Friday the 13th 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of "Friday the 13th" by Arrow Video marks a substantial upgrade from its previous 1080p editions. Utilizing a fresh master from a 2K digital intermediate, the film has been meticulously restored and color-graded in HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats, resulting in significantly improved visuals. The new HEVC/H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.39:1 boasts appreciable dimensionality and rich black levels, with shadows that penetrate deeply without obscuring finer details. The overall cinematic quality is enhanced by a more balanced contrast, delivering brighter whites and crisp specular highlights, while maintaining an organic and tightly resolved grain structure.

Color grading in this release displays a dynamic range of tones. Dolby Vision HDR presents the film with lush fiery oranges, strong marigold yellows, and vivid electrifying blues, adding warmth to the palette. The picture clarity is notably enhanced with well-defined lines in clothing and foliage, while close-ups reveal intricate facial details. However, some daylight scenes appear slightly toned down, which might be an intentional artistic choice. Wide shots of Crystal Lake maintain average definition, but overall, the upscaled 4K transfer offers a sharper image that fans will find pleasing.

Despite some variances and mild aliasing observed along the sharpest edges, the presentation avoids any smearing issues and retains excellent grain discernibility against lighter backgrounds. The balance between both darker material and mid-tones is maintained consistently, giving a pleasing viewing experience; the upgraded transfer highlights key visual elements like campfires and flashlights with greater brilliance. All in all, Arrow Video’s rendition of "Friday the 13th" in 4K UHD stands as a significant visual step up, engaging fans with its detailed and immersive high-definition experience.

The audio presentation for the 4K UHD Blu-ray of "Friday the 13th" features an English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track with optional English SDH subtitles. This DTS track offers a highly immersive audio experience, notably improving upon the previous 5.1 Dolby TrueHD presentation on the older 1080p disc. The sound design, while primarily anchored towards the front channels, employs side and rear channels effectively, especially during outdoor scenes and the intense rain-soaked climax. The dialogue remains crisp and clear throughout, ensuring excellent verbal clarity.

Ambiance and atmospheric elements are expertly integrated into the surround mix, with effects such as brushed leaves, snapped branches, and echoing underground spaces enhancing the horror experience. A standout element is the superb low-end response, which provides significant power to Jason Vorhees’ footsteps and his gruesome kills. The musical score also benefits from this robust low-end, creating room-filling aggression during moments of danger and amplifying jump scares with dynamic force.

The panning and staging of various sound effects are meticulously handled, offering great directionality that boosts the overall immersion. Rear activity is consistently filled with atmospheric sounds and musical elements, generating an engaging soundfield. Additional audio enhancements, such as Dolby Surround or DTS: Neural:X up-mixing, further elevate ambient effects into the overhead channels, creating a spacious and enveloping auditory environment. The mid-range frequencies are well-balanced and detailed, maintaining high fidelity and room-penetrating mids that complement the powerful low-end. Overall, the DTS-HD Master Audio offers an audibly compelling upgrade that maximizes the film’s chilling impact.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Friday the 13th" by Arrow brings an impressive suite of extras that enhances the experience and provides an in-depth look into the film's production. Notable highlights include three insightful audio commentaries: one with director Marcus Nispel, another with screenwriters Mark Swift and Damian Shannon, and a third more academic track with critics Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson. Three newly produced interviews offer rich behind-the-scenes details and personal anecdotes. Additionally, Matt Donato’s video essay provides a fresh perspective on remakes within the horror genre. Various archival materials, including deleted scenes and promotional content, round out a comprehensive collection. Note that while the archival content is in HD, some upscales are evident.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary by Marcus Nispel: Director's insights on the theatrical cut.
• Commentary by Mark Swift and Damian Shannon: Screenwriter's perspective on the theatrical cut.
• Commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson: Critics' discussion on the Killer Cut.
• Interview with Marcus Nispel: In-depth discussion on making the film.
• Interview with Mark Swift and Damian Shannon: Deep dive into the screenplay.
• Interview with Daniel Pearl: Cinematographer’s take on the visuals.
• A Killer New Beginning: Video essay by Matt Donato on horror remakes.
• Excerpts from Terror Trivia Track: Archive trivia compilation.
• The Rebirth of Jason Vorhees: Featurette on Jason's reboot.
• Hacking Back / Slashing Forward: Retrospective featurette.
• The 7 Best Kills: Highlighting the film's top deaths.
• Deleted Scenes: Additional footage not included in the final cut.
• Teaser, Trailer, TV Spots: Promotional materials.
• Electronic Press Kit: Press materials for the film.
• Image Gallery: Collection of stills from the film.

"Friday the 13th" (2009) by Marcus Nispel, a reimagining produced by Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes, offers an intriguing yet mixed revisit to the horror franchise. This 4K UHD release from Arrow Video revives the film's assets with breathtaking visual flair, benefiting greatly from Daniel Pearl's atmospheric cinematography. The increased resolution brings out the dark, moody tones, enhancing both the eerie settings and gory sequences synonymous with the franchise. However, despite its visual splendor, the film's convoluted blend of elements from the first four installments can seem disjointed and tonally inconsistent.

Nispel's direction aims to return to the franchise’s visceral roots, resulting in more explicit violence and nudity that will satisfy some fans but might alienate others. The opening sequence, which attempts to encapsulate the original film’s essence within mere minutes before jumping forward two decades, sets a hurried and perhaps unnecessarily complex narrative structure. The plot meanders with predictable turns, including Jason’s transformation from burlap sack-wearing killer to hockey mask icon, yet lacks originality. Jared Padalecki's character's quest revives familiar tropes, while Jason's newfound role as a territorial guardian with inexplicable hostage-keeping antics adds a perplexing twist.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray's presentation is undeniably a technical marvel, supporting its content with pristine visual and auditory quality. Arrow Video has packaged this limited edition with commendable extras such as essays from critics, collector’s items, and art that celebrate its lore. Despite its impeccable technical presentation, the movie struggles with narrative coherence, leaving audiences with a visually enriched yet fundamentally flawed horror experience.

Arrow Video's 4K UHD release of Marcus Nispel's 2009 remake of "Friday the 13th" offers an exceptionally robust technical presentation, elevating the film's visual and auditory experience to new heights. The Dolby Vision HDR treatment brings newfound clarity to the film’s dark and moody aesthetic, while the DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack ensures an immersive and engaging auditory experience. This release is packed with a variety of bonus materials, enriching the experience for both newcomers and long-time fans of the franchise.

While the film itself has been polarizing, with some praising its visceral intensity and others finding it replete with unengaging characters, Arrow's edition provides a perfect opportunity for reevaluation. The upgraded picture and sound quality are undeniable enhancements that could sway previous critics into acknowledging the technical prowess behind this reimagining. Despite any shortcomings in narrative or character development, the sheer quality of this UHD release is likely to impress.

In conclusion, this 4K UHD edition of "Friday the 13th" by Arrow Video is technically impressive and includes compelling extras, making it a highly recommended acquisition for horror enthusiasts and collectors alike. While some elements of the film may feel derivative or falter in comparison to previous works in the genre, those with an appreciation for top-tier home media presentations will find this release to be a significant upgrade. Recommended.