Us Blu-ray review

Jun 13, 2019- Permalink

Writer-director Jordan Peele’s Us is a terrifying and thought-provoking horror film with psychological underpinnings, as a family meets their deadly doppelgängers. With a cast led by Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke, Peele shows that his previous outing, Get Out, was not a fluke and he’s a master at the rhythms and cadences of the horror/thriller genre. Now you can take the fear home with you as Universal releases Us in 4K and Blu-ray. I had a chance to review the Blu-ray/DVD/Digital combo.

The AVC-encoded 1080p transfer is in the theatrical release’s 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The detail and sharpness of the video presentation is amazing. Facial features reveal every pore and wrinkle while clothing, buildings and other environmental features also have outstanding detail. Though most of the film is in low light conditions, the colour palette is still accurate and black levels are deep with great contrast. Though there is some digital noise, it is neither distracting nor constant.

On the audio side, you get an English Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD 7.1 soundtrack as well as French and Spanish Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 tracks. Subtitles are available in English SDH, French and Spanish. A horror film works best when the viewer is immersed in the experience and the soundscape here makes ample use of the surround channels to put you in the middle of the terror. The low-frequency elements are strong but not overpowering. Dialogue is clear and crisp in the centre channel.

To start off the extras, the Blu-ray comes with a DVD copy and a Movies Anywhere download code. Featurettes include a look at the family and their doppelgängers, the complexity of shooting each scene twice with the actors doubling roles, Peele’s love of horror and his influences, the social themes and doppelgänger mythology, a breakdown of key scenes, as well as deleted scenes and outtakes.

If you’re able to handle the terror of Us, then you’ll find the video and audio presentation and included extras to be a worthy addition to your home entertainment library.