The Crow (2024) 4K Ultra HD

In reimagining of "The Crow," soulmates Eric (Bill (Skarsgård) and Shelly (FKA twigs) are brutally murdered when the demons of her dark past catch up with them. Given the chance to save his true love by sacrificing himself, Eric sets out to seek merciless revenge on their killers, traversing the worlds of the living and the dead to put the wrong things right. (Gary Reber)

Special features include nine featurettes under the title "True Love Never Dies: Making The Crow":: "Chapter One – The Emotional Engine: Origins" (HD 08:53), "Chapter Two – Body & Soul: The Cast" (HD 11:48), "Chapter Three – Modern Gothic: Character/Costume/Production Design" (HD 15:17), "Chapter Four – Between Two Worlds: On Location" (HD 08:59), "Chapter Five – Vengeance Incarnate: Action & Stunts" (HD 12:45), "Chapter Six – Sacrifice: Final Thoughts" (HD 08:12), "Dark Romance: The Score" (HD 11:27), "Reborn Through Revenge: Main Title Sequence" (HD 02:06) and "Every Film Is A Miracle: A Tribute to Edward R. Pressman" (HD 11:08; four deleted scenes (HD 05:53); theatrical trailer and a digital copy.

The 2.39:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed digitally in anamorphic Hawk Scope using the Hawk class-X camera system and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. The picture is visually beautiful and dynamic. The production design develops with a haunting atmospheric of dark urban environments. The color palette is perfectly natural and exhibits rich and warm hues. Primaries are strong, such as vivid blood reds. Textural color and depth is excellent, Flesh tones are perfectly hued. HDR contrast is superb. Black levels are deep and defined such as during closeups of the crow. Shadows are revealing of detail. And white levels are realistically illuminated. Resolution is superb with sharp and clear imagery throughout. Facial features reveal skin pores, lines complexions, hair and beards. Urban environments are perfectly realistic and nicely resolved. Object textures are revealing of detail. This is a visually stunning picture that is compelling with a horrific visual impact. For a superior viewing experience your environment should be very dark. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel is dynamic sounding with realistic enveloping atmospherics and exciting sound effects involving intense violence. Sound effects are emboldened with sharp transient attacks and enhanced with deep bass extension, which at times extends to sub-25 Hz. The killing spree during the opera performance is a Foley sound effects tour de force extending to strong audience surround envelopment. The orchestral/choral score is dynamic with a forward presence and an amazing enveloping surround soundfield. Surround energy is aggressive throughout, often with excellent directionalization. Dialogue is intelligible throughout with generally decent spatial integration.

The Immersive Sound element is comprised of an aggressive extension of the music, as well as effective atmospheric envelopment such as street and interior sounds, and sound effects such a crows hawking, a church bell, gunfire, subway ambiance, opera applause and numerous other sonics that effectively create a spherical dimension. If only other filmmakers would follow suit and enhance their Immersive Sound soundtracks as effectively.

This is an impressive holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack that delivers superb dynamics, imaging and fidelity. This is tour d force for a home theatre system that is capable. (Gary Reber)