The Purge: Election Year 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The Ultra HD Blu-ray release of "The Purge: Election Year" presents a notable advancement over its Blu-ray counterpart, offering a visual experience that is both technically impressive and aesthetically enriching. Captured digitally at 2.8K and finished with a 2K digital intermediate, the movie is presented in its original theatrical widescreen aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Despite the upscale, the 2160p resolution effectively leverages HDR (High Dynamic Range) and WCG (Wider Colour Gamut) enhancements to deliver deeper blacks and more vivid colors. The image clarity is solid across the board, with facial textures, clothing details, and environmental textures appearing with remarkable sharpness and complexity. Contrary to expectations that the gritty, darker tones of the film might not benefit from the format, the Ultra HD Blu-ray enhances contrast significantly, making nighttime scenes, smoky streets, and shadowed interiors appear with greater depth and dimensionality.

Viewed on appropriate hardware, such as a Samsung UE55KS8000 Ultra HD TV paired with a Samsung UBD-K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray player, one appreciates the nuanced improvements in image stability and noise reduction when compared to the standard Blu-ray. The HDR-enhanced color palette subtly but noticeably enhances skin tones and objects, contributing to an overall image that feels more alive and textured. Dark scenes benefit from inky rich blacks and enhanced brightness levels, maintaining detail even in the murkiest areas. While some finer details may occasionally get lost in shadows, the overall contrast balance and crisper whites significantly elevate the visual presentation.

The upgrade to 4K UHD from Universal does justice to "The Purge: Election Year," with the HEVC H.265 encode offering a step-up in visual fidelity that surpasses both its predecessors in the trilogy and its HD version. Despite being constrained by the original digital intermediate's resolution, the uptick in definition and color depth is commendable. Specular highlights and intense bright areas are more dramatic and finely detailed, enabling surfaces to exhibit a more realistic glimmer. Jacques Jouffret's stylized cinematography benefits greatly from HDR10, with street lamps and fiery explosions displaying enhanced clarity and distinction. Overall, while some moments display minor resolution issues and mild aliasing, the 4K presentation serves as a substantial improvement over previous formats, making "Election Year" the visually strongest entry in the franchise.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Purge: Election Year" takes auditory experience to impressive new heights with its DTS:X soundtrack, building on the already commendable DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 core. This advanced audio format enhances every element of the film's soundscape, from the tension-filled dialogues that remain clear and prominent across the front and center channels, to the cacophony of violence that fills the near-deserted streets with a palpable sense of dread. Scenes are enveloped in an immersive, engulfing auditory experience that captures the chaos and anarchy of the city’s post-apocalyptic atmosphere, with explosive gunfights and roaring explosions activating the LFE channel to bring depth and intensity to the mix.

The technical prowess of the DTS:X Master Audio shines through in specific action-heavy sequences, such as a helicopter attack that vibrates through the viewer’s chest with tangible overhead sound effects and heart-stopping gunfire, demonstrating a meticulously detailed soundstage. The sniper shots, characterized by their directional quality, along with the sonic depth of the music, showcase the track’s ability to blend clarity and power seamlessly. Additionally, ambient sounds like alarms and gunfire disperse fluidly across the soundscape, creating a wide and believable audio environment that enhances the overall viewing experience.

However, it's noteworthy that while the upgrade to DTS:X brings a certain enhancement to the auditory experience, it doesn't mark a groundbreaking improvement over its predecessors in terms of immersive atmospherics. While the sounds meticulously pan across channels creating a broad and engaging soundstage with clearer distinctions in the mid-range frequencies, the overhead effects remain sparingly used. Despite this, the robust and occasionally aggressive subwoofer usage adds substantial depth to action sequences, ensuring each explosion and gunshot feels impactful. Dialogue remains intelligible amidst chaos, ensuring a balanced and comprehensive audio experience that impresses but doesn’t drastically depart from previous entries' quality.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of "The Purge: Election Year," unfortunately, does not introduce any new special features exclusive to this format, adhering instead to a straightforward reiteration of what was previously available. The lack of innovation in the extras department is somewhat disappointing, especially for enthusiasts looking for an enhanced or updated viewing experience with the shift to 4K. However, the inclusion of the original Blu-ray disc within the packaging ensures that the existing extras—comprising a couple of featurettes and some deleted scenes—remain accessible. Buyers also receive a UV/iTunes digital copy code, adding a slight value for digital collection enthusiasts. These supplements, though limited and not enhanced for 4K, at least maintain the baseline expectation for additional content, offering insights into the making of this politically charged thriller.

