4K Ultra HD – Edition FR – Paramount Pictures – 101 min – 21 August 2019
Video format
• Intermediate Master: 2K
• Standard HDR: Dolby Vision
• Ratio: 2.39
Soundtrack
• English Dolby Atmos
• Dolby Digital 5.1 English
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 – Life After Death
Dr. Louis Creed discovers a mysterious cemetery hidden in the woods. Without knowing it, it has just triggered a series of tragic events that will give rise to formidable evil forces.
This new visit to the cemetery that reinterprets Stephen King's classic (and his singular intrigue) by deviating from his model to better surprise, is a family drama with absolute darkness where pure horror will sprout from everyday life. Of course predictable but with an invoice « old school » well-kept, this awakened nightmare faithful to the themes of its author may not be as disturbing as his model but remains a fantastic work without concession to the visual fulgurances well seen.
IMAGE – Let's walk through the woods
If the increase in sharpness remains minimal (better clarity of environments) and the edges of the frame are no less soft (not to say sometimes blurred), this UHD Dolby Vision transfer goes further than its HD counterpart (already well defined) thanks to the input of WCG and HDR.
The colorimetric palette that darkens the shades a bit benefits from a warmer calibration and much more gradients (greens and reds), contrasts are generally well improved (the many night and/or low-light scenes use stronger blacks) and more or less surreal lighting (the Sun's rays, mist, indoor lamps, moon reflections) is more sustained.
SON – Impossible mourning
Populated with impressive suggestive sounds (like the atmospheres of the forest), this mix of great clarity and dreadful efficiency combines calm with intensity through very efficient spatialization.
The dynamics fly as soon as they can (see the passage of the first Orinco truck), the basses enjoy a palpable depth (no matter how much the strikes on the drum during the funeral procession are physical), the rear scene fully participates in the hour of horror, the vertical channels offer a recurrent support to the soundtrack (the fauna and flora, the worrying noises emanating from the floor), the score benefits from a good multichannel presence and the dialogues clearly illustrate on the central track.
Less immersive and more wasteful, the VF lossy is not as impacting.
CONCLUSION – A foot in the grave?
Going behind one of Stephen King's most popular adaptations was not easy, this « rereading » However, wandering between the graves with a certain malice and except for a third act, you have seen, unfolds its bad dream in the heart of an endless forest where the boundaries with reality are even more confused in 4K Ultra HD!
Artistic note
7
Video quality
8.5
Audio quality
9.5
0
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