Friday the 13th 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 79
from 4 reviewers
Review Date:
Despite mixed feelings about the film itself, Arrow's 4K UHD release of 'Friday the 13th' is a technically impressive upgrade with excellent Dolby Vision HDR and DTS-HD MA 5.1 sound.
Disc Release Date
2K Upscale
HDR10
Dolby Vision
DTS-HD MA
Video: 79
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of 'Friday the 13th' features a Dolby Vision HDR10 re-grading of the 2K DI with significant improvements in black levels, contrast balance, and color palette, delivering tighter grain resolution and beautifully detailed imagery, despite some flat hues in wide shots.
Audio: 81
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track on the 4K UHD Blu-ray of 'Friday the 13th' delivers a highly immersive sound experience, with clear dialogue and excellent support for music and effects. Enhanced atmospherics and dynamic range amplify scares, and robust low-end response gives significant weight to action scenes.
Extra: 87
Arrow's Extras for the 4K UHD Blu-ray of 'Friday the 13th' offer three engaging commentaries, insightful interviews with Marcus Nispel, Mark Swift, Damian Shannon, and Daniel Pearl, and a plethora of archival and newly produced material, including video essays and a comprehensive trivia track, all upscaled and packaged with fan-centric collectibles.
Movie: 57
Arrow’s 4K UHD presentation of the 2009 *Friday the 13th* reboot offers moody cinematography, a range of supplements, and a visibly sharper image upgrade. Despite mixed reviews labeling it as a cash grab, the visceral gore and nostalgic elements may appeal to fans, albeit with some narrative inconsistencies.
Video: 79
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.
Audio: 81
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.
Extra: 87
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.
Movie: 57
"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.
Total: 79
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.
Blu-ray.com review by Jeffrey KauffmanRead review here
Video: 90
Color space in particular is therefore not accurate, and while Marty wasn't especially thrilled with the video quality of Warner Brothers' 1080 release, it may be helpful to at least glance at the screenshots...
Audio: 80
Extras: 100
Electronic Press Kit (HD; 35:10) Image Gallery (HD) Note: The archival supplements are HD in name only, and are obvious upscales....
Movie: 60
Friday the 13th tried fitfully to reinvent the long running franchise, and even though it was met with a decided "meh" by the critical class (and you know how they can be), it seemed to do rather well...
Total: 70
I mentioned in our Kill 4K Blu-ray review that that film's decision to offer its title card well into the proceedings may have seemed like a cool stylistic conceit, though trivia buffs will know it's a...
The Digital Bits review by Tim SalmonsRead review here
Video: 95
Arrow Video debuts the film in separate Ultra HD presentations of the Theatrical Cut and the unrated Killer Cut from new 4K masters upscaled from the 2K DI, graded for High Dynamic Range in HDR10 and Dolby...
Audio: 90
It’s still a highly immersive experience with clear dialogue exchanges and excellent support for the music and score....
Extras: 95
Like the commentaries, all three are terrific deep dives into the making of the film, spilling some occasional dirt, but it’s Pearl who’s perhaps the most interesting of all....
Movie: 75
After successfully remaking The Texas Chain Saw Massacre for New Line Cinema in 2003, Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes production company set out to remake Friday the 13th in 2009 with Marcus Nispel in the...
Total: 89
Revisiting Friday the 13th (2009), it’s clear that the filmmakers behind it wanted to do something special with it, even if it was a Platinum Dunes production of a franchise reboot....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 60
This is weirdly true of the greenery around camp/town; they lack a vividness or lushness, and even appear faded....
Audio: 80
Rain and thunder find expert placement, filling the soundstage and even moving as lightning strikes, allowing the boom to flow between front and back channels....
Extras: 80
A trivia track and archival featurettes round this disc out, but the extended cut includes another commentary with critics Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson....
Movie: 60
Now Vorhees is less a protector of that value system (although those living nearby accept his presence as a defender against horny college kids) than he is of property....
Total: 70
Giving Jason Vorhees a slight purpose, Friday the 13th is a perfectly fine slasher entry that’s ultimately too rudimentary to matter....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
Most apparent, the HEVC H.265 encode delivers significantly richer black levels with inky, velvety shadows that don't obscure the finer details and penetrate deep into the screen, providing the 2.40:1...
Audio: 80
When applying the receivers' Dolby Surround or DTS: Neural:X up-mixing functionality, various ambient effects, namely the noise of local wildlife and the music, effortlessly spread into the overheads,...
Extras: 80
The Best 7 Kills (HD, 23 min) A Killer New Beginning (HD, 18 min) Hacking Back/Slashing Forward (HD, 12 min) The Rebirth of Jason Voorhees (HD, 11 min) Image Gallery (HD) Deleted Scenes (HD, 8 min) Trailers...
Movie: 40
From the same writing duo that conceived Freddy vs. Jason, giving fans a clue at the level of intelligence to be found in this mess, combines the first four films into one big parade of "ooh, ooh, and...
Total: 80
With a treasure trove of bonus material for fans to sift through, the film might be a little rough, but for fans, this limited UHD edition is a Highly Recommended upgrade....
Director: Marcus Nispel
Actors: Jared Padalecki, Amanda Righetti, Derek Mears
PlotIn the dense, eerie woods of Crystal Lake, an unsettling legend looms large, one that has kept locals and curious visitors at bay for years. Despite warnings, a group of young adults ventures into the area, looking for a lost family member. Their search quickly turns into a nightmarish ordeal as they are stalked by an unrelenting killer. The terrifying presence haunting them is a masked, monstrous figure, wielding a sharp machete with ruthless intent. As night falls, the group's numbers dwindle, and the horrifying truth about Crystal Lake’s past begins to emerge. Their hope for survival and success in their mission gets slimmer with each passing moment.
Amidst the chaos, the grim history of Crystal Lake is slowly unraveled, revealing a series of tragic events that have occurred over the years, events that have fueled the killer’s relentless rage. One by one, the young adults face their worst fears, battling not only for their lives but also to prevent themselves from becoming the next victims of the curse that plagues the area. The struggle for survival becomes a desperate fight to escape the clutches of the masked murderer, who seems bound to the devastating legacy of Crystal Lake, continuing the cycle of terror that has condemned the once-peaceful location to become a symbol of sheer horror.
Writers: Victor Miller, Damian Shannon, Mark Swift
Release Date: 13 Feb 2009
Runtime: 97 min
Rating: R
Country: United States
Language: English, Ukrainian