BLU-RAY REVIEW

Antebellum 4K Ultra HD

Featured In Issue 253, January/February 2021

Picture4.5
Sound4.5
Immersive3.5
WSR Score4
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
58205
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Disturbing violent content, language, and sexual references
(Retail Price):
$42.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-66)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
105
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
11/3/2020
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Gerard Bush & Christopher Renz
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 7.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Subtitles):

In "Antebellum," successful author Veronica Henley (Monae) finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality that forces her to confront the past, present, and future—before it's too late. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the two-part documentary "The History In Front Of Us: Deconstructing Antebellum" (HD 01:07:06), the featurettes "A Hint Of Horror: The Clues Of Antebellum" (HD 06:13) and "Opening Antebellum" (HD 04:46), five deleted scenes (HD 07:59), the theatrical trailer and a digital code.

The 2.39:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD HDR10/Dolby Vision picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed digitally and apparently sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. The imagery of the past is in large measure shadowy and dark and requires a blackened environment to fully appreciate the cinematography. The present tends to be brighter. HDR contrast is excellent with deep blacks and dark shadows that are still revealing. White levels are natural in appearance such as the white cotton blooms. The wide, nuanced color palette is perfectly natural with accurate greens in the southern vegetation, the grayish greens of solider uniforms, and bluish tints of skies. The imagery is stylized yet natural Fleshtones appear perfectly natural. Resolution is excellent such as in facial features, clothing and object textures, though, the darker scenes naturally appear soft. This is a spectacularly beautiful-looking picture that is a compelling visual experience. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack features a wonderful score by Roman GianArthur and Nate Wonder, which occupies a wide and deep soundstage that extends to envelop the soundfield with extension to the height layer. Other than the music, most surround activity is generally subtle with segments of aggressiveness and subtle dialogue. Deep bass provides natural energy, at times to sub-25 Hz frequencies, courtesy of the score mixed with sound effects. Atmospherics, such as during the plantation scenes, sound realistic. Dialogue throughout is intelligible with generally good spatial integration.

The Immersive Sound element is primarily comprised of an extension of the orchestral score to the height layer with the occasional sound effect of group dialogue, such as in a meeting, and troops under a large tent.

This is a well-crafted holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack that perfectly complements the mood of the storytelling. (Gary Reber)