'Killer Of Sheep' Criterion Collection 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review - A Landmark Piece Of Independent Cinema
A quiet revelation of American independent filmmaking, Charles Burnett's lyrical debut feature unfolds as a mosaic of Black life in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, where Stan (Henry Gayle Sanders), a father worn down by his job in a slaughterhouse, and his wife (Kaycee Moore) seek moments of tenderness in the face of myriad disappointments. Equally attuned to the world of children and that of adults, Burnett—acting as director, writer, producer, cinematographer, and editor—finds poetry amid everyday struggles in indelible images that glow with compassionate beauty. Largely unseen for decades following its completion in 1977, Killer of Sheep is now recognized as a touchstone of the groundbreaking LA Rebellion movement, and a masterpiece that brought Black American lives to the screen with an aching intimacy like no film before.
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Video Quality
The Criterion Collection presents Killer of Sheep on 4K UHD Blu-Ray courtesy of a striking 4K digital restoration from the 16mm fine-grain positive that was created from the 16mm Original Camera Negative via a collaboration between the UCLA Film & Television Archive, Milestone Films, and the Criterion Collection. The film is presented in 2160p with a transfer that shines even without the utilization of HDR. This release marks the first time this film has been made available in HD domestically. The included Blu-Ray is also a rich experience, but the 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc does offer some subtle improvements that make it the preferred choice. The black and white cinematography is exquisite with smooth gradients and subtle textures. The contrast remains stable and provides valuable improvements in sharpness.
This transfer retains the handcrafted filmic quality of the picture with gritty film grain giving way to a world of detail in the various environments. This restoration has been handled with such care to reveal more detail than you could even hope. Black levels are deep without any unsightly nuisances such as digital noise or compression artifacts. The Blu-Ray disc has more information it has to handle since it houses the supplements, but the 4K UHD disc allows the movie to breathe on its own. The transfer largely eliminates the dust specks and print damage you might expect from a picture that was overlooked for so many decades. This frame taps into the potential depth of the image which gives way to a pleasing sense of scale within the neighborhood. This experience offers a treasure chest of textural details in the clothing and production design. This transfer is a gift for a film that is an important part of cinema history. This is a knockout effort for anyone who has been waiting for a proper presentation.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a worthy LPCM 1.0 mono track in the original English with optional English SDH subtitles. Although there are some age-related shortcomings, this track does everything it needs to ensure that dialogue comes through as clearly as possible. This was a very low-budget endeavor, but the audio restoration has attempted to bring out all the nuances possible. The music in the feature emerges at key points, and most tracks render with nice fidelity. In a nice development, the track 'Unforgettable' by Dinah Washington that had previously been replaced in 2007 due to music clearance issues has been reinstated for this release. Environmental sounds of kids playing or factory noises are rendered well alongside everything else. There do not seem to be any egregious instances of age-related wear and tear. Criterion has given this film the delicately preserved, authentic audio presentation it deserves.
Special Features
The Criterion 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Killer of Sheep includes a foldout pamphlet featuring the essay 'Everyday Blues' by author Danielle Amir Jackson which explores the themes, the history of its release, the legacy of the film, and more that is very illuminating. The on-disc special features are as follows:
Audio Commentary:
Director Charles Burnett provides a commentary track moderated by film scholar Richard Peña in which he discusses the preservation efforts, the inspiration for the title, the production process, his feelings about the film over the years, and more.
Charles Burnett:
A new 13-minute interview with the filmmaker in which he discusses his history with Black cinema, his background, wanting to show that people of color could achieve things, the inspiration he drew from his real life, and more.
Henry Gayle Sanders:
A new 17-minute interview with the actor who discusses his background, using his GI bill to attend acting school, meeting Charles Burnett, his relationship to some of his fellow performers, the experience of shooting the film, filming on location, and more.
Barry Jenkins:
A new 19-minute interview with filmmaker Barry Jenkins ( The Underground Railroad
) in which he discusses the major impact of
Killer of Sheep
on his work, the first time he saw the film, the unique aspects of the film, some of the most memorable moments of the feature, and more.
Short Films:
Two early short films from Burnett's time at UCLA are provided that show his great talent even before this feature.
Several Friends (1969) (22:03)
The Horse (1973) (13:53)
Charles Burnett On The Horse: A new minute-long anecdote from Burnett about the influence of William Faulkner on his short film.
LA Rebellion Oral History Project:
A 19-minute interview with Charles Burnett from 2010 in which he discusses the LA Rebellion from his time at UCLA in which filmmakers from diverse communities came together to carve a new path of Black independent cinema.
A Walk With Charles Burnett:
A 56-minute documentary in which Charles Burnett takes a walk with filmmaker Robert Townsend (
Hollywood Shuffle
) through the Watts neighborhood featured in
Killer of Sheep.
Along this journey, Burnett discusses the impact of his neighborhood on his life, his drive to tell stories about people of color, and more.
Cast Reunion:
A six-minute reunion video for the 2007 screening of the movie in Los Angeles at a local coffee shop.
Trailer (2:17)
Final Thoughts
Killer of Sheep is a powerful bit of independent filmmaking that goes beyond the scope of what the studio system was willing to explore as it pertains to the lives of Black Americans. The film feels viscerally natural with authentic performances from both the adults and the young kids. The film will feel refreshing to those who have only seen Black lives depicted in very stereotypical ways from this era of cinema. The Criterion Collection has delivered a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray that offers a terrific A/V presentation and some valuable special features. If you are a fan of the film, you will be rewarded for your patience at long last. Highly Recommended
The Criterion Collection edition of Killer of Sheep will be available to purchase on 4K UHD and Blu-Ray on May 27, 2025.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: The Criterion Collection has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
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