice comes by way of the superior whites which define the opening titles against a black screen. Far more brilliant, intense, and pure than those seen on the counterpart Blu-ray, their presentation sets an auspicious tone for the visuals to follow. And Universal does not disappoint. The full HDR color spectrum offers a more vivid color output. The snowy vistas seen outside, notably at film's start under daylight, take on a fairly blue push whereas the old Blu-ray looks more gray considering the same elements. At the other end, black levels run very deep and true, offering excellent depth and accuracy without absorbing detail or devouring shadowy elements within. General tones are far more vivid and pure. Viewers will the appreciate the appreciably bolder orange fires (the explosion in the opening sequence), intense red blood, healthy skin tones, and bold colors on various items throughout the compound, whether clothes or pinball machines, even as the interior design is otherwise spartan and visually uninteresting. The HDR colors far exceed the output on the Blu-ray, which is comparatively drab and flat.

The image is in fine shape from a textural perspective, too. While a handful of odd speckles remain, noticeable even in the opening moments as the dog runs from the Norwegian chopper, the picture appears in fine form, offering a stable, filmic quality that holds to a fine grain structure that captures the inherent cinematic quality with natural excellence and pinpoint accuracy. Fine skin details are evident in close-up, appearing much more refined and pure than seen on the old 2008 Blu-ray. Overall clarity is superb. Even examining snow and the rather bleak and utilitarian furnishings and construction details around the camp interior, there is a noticeable uptick in fine definition accuracy. Clothes are pleasantly sharp and facial hairs -- MacReady's hair and beard being the best example -- leap off the screen with very impressive definition, well beyond the Blu-ray. A few softer focus shots appear throughout, inherent to the source. While not so dramatically excellent as the finest UHD releases, there's no mistaking this as a serious upgrade over the 2008 disc and easily the best the film has ever looked for home consumption.

The Thing 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The new DTS:X soundtrack delivers a satisfying presentation. Multidirectional effects are commonplace. Gunfire pops from several locations in the opening minutes, though shots heard throughout the film, including from shotguns and revolvers, lack the authoritative depth one might expect to hear; however, that limitations appears to be inherent to the original sound design. The sound design in total is vital in building the film's tone. Cold, blustery winds permeate many scenes inside, playing almost as a foreboding warning signal that does more than chill the listener but portend the terrors that are always right around the corner. The track boasts terrific detail to the score, particularly at the low end, where the depth and density create a serious feel of dread and doom. The film's sound design inherently lacks full definition, with some crashes and other effects lacking pinpoint clarity and lifelike pronouncement, but even so there's a fine sense of general placement and detail to be enjoyed. Monster screeching, flamethrower bursts, and other high intensity, stage filling elements saturate the stage with commanding intensity and spacing. Overheads are not used to regular effect but do help in creating a more spacious listening area and boosting some of the more complex sound elements, such as when the creature extends to the ceiling and devours a man's head (listen around the 85-minute mark). Dialogue is clear and stable in front-center delivery.

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

Universal brings The Thing to the UHD format with several extras that were not included on the 2008 Blu-ray. However, it does not include the U-Control features from that disc (they are included on the bundled Blu-ray) and is sadly missing the gargantuan assortment of bonus features from the Shout! disc. Below is a list of what's included.

UHD:

• John Carpenter's The Thing: Terror Takes Shape (1080p, 4x3, 1:23:53): A in-depth documentary with interviews with key cast and crew exploring the film from a number of perspectives. This supplement was also included on the 2018 Shout! Factory disc and does include some of the content from the U-Control PiP feature from the Blu-ray.
• Outtakes (1080p, 4x3, 4:08): A few alternate takes and deleted scenes.
• Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 4x3, 2:04).
• Audio Commentary: Director John Carpenter and Kurt Russell.

• Audio Commentary: Director John Carpenter and Kurt Russell.
• U-Control Picture-in-Picture

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

Universal's UHD release of The Thing has been long anticipated and the disc does not disappoint. The video and audio presentations are very good, the former particularly pleasing and a high yield upgrade over the 13-year-old original Blu-ray. It's too bad that the studio could not assemble a more comprehensive supplemental package for this new release but the important thing is that the movie looks and sounds great. Fans are going to be thrilled. Highly recommended.