BLU-RAY REVIEW

Halloween H20 20 Years Later 4K Ultra HD SteelBook

Featured In Issue 269, September/October 2023

Picture5
Sound5
WSR Score4
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Paramount Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
3000096272
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Terror violence/gore and language
(Retail Price):
$30.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-66)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
86
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
ABC
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
9/26/2023
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Steve Miner
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

In "Halloween H20 20 Years Later," Jamie Lee Curtis returns as Laurie Strode for a terrifying reunion with Michael Myers, 20 years after the original Halloween. Now the dean of a Northern California private school with an assumed name, Laurie must face the horrifying events of her past as the life of her own son hangs in the balance. (Gary Reber)

Special features include a digital copy.

The 2.39:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 4K Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed on 35 film stock using the Panavision Panaflex camera system and sourced from a 4K Digital Intermediate derived from the original 35 mm element. The picture is absent virtually any noticeable film grain. Picture quality is excellent. Colors are strongly saturated with rich and warm hues. Primaries are particularly strong with reds dominant on the Academy student's jacket uniforms. Nuanced hue shadings reveal excellent color depth. Flesh tones are generally realistic though on occasion they exhibit a reddish tone. HDR contrast is excellent with wide variations. The lighting design is superb with reveallng shadows casted throughout. Black levels are deep and solid. White levels appear realistic with natural illumination. Resolution is also excellent and exhibits fine detail throughout on facial features such as skin pores, lines and hair, as well as makeup. Clothing exhibits fine detail and objects also are finely detailed and textured. Interiors and exteriors are well defined as well. Michael Myers' mask variations, whether smooth or battered, are finely textured. The imagery is consistently sharp and clear. This is a well-crafted and visually strong picture that delivers a horrific experience. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audiio 5.1-channel soundtrack is dynamic sounding, especially due to the powerful orchestral score that envelops the soundfield with a wide and deep soundstage that extends aggressively to the surrounds. Atmospherics are realistic and sound effect deliver terrifying bolts, especially during kill segments. Bass enhancement sound deep and full and not exaggerated. Foley sound effects are perfectly synced with picture. Dialogue is well integrated spatially throughout. This is an exciting holosonic® soundtrack that delivers a horrific impactful experience. (Gary Reber)