UHD Review A Few Words About A few words about...™ Night of the Living Dead -- in 4k UHD Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

Not a great deal needs to be repeated about George Romero's Night of the Living Dead, except that it birthed an exultation of spin-offs and imitators.

Question at hand is whether the new 4k release from Criterion is worth an upgrade, and my eyes are telling me it is not. That noted, if one doesn't have the earlier Blu-ray, which like the 4k is filled to overflowing with extras, the 4k is the one of add to a library.

There is simply no 4k imagery here to reproduce.

Image – 5

Audio – 5 (Monaural)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Upgrade from Blu-ray - No

Makes use of and works well in 4k - 3.5

Highly Recommended

RAH

 

[Lord Dalek]

This seems like the obvious conclusion. The standard blu-ray looked amazing already, and this release lacks HDR. Not much reason to upgrade.

 

[Stephen_J_H]

Given the copyright history of this one, can't say I'm surprised. RAH, I'm trying to remember if you posted anything about the elements used when you looked at the original Criterion Blu-ray.

 

[Lord Dalek]

Given the copyright history of this one, can't say I'm surprised. RAH, I'm trying to remember if you posted anything about the elements used when you looked at the original Criterion Blu-ray.

According to Criterion it was almost entirely the camera negative with some damaged sections being replaced with an original 35mm fine grain.

 

[Stephen_J_H]

According to Criterion it was almost entirely the camera negative with some damaged sections being replaced with an original 35mm fine grain.

So this release should be an exhibit in the "why 4K UHD isn't necessary for EVERY release" gallery.

 

[Lord Dalek]

So this release should be an exhibit in the "why 4K UHD isn't necessary for EVERY release" gallery.

It might have been worth it if they had done an HDR pass back in 2015. Unfortunately neither the director nor the cinematographer are available to approve such a thing now.

 

[Stephen_J_H]

It might have been worth it if they had done an HDR pass back in 2015. Unfortunately neither the director nor the cinematographer are available to approve such a thing now.

I'm thinking more about the elements. Given that NOLTD was a very low budget film, the question remains whether there was any HDR data to be gleaned. I'm leaning toward the negative.

 

[Vincent_P]

There are many HDR releases of "low budget films", even ones shot on 16mm. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD was shot in 35mm, low budget or not. I understand why Criterion didn't include HDR here, though, as Romero signed off on the SDR restoration back before he passed away and Criterion is all about respecting the filmmaker's intent.

Vincent

 

[Stephen_J_H]

There are many HDR releases of "low budget films", even ones shot on 16mm. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD was shot in 35mm, low budget or not. I understand why Criterion didn't include HDR here, though, as Romero signed off on the SDR restoration back before he passed away and Criterion is all about respecting the filmmaker's intent.

Vincent

There also many examples of poor HDR out there. The use of HDR on pre-1970 films is up for debate and requires a VERY skilled hand at the tiller if you will. Given the choice, and the fact that there isn't 4K of information in the frame, notwithstanding the passing of Romero, Criterion made the right call.

 

[madfloyd]

I compared this new 4k with my Criterion bluray. I could not detect any difference between the two (in my projection setup). I feel this purchase was a waste of money.

 

[TheSteig]

Its one of my all-time favorites so I bought it! It came in a regular Blu-ray case which I prefer over digibooks anyway

 

[ToEhrIsHuman]

I grant you that there is not a major difference, but it is there if you look closely enough:

Night of the Living Dead • US Ultra HD Blu-ray vs. US Blu-ray

caps-a-holic.com

 

[John Sparks]

There's no fun in watching a movie if you have to do that!

 

[Lord Dalek]

All I see is a smidge more grain.

Night of the Living Dead • US Ultra HD Blu-ray vs. US Blu-ray

caps-a-holic.com

Night of the Living Dead • US Ultra HD Blu-ray vs. US Blu-ray

caps-a-holic.com

Night of the Living Dead • US Ultra HD Blu-ray vs. US Blu-ray

caps-a-holic.com

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?a=1&x=564&y=103&d1=17626&d2=17588&s1=197692&s2=197155&l=0&i=18&go=1

 

[Robert Harris]

All I see is a smidge more grain.

Night of the Living Dead • US Ultra HD Blu-ray vs. US Blu-ray

caps-a-holic.com

Night of the Living Dead • US Ultra HD Blu-ray vs. US Blu-ray

caps-a-holic.com

Night of the Living Dead • US Ultra HD Blu-ray vs. US Blu-ray

caps-a-holic.com

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?a=1&x=564&y=103&d1=17626&d2=17588&s1=197692&s2=197155&l=0&i=18&go=1

You’d be correct.

 

[Dave H]

I still remember as a kid the evening my older brother brought home what I believe was the very first VHS release of this movie. If my memory is right, early 1980s(?). He was excited to finally watch this again as it had been years and pretty much insisted our whole family watch it that night.

 

[compson]

All I see is a smidge more grain.

Night of the Living Dead • US Ultra HD Blu-ray vs. US Blu-ray

caps-a-holic.com

Night of the Living Dead • US Ultra HD Blu-ray vs. US Blu-ray

caps-a-holic.com

Night of the Living Dead • US Ultra HD Blu-ray vs. US Blu-ray

caps-a-holic.com

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?a=1&x=564&y=103&d1=17626&d2=17588&s1=197692&s2=197155&l=0&i=18&go=1

I see a bit more detail in your third link; for instance, in the ammo belt draped across the man’s shoulder.

 

[BornOfAJackal]

I think Carnival of Souls is a better candidate for UHD than this picture. I recall some sharp images and quality blacks that outdo the Romero film.

 

[ScottRE]

I'm sure it's just me, but this is one of those films that's a lot more fun seeing a crummy 16mm print of. That's how I first saw it so many years ago on late night television. It's just that much creepier for me that way.

 

[Lee Sandersen]

Not a chance. I have an old VHS I bought years ago that was in the dollar bin even back then. The fuzzy scratch picture fit the silly movie well. Ever Halloween I get that tape out and have fun, people love it and any kids around are crazy interested by the VHS. I try to explain to them just how amazing Beta and VHS were back in the day. The idea that you could hold a whole movie in your hand and play it on your own TV while watching it with a cold brew while wearing your bunny pajamas with the floppy ears and fuzzy feet. It was a revolution.