Van Helsing 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Van Helsing 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Just in time for Halloween viewing, 2004's 'Van Helsing' returns to new life on 4K UHD in the new 'Van Helsing: Limited Edition SteelBook 4K' courtesy of Universal. Directed by Stephen Sommers, the horror-actioner stars Hugh Jackman (the 'X-Men' franchise, 'Song Sung Blue') in the titular role, along with Kate Beckinsale (the 'Underworld' franchise, 'Whiteout'), and Richard Roxburgh ('Sanctum') as Dracula in what has become something of a modern cult-classic. The film boasts solid technical merits and the release includes over two hours of on-disc supplemental features. A Blu-ray disc, an embossed slipcover, and a Digital Code redeemable via Movies Anywhere are also included. Please scroll down to the 'Special Features and Extras' section below for a discussion of the new SteelBook.

Van Helsing 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

As the discs included here are identical to the standard 4K release from 2017, for comments regarding the transfer, please follow this link.

Van Helsing 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Again, as the discs included here are identical to the standard 4K release from 2017, thoughts on the audio track can be found by following this link.

Van Helsing 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

While not identical to the the busy, moody, and detailed movie posters from the time of its theatrical release, the cover of the new SteelBook is certainly inspired by them. As such, it also has a great deal in common with the covers of both the Blu-ray and standard 4K UHD release. With a color scheme dominated by blues, purples and greys, Jackman's Van Helsing stands slightly in front of Beckinsale's Anna Valerious. Both have weapons drawn and stand in front of massive full moon. Castle Dracula is visible in the far distance to the left, and a various monsters appear around them in the middle-distance as well. The film's title and the names of the two leads are found squarely in the middle. The back cover gives the film's villains the focus. While the color palette still favors greys, purples, and blues, the gossamer gowns worn by Aleera, Verona, and Marishka inject a light dose of color into the mix, offering some soft pinks, blues, and whites. In the middle of the women stands Roxburgh's Dracula looking cool and aloof. Universal's logo is found in the lower left corner, while a product number sits in the lower right. The spine is a simple black field with the film's title in the center and Universal's logo at the bottom. The entirety of the exterior has been given a glossy finish, and the cover image sports some metallic highlights on the weapons held by Jackman and Beckinsale to give them an eye-catching shine. There aren't any embossed or debossed elements.

Opening the SteelBook, the tabs on the left hold the Digital Code. On the right side, the 4K UHD disc and the Blu-ray disc are stagger-stacked, each on its own hub, with the 4K UHD disc on top. Removing all of the contents reveals a panoramic two-panel image of the imposing Castle Dracula and the surrounding countryside. Bolts of lightning streak down from the sky and strike the top of one of the towers. The color palette employed once again favors spooky dark blues and greys in the keeping with the gothic horror atmosphere and trappings of the film. The cover of the SteelBook is very much in line with the film itself - it's busy and there is a great deal attempting to vie for the viewers attention. It also unerringly alludes to what is in store should the case be opened and the disc be put in a player. It's an excellently designed SteelBook.

For an accounting of the on-disc supplemental features, please follow this link and this link as well. As with the previous 4K UHD release, the bulk of the supplemental features are found on the included Blu-ray disc.

Van Helsing 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A great many gothic horror films set about to build character, tension, and atmosphere, delivering thrilling action with a modicum of blood only at very controlled and purposeful intervals. 2004's Van Helsing is not one of those pictures. Characters are thinly constructed, atmosphere is driven visually and reinforced by simply spending time in the film's world, and with anything resembling restraint never entering the equation thrilling action erupts and explodes every few minutes. And I love every moment of it. While I was of the the belief that the film heralded the beginning of a franchise similar to The Mummy trilogy from the same era, that was sadly not to be, and this lone film is all that there is for fans to enjoy. There are certainly better horror films out there for chilling seasonal viewing, but there are few that ask "What if?" so frequently in the pursuit of crafting a pastiche of everything Universal's original cycle of horror films did, couldn't do, and never imagined in the first place. For the film's fans, and for the uninitiated who are looking for a light and breezy palette cleanser between more challenging horror fare, the Van Helsing: Limited Edition SteelBook 4K comes recommended.