Source France | Publisher : ESC Editions | Release date : 15 June 2022
Video format
2160p24 – Ratio 1.85
Dolby Vision / BT.2020 – HEVC encoding
Master intermediate 4K
Soundtrack
English DTS-HD MA 5.1
English DTS-HD MA 2.0
French DTS-HD MA 2.0
Subtitles
French
Rated 4 out of 5
Artistic : 8.5 | Video : 8 | Audio : 8.5
It is brought to the attention of our dear readers that, in addition to the specified and used viewing equipment, the rendering may differ from one installation to another, whether or not it is calibrated, as well as personal preferences and expectations may influence notation. Moreover, the images in the article are not representative of the edition tested.
Test equipment and condition (Config. HP: 5.1.4)
Video broadcaster : Philips 65OLED908 (Dolby Vision Filmmaker)
Sources : Oppo UDP-203 Audiocom Reference | Zappiti Reference
Pregnant : Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar (DTS Neural:X), SVS SB-4000
WORK - Urban Legend
Helen Lyle is a graduate student from the University of Chicago who writes a thesis on urban legends. During interviews during her research, she hears about a local legend called Candyman – a mysterious killer armed with a hook that would appear when he pronounces his name five times in front of a mirror. With her friend Bernadette, she then went to Cabrini Green, a city that would be the « Territory » Candyman.
Adapted from the new Prohibited places of the Clive Barker, this classic of social horror gives life to urban fears to better denounce systemic oppression (here the ordinary sexism that must endure Virginia Madsen) and the malaise of a society (the misery of an oppressed community). And while it marks the appearance of an unforgettable icon of horror under the traits of magnetic Tony Todd, this worrying psychological drama where everything is only false-like can begin his carnage (the killing is violent) in order to preserve the belief of his faithful.
IMAGE - Through the mirror
From a 4K restoration of the original negative 35 mm supervised by Bernard Rose (the director) and Anthony B. Richmond (the director of photography), this UHD Dolby Vision transfer delivers an overall visual rendering of little or nothing (the psychiatrist's murder is still below and some skies are still violently sounded).
The flaws of film (hair, cracks, white dots) have been cleaned, the definition is excellent (the sometimes soft focus on Maddie is inherent in the source), the level of detail is of unprecedented finesse for this title (faces made up or not, weaving of clothes, graffiti) and granulation is fully present (homogenous and structured at will).
The depth of the frame during the dark scenes (especially at Cabrini Green) continues to be astounded thanks to highly improved contrasts (enriched blacks and enhanced whites), the light sources show a new glow (the flashes of the camera, the reflections on the water, the rays of the sun passing through the windows) and the colorimetric palette, irresistibly attracted by the brown hues, shows more daring primaries than in the past (the bluish coldness of winter, the incandescent heat of the flames) as well as a more natural carnation.
SON - Say his name five times
If the Dolby Atmos mix has not been shamefully achieved (while it is available on US and UK editions), the DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack reserved for the VO is nevertheless particularly wide (especially during moments of panic) and well distributed.
Evidence of partition of Philip Glass (which underscores collective fear just as much as the tragedy experienced by the killer) is authoritarian, atmospheric atmospheres (road traffic, crowd chatter) like horrific effects (bee buzzing) pass through all the speakers (a special mention echoing Candyman's deep and serious voice), the LFE channel is skillfully exploited to support the gravity of certain scenes (the stake) and the dialogues are clear.
Stable, balanced and powerful as required, the VF proposed in DTS-HD MA 2.0 has quality dubbing and does not have to suffer from any unexpected breath.
CONCLUSION - Be my victim
By attaching to the sociological dimension of his narrative (more developed than the literary success from which he is drawn) and by associating with urban legends, Candyman imposed itself as a must of the genre at the lit double reading. And for those who want to be dragged deeper into the darkness, the present 4K Ultra HD (a beautiful image upgrade) opens its doors!
[...] of the pages of Clive Barker (Hellraiser, Cabal, Candyman), this mischievous and horrendously soft adaptation of which the star creature (never [...]