The Thing 4K Blu-ray delivers great video and audio in this excellent Blu-ray release
A twelve-man research team stationed in Antarctica finds an alien being that has fallen from the sky and has been buried for over 100,000 years.
For more about The Thing 4K and the The Thing 4K Blu-ray release, see the The Thing 4K Blu-ray Review published by Martin Liebman on September 15, 2021 where this Blu-ray release scored 4.0 out of 5.
Universal has released Director John Carpenter's cult classic 1982 Horror film 'The Thing' to the UHD format. New specifications include
2160p/HDR video and
DTS:X audio. A few supplements not included on Universal's original Blu-ray are now available on the UHD disc. The bundled Blu-ray is identical to
Universal's 2008 pressing.
A Norwegian chopper circles the perimeter of United States National Science Institute, station 4,
a remote scientific outpost deep in the Arctic. For reasons unknown, a gunman inside the
chopper fires a rifle at a
dog. The engagement ends with the chopper down and the two-man crew killed. The confused
American research team takes in the seemingly harmless dog, and several of the group, including
R.J. "Mac"
MacReady (Kurt Russell), take their
own chopper to the Norwegian outpost in hopes of discovering what drove the Norwegians to
hunt the dog
in such an aggressive manner that ultimately cost them their lives. There, amidst the
smoldering remains of the station, they find the remnants of some "thing." Taking it back to
station 4, the facility's medical examiner, Dr. Blair (Wilford Brimley), finds
inside of it normal human organs, but the "thing's" external appearance is anything but, a bloody
jumble of limbs, torsos, and faces melded together as one. Soon after, the team discovers a
deadly creature in their midst, one that can absorb and imitate any life form it so chooses, leaving
the team confused, frightened, and untrusting of one another. A series of bloody events reveals
that appearances can be deceiving, that your best friend may very well be harboring inside of him
a deadly creature capable of unleashing unspeakable, grotesque attacks.
The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.
Universal morphs The Thing onto the UHD format with a solid all-around 2160p/HDR UHD presentation. The picture reveals noticeable
improvements over the existing 2008 Blu-ray from the very beginning for both clarity and color reproduction. (note that I cannot comment on how
the image compares to the "remastered in 4K" 2018 Shout! Factory release). As so often is the case with HDR color spectrum upgrades, one of the
first improvements viewers will notice comes by way of the superior whites which define the
opening titles against a black screen. Far more brilliant, intense, and pure than those seen on the counterpart Blu-ray, their presentation sets an
auspicious tone for the visuals to
follow. And Universal does not disappoint. The full HDR color spectrum offers a more vivid color output. The snowy vistas seen outside, notably at
film's start under daylight, take on a fairly
blue push whereas the old Blu-ray looks more gray considering the same elements. At the other end, black levels run very deep and true, offering
excellent depth and accuracy without absorbing detail or devouring shadowy elements within. General tones are far more vivid and pure. Viewers will
the appreciate the appreciably bolder orange fires (the explosion
in the opening sequence), intense red blood, healthy skin tones, and bold colors on various items throughout the compound, whether clothes or
pinball machines, even as the interior design is otherwise spartan and visually uninteresting. The HDR colors far exceed the output on the Blu-ray,
which is comparatively drab and flat.
The image is in fine shape from a textural perspective, too. While a handful of odd speckles remain, noticeable even in the opening moments as the
dog runs from the Norwegian
chopper, the picture appears in fine form, offering a stable, filmic quality that holds to a fine grain structure that captures the inherent cinematic
quality
with natural excellence and pinpoint accuracy. Fine skin details are evident in close-up, appearing much more refined and pure than seen on the old
2008 Blu-ray. Overall clarity is superb. Even examining snow and the rather bleak and utilitarian furnishings and construction details around the camp
interior,
there is a noticeable uptick in fine definition accuracy. Clothes are pleasantly sharp and facial hairs -- MacReady's hair and beard being the best
example -- leap off the screen with very impressive definition, well beyond the Blu-ray. A few softer focus shots appear throughout, inherent to the
source. While not so dramatically excellent as the finest UHD releases, there's no mistaking this as a serious upgrade over the 2008 disc and easily
the best the film has ever looked for home consumption.
The new DTS:X soundtrack delivers a satisfying presentation. Multidirectional effects are commonplace. Gunfire pops from several locations in the
opening minutes, though shots heard throughout the film, including from shotguns and revolvers, lack the authoritative depth one might expect to
hear;
however, that limitations appears to be inherent to the original sound design. The sound design in total is vital in building the film's tone. Cold, blustery
winds
permeate many scenes inside, playing almost as a foreboding warning signal that does more than chill the listener but portend the terrors that are
always right around the corner. The track boasts terrific detail to the score, particularly at the low end, where the depth and density create a serious
feel of dread and doom. The film's sound design inherently lacks full definition, with some crashes and other effects lacking pinpoint clarity and lifelike
pronouncement, but even so there's a fine sense of general placement and detail to be enjoyed. Monster screeching, flamethrower bursts, and other
high intensity, stage filling elements saturate the stage with commanding intensity and spacing. Overheads are not used to regular effect but do help in
creating a more spacious listening area and boosting some of the more complex sound elements, such as when the creature extends to the ceiling and
devours a man's head (listen around the 85-minute mark). Dialogue is clear and stable in front-center delivery.
Universal brings The Thing to the UHD format with several extras that were not included on the 2008 Blu-ray. However, it does not include
the U-Control features from that disc (they are included on the bundled Blu-ray) and is sadly missing the gargantuan assortment of bonus features
from the Shout! disc. Below is a list of what's included.
UHD:
John Carpenter's The Thing: Terror Takes Shape (1080p, 4x3, 1:23:53): A in-depth documentary with interviews with key cast
and crew exploring the film from a number of perspectives. This supplement was also included on the 2018 Shout! Factory disc and does include
some of the content from the U-Control PiP feature from the Blu-ray.
Outtakes (1080p, 4x3, 4:08): A few alternate takes and deleted scenes.
Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 4x3, 2:04).
Audio Commentary: Director John Carpenter and Kurt Russell.
Blu-ray:
Audio Commentary: Director John Carpenter and Kurt Russell.
Universal's UHD release of The Thing has been long anticipated and the disc does not disappoint. The video and audio presentations are very
good, the former particularly pleasing and a high yield upgrade over the 13-year-old original Blu-ray. It's too bad that the studio could not assemble a
more comprehensive supplemental package for this new release but the important thing is that the movie looks and sounds great. Fans are going to be
thrilled. Highly recommended.
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