Vice Squad 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

Kino Lorber’s 4K UHD Blu-ray release of Vice Squad arrives with a new SDR master sourced from a 4K scan of the original camera negative by StudioCanal and presented in the film’s intended 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The Ultra HD disc features a triple-layered BD-100 format ensuring generous data allocation for the video, but it notably omits any HDR grading, including Dolby Vision or HDR10. The release avoids overt tinkering with gamma levels, resulting in stable image brightness and accurate shadow detailing overall. Despite this, viewers will immediately notice a pervasive yellowish hue that subtly alters the intent of primary red and blue tones throughout the film and proves particularly evident in scenes with lower key lighting.

Grain reproduction, a crucial element for this 1980s 35mm production shot on Fujicolor A 250T 8518 (and possibly Eastman Color 100T 5254), is inconsistent. Although the grain structure remains visible, it often veers toward noisy and even mushy in some sequences, with distracting looseness especially apparent in the native 4K presentation—most noticeably during and before the closing credits, where slight smearing further detracts from fidelity. Compared to the previous Blu-ray edition, the 4K transfer offers improvements in image stability and color balance overall, but does not always deliver a more convincing or film-like texture; in fact, the older 1080p edition is sometimes preferred for its tighter control of image grain.

In sum, while Vice Squad’s 4K UHD release offers a stable and well-encoded presentation with faithful aspect ratio and color balance, it is hampered by persistent color grading choices and variable grain management. The result is a respectable but imperfect upgrade that may not uniformly surpass prior high-definition releases for critical viewers focused on authenticity and filmic character.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Vice Squad" presents two main English audio options: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, preserving the film’s original mono mix, and a newly added DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Optional English SDH subtitles are also included for accessibility. The restoration closely mirrors previous high-definition editions, offering no substantial changes to the 2.0 track, which retains the film’s authentic sound profile and handles dialogue and effects with robust clarity. Dialogue remains consistently intelligible, though fast-paced, overlapping sequences occasionally challenge sharpness, especially during heightened action scenes.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix introduces greater spatial separation and slightly enhances the action-driven set pieces, particularly noticeable in the film's final act where effects and ambient elements are allowed more room to breathe. However, this expansion is subtle and does not markedly improve upon the core sonic experience of the 2.0 track. Gunshots carry perceptible weight, and the film’s score—including pivotal musical cues—remains crisp and dynamic across both mixes. While the 5.1 variant provides a modestly wider soundstage, listeners favoring fidelity to the original presentation may prefer the directness and focus of the 2.0 mono option. Both tracks serve the film well, ensuring that its gritty intensity remains intact without any technical distractions.

The extras package for the "Vice Squad" 4K UHD Blu-ray is impressively comprehensive, balancing archival depth with fresh perspectives. Two insightful commentary tracks headline the set: a newly-commissioned discussion by critic Steve Mitchell, notable for its analysis of authentic Los Angeles locations and era-specific urban changes, and a production-focused archival track featuring director Gary Sherman and producer Brian Frankish, rich in behind-the-scenes reflections and stories about cinematographer John Alcott. The disc rounds out its offering with an array of promotional materials including trailers, TV and radio spots (with some minor audio misplacement noted), and an extensive selection of feature-length archival interviews. These interviews capture main cast and crew candidly reflecting on their careers, the film’s production, and the real-world context in which it was made. Additional features include a brisk location featurette and reversible cover art with vintage poster designs.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary with Steve Mitchell: Analytical discussion highlighting LA locations, film history, and cast/crew insights.
• Archival Audio Commentary with Gary Sherman & Brian Frankish: In-depth production memories and reflections, including input on John Alcott.
• Promotional Materials: Theatrical trailer, VHS trailer, TV spots, radio spots, plus trailers for other titles.
• Tracking the Beast: Interview with Gary Swanson detailing his acting philosophy and on-set anecdotes.
• Of Poltergeists and Neon Lights: Gary Sherman discusses his background and dissecting the movie's conception.
• Hollywood Magic: Brian Frankish on his cinema journey and producing Vice Squad.
• The Roots of Reality: Beverly Todd recalls personal experiences and filming among real streetwalkers and pimps.
• Catching a Killer: Pepe Serna shares thoughts from childhood to involvement with the film.
• Princess Driver: Michael Ensign recounts his acting decision and unique location shoot experiences.
• Hollywood Streetwalking: Featurette visiting original LA shooting locations set to music.
• Reversible Cover Art: Vintage-inspired poster options.

Gary Sherman’s Vice Squad (1982) stands among the era’s most unapologetically gritty and effective urban crime thrillers, pushing both realism and intensity to uneasy extremes. The film tracks three main characters through the nighttime underbelly of Hollywood: Princess (Season Hubley), a resourceful streetwalker; Ramrod (Wings Hauser), a sadistic pimp; and Tom Walsh (Gary Swanson), an exhausted vice detective. When one of Princess’s colleagues is murdered, Princess is used to lure Ramrod into custody—an arrest that quickly unravels as Ramrod escapes, setting off a relentless pursuit through the city’s most squalid corners. Sherman’s approach, aided by acclaimed director of photography John Alcott, eschews stylized excess in favor of documentary-like immediacy, never shying from the pervasive ugliness at the heart of its milieu.

Unlike similar films that counterbalance their bleak subject matter with genre polish or melodrama, Vice Squad is relentless in its raw depiction of street life and moral decay, immersing the viewer in an unvarnished world that is both compelling and disturbing. This rawness is heightened by Wings Hauser’s infamous performance, which tips the film toward exploitation while never sacrificing authenticity. The palpable sense of danger and unpredictability is elevated by Alcott’s atmospheric lensing, best known from his work with Stanley Kubrick. While the film inevitably skates a fine line between authentic urban grime and pulpy sensationalism, its commitment to verisimilitude and ferocious energy set it apart within the canon of 1980s crime cinema.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Vice Squad" offers a compelling restoration of this gritty, urban thriller—a film that radiates '70s and early '80s exploitation influences, capturing an era of Los Angeles now fundamentally transformed. The transfer is sourced from a new 4K restoration prepared for StudioCanal, delivering notable visual improvements over previous home video versions and faithfully preserving the film’s raw and atmospheric aesthetic. Archival bonus features are extensive and add significant value to the package, amplifying its appeal to enthusiasts keen on both the film and its context.

Comparatively, this release outperforms the earlier Blu-ray editions, specifically addressing issues that resulted from years of limited access due to licensing. While some viewers may feel the upgrade from certain past Blu-rays is not revolutionary, the overall enhancement in video quality, combined with the robust supplementary content, makes this edition a substantial and worthwhile update.

In conclusion, Kino’s 4K UHD release of "Vice Squad" is a technically impressive and thoughtfully assembled edition that finally does justice to the film for both longtime fans and those new to its unapologetic, street-level storytelling. For anyone interested in classic genre cinema or the authentic texture of a bygone Los Angeles, this edition is highly recommended for your collection.