Cloverfield 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 81
from 6 reviewers
Review Date:
Cloverfield's Ultra HD refresh offers minimal but pleasing improvements, a thrill for fans.
Disc Release Date
2K Upscale
HDR10
Dolby Vision
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 82
Cloverfield's 4K UHD upgrade underlines its raw, found footage essence with enhanced clarity, richer colors, and deeper blacks, staying true to its unique visual style without altering the filmmaker's vision.
Audio: 91
Revisiting 'Cloverfield' enhances audio depth and bass on Blu-ray, yet disappoints with no Dolby Atmos upgrade on UHD, preserving its thrilling sonic experience.
Extra: 82
Cloverfield Ultra HD set includes the movie on Blu-ray and digital HD, carrying all original supplementary content like director's commentary, making-of, visual effects, and more, plus deleted and alternate scenes.
Movie: 85
Cloverfield, celebrated for its found-footage style, thrilled with its immersive, suspenseful narrative despite causing some motion sickness; now enhanced on UHD with vibrant visuals yet retains original sound.
Video: 82
The 4K UHD presentation of "Cloverfield," a film distinctive for its "found footage" style, manages to enhance its viewing experience without betraying the original visual intent. By design, the film employs a variety of cinematographic techniques to deliver a raw and immersive experience, often characterized by film grain, shaky cam, and a generally gritty aesthetic. The transition to 4K, especially with the inclusion of Dolby Vision HDR, offers a subtle yet appreciable enhancement in detail, contrast, and color saturation. Scenes shot in low-light conditions and those featuring vivid exterior lighting now reveal more depth and texture, making the chaotic urban landscape of New York and the ensuing destruction feel more tangible. Despite the inherent limitations of the source material—originally shot on digital cameras not exceeding 1080p—the upgrade to a 2160p resolution does provide slight improvements in sharpness and clarity across varied environments, from the dimly lit interiors of makeshift military bases to the bright, explosive confrontations with the monstrous antagonist.
The HDR implementation is particularly noteworthy for its impact on black levels and color reproduction. Blacks are deeper and more consistent, adding a richness to the visual palette that enhances the film's atmospheric tension without obscuring detail in darker scenes. Color enhancements bring a more vibrant life to the film's restricted color grading, with improved saturation making elements like fire explosions, city lights, and even the early morning skyline more striking. These improvements are complemented by better-defined highlights and a more nuanced approach to contrast, which together help mitigate some of the blooming effects seen in previous releases. While the enhancements in detail and color do not radically transform the viewing experience given the film's stylistic choices, they do serve to draw viewers closer into the harrowing night that "Cloverfield" encapsulates.
In essence, the 4K UHD release of "Cloverfield" respects and refines the filmmakers' original vision. It navigates the delicate balance of maintaining the authentic, unpolished aesthetic integral to its found-footage format while offering technical upgrades that contribute to a more immersive viewing experience. This release underscores a commitment to fidelity over beautification, ensuring that the film's unique approach to storytelling—through chaos, destruction, and survival within a familiar yet transformed New York City—remains as impactful and resonant as ever.
Audio: 91
The audio presentation of "Cloverfield" on 4K UHD Blu-ray maintains the immersive experience that was first lauded with its Blu-ray release, leveraging the crisp and dynamic Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track. The lack of a Dolby Atmos upgrade on this edition does stand out as a missed opportunity for an object-based audio experience that could have elevated the sense of immersion, especially given the movie's chaotic and enveloping sound design. Despite this, the existing 5.1 mix remains a testament to audio excellence, boasting a wide soundstage that immerses viewers in the heart of the action. The bass reproduction is particularly notable, capable of delivering room-shaking low frequencies that add a visceral impact to the film's more intense sequences, such as the iconic Brooklyn Bridge collapse and the subtle yet unnerving introduction marked by deep, ominous thumps indicating the monster's approach.
