'Until Dawn' 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review - A Gory, Cyclical Nightmare
For in-depth thoughts on Until Dawn, please see my colleague Cody Allen's review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Until Dawn offers a minor but valuable uptick in quality over the already impressive accompanying Blu-Ray. The HDR/Dolby Vision expands the range of the color spectrum to impressive heights when it comes to accuracy and depth. This 4K presentation excels when it comes to the balance of the contrast. Dolby Vision allows for a much healthier command of these differences within the frame with greater depth and finer delineation. Black levels stay deep and inky with exceptional detail even in the intense shadows. The highlights in the film are likewise firmly defined with whites pure and balanced and no instances of blooming at play. This is a key benefit when it comes to this format.
In terms of color reproduction, you could not ask for more. Elements of the lighting throughout the visitor center radiate off the screen with impressive resonance. Some of the clothing and elements of the production design are accompanied by noteworthy splashes of color to keep things from becoming overly gloomy. Skin tones appear a touch more natural with healthy doses of crisp detail apparent on faces such as makeup. Fine detail is in great shape with the texture of costumes and within the background impeccably defined. The visual effects are decent for what they are trying to accomplish. Sony has delivered another knockout transfer on this latest 4K release.
Audio Quality
This 4K UHD Blu-Ray utilizes a Dolby Atmos track that gives the narrative the sonic complexity it deserves. Dialogue is crisp and clear without ever getting clipped by the music or sound effects. The score does a nice job of setting the mood as it effectively saturates the room. Despite not being an action-packed outing, nearly all of the surround speakers make themselves known throughout from the expository moments to horrific confrontations. The implementation of the height channels is commendably unsettling at times as the environment becomes very immersive and lived-in. The effects in the low end from the subwoofer give moments the perfect amount of texture. Atmospheric sound effects are deftly rendered within the mix so that directionality is never in question. Until Dawn has been provided a track that effortlessly achieves its sonic ambitions. Optional English, English SDH, French, Spanish, and a plethora of additional subtitles are provided.
Special Features
Audio Commentary:
Director David F. Sandberg & Producer Lotta Losten provide an informative commentary track in which they discuss the production of the film, how they achieved certain shots, fun Easter Eggs in the film, challenges that needed to be overcome, working with the performers, and more.
Adapting A Nightmare:
A nearly three-minute featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the concept, the fun of the video game world, expanding the narrative for a feature film, and more.
Practical Terrors:
A nearly three-minute look at the drive to keep things as practical as possible to maintain a sense of realism.
Death-Defying Cast:
A three-minute exploration of the characters and the performers who bring them to life, the qualities they bring to the screen, the bonding on set, and more.
Deleted Scenes:
A 37-minute collection of unused material is provided here, including an alternate opening, alternate ending, extended sequences, and more.
Previews
Final Thoughts
Until Dawn is a video game adaptation that, by most accounts, seems to be dead set on alienating most of its original fan base. As someone who has never played the game nor even heard whispers of what it is about, it does not feel like a great betrayal to me that this feature apparently strays so far from the source material. What I experienced was a surprisingly gory and visceral horror movie with a creative premise executed with a good amount of skill and a mostly likable ensemble. The conceit does become a bit tedious in spots, but it keeps things fresh with creative obstacles and gloriously over-the-top deaths. In terms of studio-backed horror films, this is a pretty fun surprise. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a stellar A/V presentation and a decent assortment of special features. If you are not married to the gaming lore, give this a shot. Recommended
Until Dawn is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 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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