Extras included in this disc:

• Featurettes: Standard behind-the-scenes material.
• Deleted Scenes: Additional content not included in the theatrical release.
• Digital Copy Code: A UV/iTunes code for a digital copy of the movie.

The Purge: Election Year," the third installment in the "The Purge" franchise, represents a significant evolution from its predecessors, combining socio-political commentary with intense thriller elements. The film ambitiously broadens its narrative and political horizons, centering around a pivotal presidential race between a visionary female candidate aiming to end the annual Purge and her male rival, a proponent of the violent tradition upheld by the New Founding Fathers of America. This grotesque future-America backdrop offers a chilling reflection on current social dynamics and the rise of nationalism, making the film an eerie mirror to contemporary political climates.

Frank Grillo reprises his role as Leo Barnes, now charged with protecting Senator Charlie Roan. His performance anchors the story as it navigates through its thematic ambitions and the action-packed streets of a nightmarish capital. The secondary characters, including a trio of resilient citizens, add depth and provide diverse perspectives on the Purge's impact on American society. Despite its low budget, "The Purge: Election Year" impresses with its ambitious scope and succeeds in delivering both thrilling action sequences and thought-provoking commentary on violence, policy-making, and national identity—a rare feat for the third entry in any film series.

Moreover, the portrayal of twisted nationalism through bizarrely patriotic antagonists and the film's exploration of the Purge as a distorted religious ceremony underscore its critique of ritualized violence and societal desensitization. Although occasionally heavy-handed, the film manages to evoke a disturbingly plausible dystopian future, making "The Purge: Election Year" not just a satisfactory conclusion to the trilogy but a compelling commentary on America’s socio-political landscape.

The Purge: Election Year" shines as the ambitious climax of its trilogy, marking its territory not just within the franchise but also as a standalone narrative that melds sociopolitical exploration with survival action. This film, presented in the Ultra HD Blu-ray release, is a testament to the franchise's evolution, making significant strides on the technical front. The 4K Ultra HD presentation, while upscaled, takes advantage of wide color gamut (WCG) and high dynamic range (HDR) to offer viewers a visually stunning experience. Coupled with this is the introduction of a DTS:X soundtrack that elevates the auditory experience to reference-grade quality, providing an immersive atmosphere that fans of the genre will appreciate.

Universal has bundled "The Purge: Election Year" within the Ultra HD Blu-ray release of The Purge Trilogy, making it a tantalizing package for enthusiasts. Despite the film's narrative grappling with weighty themes—sometimes criticized for its lack of subtlety in message delivery—the technical prowess on display cannot be overlooked. The 4K/HDR video impressively surpasses its HD SDR counterpart, with no new extras beyond those available in the original Blu-ray release. However, the quality of the video and audio upgrades makes this a valuable acquisition for series fans looking for the ultimate viewing experience.

In conclusion, "The Purge: Election Year" on 4K UHD Blu-ray is a compelling proposition for franchise followers and newcomers alike. The amalgamation of enhanced visual and audio components with the original Blu-ray extras presents a comprehensive package. While the film itself might polarize viewers with its direct narrative approach, the overall presentation sets a high benchmark for home entertainment releases. For those invested in the trilogy or seeking a reference-quality home cinema experience, this release is undoubtedly worth considering.