The sound mix excels in clarity and separation, ensuring dialogue remains intelligible amidst the cacophony of destruction that defines much of the film's soundscape. Surround channels are employed effectively to create a convincing atmosphere of panic and disarray, moving sounds seamlessly across the sound field to track the action and enhance the viewer's spatial awareness. However, it's not just about the bombastic moments; quieter scenes benefit from a keen attention to detail in ambient noises and off-screen activity, contributing to a consistently engaging audio experience that complements the film's found-footage aesthetic without overwhelming it.
In terms of language and subtitle options, the 4K UHD release expands upon its predecessor, offering a variety of audio tracks and subtitles that cater to a diverse audience. The inclusion of multiple 5.1 Dolby Digital language tracks alongside an extensive list of subtitle choices demonstrates an acknowledgment of the film's broad appeal. Despite reservations regarding the unfulfilled potential for an Atmos track, "Cloverfield's" audio presentation on 4K UHD remains a reference-quality showcase for home theater systems, proving that expertly mixed 5.1 tracks can continue to stand their ground even as home audio technology advances.
Extra: 82
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of "Cloverfield" enhances the iconic monster film's visuals but does not introduce new extras to its repertoire. Instead, it honors the cinematic experience by carrying over all previously enjoyed supplements from the original Blu-ray release, ensuring that enthusiasts and new viewers alike have access to a comprehensive package that enriches the film's background and production insights. Included in the package is a digital HD copy for those who prefer their collection bridged between physical and digital formats. Notably, the director's commentary, a deep dive into the making of "Cloverfield", and the visual effects exploration stand out as highlights, offering an appealing mix of technical details and creative insights that deepen appreciation for the film. The inclusion of alternate endings and deleted scenes with optional commentary further complements this offering, making it a worthy addition to any collector’s or fan's library.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary: By Director Matt Reeves.
- Special Investigation Mode: An engaging feature providing deeper insights.
- Document 01.18.08: The Making of Cloverfield: An in-depth look at production.
- Cloverfield Visual Effects: Exploration of the film's special effects.
- I Saw It! It's Alive! It's Huge!: Reflections on the monster's creation.
- Clover Fun: Light-hearted behind-the-scenes content.
- Deleted Scenes: With optional commentary by Director Matt Reeves.
- Alternate Endings: With Optional Commentary by Director Matt Reeves.
Movie: 85
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Cloverfield," a seminal entry in the found footage genre directed by Matt Reeves, brings the 2008 monster movie spectacle into the modern home cinema experience with a commendable 2160p transfer and Dolby Vision enhancements. While it retains its original Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track, lacking an update to Dolby Atmos, the sound presentation remains robust and engaging, maintaining the film's immersive quality. "Cloverfield" uses its distinctive narrative style, presented as recovered DVCAM footage by the Department of Defense, to plunge viewers into a visceral experience of chaos and terror through the lens of a handheld video camera. The decision to forgo a new audio mix might disappoint audiophiles hoping for a more enveloping sound experience but does not detract significantly from the film's overall impact.
The film's raw, immediate approach captures the panic and destruction of New York City under siege by a colossal monster, reflecting a post-9/11 America rife with fear and paranoia. The narrative cleverly establishes an ordinary backdrop — a going-away party — that swiftly descends into horror, echoing real-world tragedies and embedding a deeply American anxiety within its fantastical premise. Despite criticisms of its shaky-cam cinematography causing discomfort to some viewers, "Cloverfield" remains a pivotal work, leveraging its found footage method not merely for cheap thrills but as an innovative storytelling technique that offers a ground-level perspective on catastrophic events. This format effectively encapsulates the emergent terror and confusion, making the audience's experience both intimate and harrowing.
Paramount Home Entertainment’s choice to release "Cloverfield" in 4K UHD demonstrates a commitment to preserving the film’s original qualities while enhancing its visual authenticity and depth. The high-definition transfer accentuates the gritty realism of the movie's unique aesthetic, from the chaos-ridden streets of Manhattan to the iconic imagery of a decapitated Statue of Liberty. Though "Cloverfield" was initially met with mixed reactions due to its unconventional presentation and filming technique, it has since been recognized for its significant contribution to both the monster movie genre and found footage narrative method. Its 4K presentation reinforces its status as an innovative and influential film, offering both long-time fans and new viewers alike an enriched viewing experience that highlights its technical innovations and enduring relevance in American cinema.
