4K Ultra HD – US Edition – 20th Century Studios – 150 min – 22 March 2022
Video format
• Intermediate Master: 4K
• Standard HDR: HDR10
• Ratio: 1.85
Soundtrack
• English Dolby Atmos
• French (Parisian) Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles
• English
• French
It is brought to the attention of our dear readers as well as the viewing equipment specified and used by each tester of the MaG team, the rendering may differ from one installation to another, whether or not it is calibrated, as well as personal preferences and expectations may influence the rating. Moreover, the images in the article are not representative of the edition tested.
WORK – The monster fair
As he goes through a bad pass, the charismatic Stanton Carlisle arrives at a travelling fair and manages to attract the good graces of a psychic, Zeena and her husband Pete, an ancient glory of mentalism. Starting with them, he sees this as a way to get his ticket for success and decides to use his new talents to scam the elite of the good New York society of the 1940s...
Worn by a distribution of stars, led by master hand by the « third eye » by Guillermo del Toro and presented in a sumptuous baroque setting (the artistic direction is dazzling), this elegant tribute to the black film where the American dream (the ascension) turns into a real nightmare (the fall) as the veil of illusion rises, is above all a psychological thriller that explores the monstrosity of men through the poisonous psychoanalysis of a soul darkened by time.
IMAGE – The taste of illusion
Playing the contrast between shadows and light, both day and night, this striking image (out of a DI 4K) enhanced by a UHD10 high seam UHD transfer, is greatly improved compared to its counterpart 1080p CSD.
The smallest details of the frame enjoy a greater clarity (faces, fabrics, decorations), the voluntary minimalist colorimetric palette (brown tones) grabs bolder primaries (Dr. Ritter's lips, the red colour on Molly's outfits, the brightness of lightnings) while accentuating the earthy heat of the fair and the city's monochrome coldness, the blacks display with increased depth (they are ink without ever crushing the elements immersed in the darkness), the whites are illustrated by a raised purity (the snow, the organza dress of the « ghost ») and the light sources, going and coming within the same plane, reveal themselves with a new vitality (multiple interior lighting, flames, the light of the lamps).
SON – The « truths » that one hopes to hear
Designed with the utmost care and immersive, this wonderful soundtrack literally gives life to the freak carnival animated by Guillermo del Toro.
More enveloping by its nature, the VO Dolby Atmos makes use of all channels with transparency (to follow the action even out-of-field), benefits from attractive verticality (cf. the public above the « Idiot » of the show), using well shaken bass (fire and drum, electric surges), delivers a subtle score (which is owed to Nathan Johnson) perfectly introduced into the sound space and makes clear dialogues.
Less precise on the spatialization side but with such a solid dynamic, the VF(F) also ensures the show.
CONCLUSION – I'm doing the circus!
If the cards we have in hand might well cause our loss, the present 4K Ultra HD that simmers in « God » in the gallery of monsters does not fire « monster » In the ice gallery!
Artistic note
8
Video quality
9.5
Audio quality
9
0
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