Zyzzyx Road 4K Ultra HD

In "Zyzzyx Road," Grant (Leo Grillo ), a philandering accountant, goes to Las Vegas on a business trip and encounters a seductress, Marissa (Katherine Heigl), and her jealous ex-boyfriend Joey (Tom Sizemore). Grant and Marissa incapacitate Joey, believing they have killed him, and decide to bury him along the eponymous Zyzzyx Road, a rural road off Interstate 15 in California's Mojave Desert. After digging a grave, they return to find Joey missing from the trunk of Grant's car. Grant chases Joey through the desert with a shovel, and when he finds him hidden in an abandoned mine, he tells Joey a secret about Marissa. (Gary Reber)

Special features include new introduction by Writer/Director/Producer John Penney and Actor /Producer Leo Grillo; commentary with Grillo; commentary with Penney; four featurettes:"The Legacy Of Zyxxyx Road: A Discussion" (HD 01:33:18), " "11 Archival Behind The Scenes", "Shooting Location: Then And Now" (HD 05:35) and "Storyboard To Scenes" (HD 03:59); archival interview with Penney (HD ); storyboard slideshow; "The Mystery Of Zyzzyx Road" music video (HD 04:47) and trailer.

The 1.85:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD HDR10+/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed digitally and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. The production design locale is the Mojave Desert at night and in bright daylight with pure deep blue or grayish skies. The color shift between full saturation and desaturation is a visual element of the movie to indicate when Joey is influencing Grant vs. reality. This is an unexplainable variable part of the mystery. The color palette during the night scenes is sacrificed under the dim moon and spot lighting. Under the bright sunlight colors are saturated and vivid at times, but then grayish bright at other times. Colors in the desert are earthy with dull green shrubs and grayish rock formations. Primaries such as blood red are strongly saturated. Flesh tones appear generally natural and during sunlight most accurate. HDR contrast is generally good with solid black levels, dark shadows can be well delineated and then veiled. White levels appear realistic. Resolution is revealing of fine detail in facial features such as skin pores, lines and hair. Clothing reveals fabrics. Objects, such as rock formations and an old mine shaft structure are well defined as well as a bright red shovel handle. This is a decent looking picture with a dynamic character. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-channel soundtrack is propelled by a dynamic music score with unique instrumental voicing. The music is spread across the soundstage and extends aggressively to the surrounds for a strong dimensional soundfield. Bass enhancement is deeply embedded in the music, as well as providing support for bursts of sound effects. Foley sound effects provide excellent realism of movement in the desert and rocks. Atmospherics sound real. Dialogue is a focus and intelligible throughout with generally good integration. This is a satisfying holosonic® soundtrack with a dynamic music score that images with discrete localization and imaging throughout. (Gary REber)