Total: 81
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Cloverfield" brings a nuanced improvement to an already compelling and unconventional monster attack film. Celebrating over a decade since its initial release, this edition from Paramount Home Distribution bolsters the film's unique found-footage narrative with an enhanced Ultra HD video quality and a robust Dolby TrueHD 5.1 channel sound. The transfer to 2160p/Dolby Vision ensures that viewers can expect more nuanced lighting, enriched colors, and deeper black levels, contributing to a more immersive viewing experience. The slight uptick in image sharpness adds value, though it remains a subtle enhancement rather than a revolutionary transformation. This aligns well with preserving the film's original visual integrity, making it an appealing pick, particularly for newcomers or die-hard fans without previous Blu-ray versions.
As a significant entry in the found-footage genre, "Cloverfield" benefits from this tech upgrade, even if the improvements in image quality are deemed incremental by some. The film's portrayal of chaos through the lens of a handheld camera gains an additional layer of realism with the advanced video presentation, despite the absence of new audio or supplementary material upgrades. This release maintains its original, impactful Dolby TrueHD audio track, and while some may yearn for an Atmos update, the existing audio experience does not disappoint. Including the original set of supplements, this package offers a completeness that will satisfy those looking to indulge in high-definition terror.
In conclusion, the 4K UHD Blu-ray of "Cloverfield" is an indispensable upgrade for enthusiasts craving the pinnacle of home cinema quality, particularly in terms of visual presentation. Although the leap in quality may not justify a purchase for every viewer, especially at full price, its improved detailing and faithful audio reproduction make it the definitive version of a genre-defining film. For fans and newcomers alike, securing this edition during a sale could represent optimal value, ensuring the best possible rewatch or first-time experience of this landmark cinematic endeavor.
Blu-ray.com review by Martin LiebmanRead review here
Video: 80
But the 2160p resolution does indeed boost the textural finesse of the image, to a small degree, and without fundamentally altering anything within it....
Audio: 90
If any release screams for it, particularly on UHD and accompanying a movie that wasn't going to boast traditionally presented mind blowing eye candy visuals by its very nature, it seemed like an essential...
Extras: 100
Cloverfield contains no new extras, but the bundled Blu-ray does carry over all of the supplements from the original release....
Movie: 100
The studio has not included a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack, instead sticking with the (still excellent) Dolby TrueHD 5.1 presentation....
Total: 60
Probably, especially without any new audio track or supplements, though first-time buyers may as well opt for this and enjoy what is a surprisingly good (for a movie of this sort)...
The Digital Bits review by Bill HuntRead review here
Video: 80
Written by Drew Goddard (The Martian) and directed by Matt Reeves (War of the Planet of the Apes), based upon an idea by J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Cloverfield was a surprise when it hit...
Audio: 100
The 4K disc also offers 5.1 Dolby Digital audio in French (Quebec), French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Japanese, as well as English Descriptive Audio, with optional subtitles in English, English...
Extras: 75
The extras are decent, particularly the commentary and making-of piece, and are certainly worth checking out at least once....
Movie: 85
Rushing out into the streets, Rob, Jason and their friends realize – to their shock and horror – that a giant monster is attacking the city....
Total: 85
Unlike most titles on 4K UHD, the improvement in image quality here is minimal, so you’ll have to decide whether the upgrade price is worth it to you....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 80
Often, it’s a muddy series of images, mired in noise, and foregoing fine detail for erratic looks....
Audio: 100
Four deleted scenes include commentary and offer little to the overall film, while most of the footage shown here ended up in the movie anyway....
Extras: 80
Movie: 80
Using 9/11 imagery, from rushing dust fields to leaning towers, Cloverfield cleverly tells a story of innocent civilians in the crossfire of a war they have no part of....
