Event Horizon looks absolutely stunning in UHD complete with a gorgeous collectible steelbook that fans and collectors will be sure to want to pick up. This film definitely holds up and looks better than ever. Out on 8/9/22!
“Celebrating 25 years of terror, Event Horizon comes to 4k Ultra HD in this limited edition, collectible steelbook. Seven years ago, pioneering research spacecraft “Event Horizon” mysteriously vanished without a trace on its maiden voyage. But then, in the darkness of deep space, a persistent signal prompts a rescue crew to wing its way through the galaxy on a bold rescue mission. What they uncover is an unimaginable interstellar horror that will test the entire team’s sanity and souls.”
When I hear the name Paul W.S. Anderson, I usually don’t have the fondest of thoughts, as he was known in my younger years as poison to any video-game to film adaptation. Before his career spiraled into focusing only on bad Resident Evil films and Death Race sequels, he did a little film called Event Horizon, one of the rare space-horror genre films out there to genuinely give me nightmares. For the 25th anniversary of the film, Paramount has released a 4k edition with a head-turning steelbook that will make any fan jump at the chance to grab it on its release.
Event Horizon may have been one of the first R-rated films I saw in theaters, and it was certainly a memorable experience, even as 25 years has passed, some of the horrific imagery in the film is still burned into my memory any time I think of it. I may not remember all the plot points, but the horror aspects of it I’ll never forget, and that’s what makes a horror film successful. Pair that with science fiction and you have a genre mash-up that isn’t that common, hard to pull off, and have very few successes besides some of the big ones like Alien. What I always liked, and continued to enjoy on the rewatch of this 4k was the duality of the film, with engaging scientific fact and theory, and then the unseen world of superstition and religion. Just as the genre mashup works well in this case, the two themes do as well, causing a breakdown of everything the characters believe to be true.
Looking back after a rewatch, I think my memory may have played up the gore a bit more than perhaps what I’m used to now, or have experienced in my exploration of the genre. That being said, it’s still very effective, and the impression it made was a real one, a sign that they did something right when designing the makeup and effects. It’s the horror that lingers with you long after the film ends that makes a horror film effective, and this one did that for years with me. The sense of dread throughout the film and the mystery of what happened to the crew, and what is currently happening to the new one has a great pacing to it as the different characters splinter off and succumb to fates you may expect from being separated from everyone else in a horror story.
The cast could be one of the main draws for me, and I know it was back when I was younger, with Sam Neill only a few years from his role as Alan Grant. His character of Dr. Weir is the most interesting and takes by far the biggest journey, with an interesting twist that doesn’t often happen. Laurence Fishburne is just good at being the captain of futuristic ships, as he steps into the role with ease, a commanding presence and figure for the rest of the crew to look to and respect. With a great supporting cast: Kathleen Quinlan, Jason Isaacs, Joely Richardson, and more, there is never a poor performance in the film.
Although I may dislike some of the films that came after this that Anderson did, how he executed this film will always steer me to giving him the benefit of the doubt. What I think he focused on too much after Event Horizon was over-stylization filmmaking that began to take hold after The Matrix, as he experimented (unsuccessfully in my opinion) with super slow-motion techniques to action that were simply overstaying their welcome. Interviews with him regarding this film state he believes he was forced to cut about ten minutes too much from the final product. While the film still holds up in my opinion, the third act does feel too rushed with a lot of information missing that could have been beneficial to the final product. While speculation suggests the missing footage may be out there somewhere, who knows if we will ever see it, or ever get a Director’s Cut of Event Horizon. One can only hope, but in the meantime, this 25th anniversary edition is the best treatment the film has received, and fans will enjoy.
Video
Event Horizon is presented in 4k Ultra High Definition Widescreen 2.35:1 featuring Dolby Vision and HDR-10. One of the benefits of having this in 4k with Dolby Vision is the deep darks and blacks of the film look incredible. The film overall is this way, as it obviously takes place in space, and for me this was the most impressive aspect of this new set. The colors also benefit from the brilliantly bright and vivid display that UHD offers, giving the overall film a new depth. Grain is well maintained throughout, preserving the film-like look, with overall increase of clarity.
Audio
The audio is presented in Dolby TrueHD 5.1. This lossless audio track is the same from the prior Blu-ray release, and for me is the biggest if not only disappointment of the set. Although the track sounds fine, I found some of the levels to be somewhat low, having to turn up the volume on my system much more than I’m accustomed to, to ensure a deep and resonating experience. An Atmos track would have been very helpful in providing a much richer audio experience, but it is what it si.
Special Features
The steelbook itself I consider one of the best special features of the set, with beautiful artwork on the metal case, with a clear slipcover that overlays some of the disturbing imagery of the film. This set also includes a digital copy, as well as a copy of the Blu-ray disc and all the legacy bonus content.
- Commentary by director Paul W.S. Anderson and producer Jeremy Bolt
- The Making of Event Horizon – 5 Documentaries
- The Point of No Return – the filming of Event Horizon with director commentary
- Secrets – deleted & extended scenes with selectable director commentary
- The Unseen Event Horizon
- Theatrical Trailer
- Video Trailer
Space-Horror genres aren’t that common, and ones done well even less so. I’ve always considered Event Horizon to be one of the good ones, and after a revisit with a fantastic new 4k transfer, I still believe that. This steelbook will be one that fans will want to ensure they get their hands on, as it looks as good as ever, thanks to a great 25th anniversary treatment from Paramount. This one will arrive on 8/9/22!