Total: 85
A decade on, Cloverfield stands as an interesting post-9/11 reaction film, critical but also imparting familiar, lasting images of fear....
High-Def Digest review by M. Enois DuarteRead review here
Video: 70
Again, although the source doesn't allow for brightness levels to truly shine, blacks are nonetheless richer and darker throughout without sacrifices the finer details, even during the most well-lit moments,...
Audio: 100
But on a final note, Cloverfield also remains the go-to disc for testing a subwoofer's capabilities because there are many moments, such as the bridge collapse, that dig down to 10Hz at high decibels,...
Extras: 60
All the same supplements are ported over from previous home video releases, which can be read in more detail in our review of the standard Blu-ray HERE....
Movie: 70
We want to see all the juicy, gory details, and Cloverfield delivers in that respect with an enormously jaw-dropping creature that can rip off the head of the Statue of Liberty, destroy the Brooklyn Bridge...
Total: 80
Porting over the same set of supplements as well, the overall package is recommended for fans of the movie and those hungry for more HDR goodness....
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 82
This was predominantly the case over the course of the presentation, depending on the camera, and lighting scheme used....
Audio: 98
It was easy to note a discernible difference in the depth, tightness, and palpability of the bass here versus the DVD....
Extras: 80
Disc 1 Cloverfield Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc 2: Cloverfield Blu-ray Legacy Bonus Material Digital HD Copy...
Movie: 80
I will admit that you never get used to the constant movement of the camera, but after a while it becomes less bothersome....
Total: 85
is a quick paced thrill ride that is not your run of the mill monster attack type film, due in large part to the way the story is told....
Why So Blu?Read review here
Video: 90
The film features some solid dimensions, though has a lot of superdark and shaky sequences, but everything looks spacious and free....
Audio: 100
Dolby Digital, Portuguese (Brazil) 5.1 Dolby Digital, German 5.1 Dolby Digital, Japanese 5.1 Dolby Digital, English Audio DescriptionSubtitles: English, English SDH, French (Canada), French (Parisian),...
Extras: 80
Audio CommentaryBy Director Matt ReevesSpecial Investigation ModeDocument 01.18.08: The Making Of Cloverfield (HD, 28:22)Cloverfield Visual Effects (HD, 22:32)I...
Movie: 90
And its enough just to thank the man for making 2 fantastic entries in one of my all time favorite film series, but I need to remember that its starts with Cloverfield, a complete thrill ride that I’ve...
Total: 80
The image does looked like a really good improvement to my eyes when I compared them (But, those are MY eyes, you may disagree) and you get all the bonus you had before....
Director: Matt Reeves
Actors: Mike Vogel, Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan
PlotIn Manhattan, a group of friends gather to throw a surprise farewell party for Rob, who is leaving New York to pursue a career opportunity in Japan. The night is documented through the lens of a video camera held by Rob's friend, Hud, who interviews guests and captures the celebration. As the party progresses, flirtations and past romantic tensions surface, particularly between Rob and his close friend Beth, with whom he has unresolved feelings. The festivities are abruptly interrupted when a sudden and violent tremor shakes the city, cutting off electricity and spawning a sense of immediate panic among the partygoers and residents alike.
The group turns on the news just in time to see reports of an unidentified disaster in the city. Deciding to evacuate, they make their way through the streets, only to be met with chaos and destruction. Witnessing explosions and the decimation of landmarks, they come to realize that New York is under attack by an enormous creature. As they struggle to survive and make sense of the situation, they continue to document their harrowing experience, capturing the terror and confusion that grips the city. Amidst the chaos, Rob is determined to rescue Beth, who is trapped in her apartment, and the group sets off on a perilous journey through the crumbling city, all while being hunted by smaller creatures that have begun to infest the streets.
Writers: Drew Goddard
Release Date: 18 Jan 2008
Runtime: 85 min
Rating: PG-13
Country: United States
Language: English, Russian, French, Japanese