Bugonia 4K Ultra HD

"Bugonia" is a psychological thriller that follows two conspiracy-obsessed young men who kidnap a powerful CEO they believe is an alien out to destroy humanity. What begins as a paranoid act spirals into a battle of delusions and control—one as viscerally unpredictable as it is provocative. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurette "The Birth Of The Bees: The Making Of Bugonia" (HD 23:06) and a Movies Anywhere digital code.

The unusual 1.50:1 HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed in Super 35 and VistaVision on 35 mm Kodak film using the Arricam ST, Arriflex 235, Arriflex 435, Beaumont VistaVision Camera and Wilcam W-11 camera systems and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate. The grain structure is fine and never distracting. The picture exhibits natural realism whether during exterior setting or within the interiors of the house the crazies live in. The imagery exhibits a gritty texture. There are segments that revert back and are in black and white that exhibit good gray scale. Colors are bold and saturated. The color palette is natural with vivid hues. Flesh tones are realistic. HDR contrast is excellent. Scenes are mostly bright and well illuminated. Black levels are realistic and deep as well as shadow delineation. Resolution is excellent with revealing detail in facial features such as skin pores, line, beards and hair. Closeups are excellent. Emma Stone’s transformation is particularly effective with her shaved head. Clothing fabrics are revealing. Structural attributes and object textures are detailed. This is a generally an adept presentation that is well lit with effective closeups. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is completely produced with a virtually all-ADR produced dialogue track that is absence any sense of spatial integration. Atmospherics are manufactured in the form of din. Sound effects at times ignite with sharp transients. The sonics loudly intensify with sharp violent sound effects. Bass support to musical elements and sound effects is substantive but never overpowering. Fidelity is excellent.Foley sound effects are realistic. Jerskin Fendrix's orchestral score is dynamic sounding and intense with energized SPL, a wide and deep soundstage, and an aggressive extension to the surrounds. Dimensionality is excellent with directional panning.

The Immersive Sound element is poorly treated with contrived atmospherics and sound effects such as din or hum, headphone voice, police siren, bee sounds, and other noises. Music is extensively absent except for a couple of passages. It appears the height layer treatment was far from being effectively executed, and adds nothing of consequence to enhance dimensionality.

This is a holosonic® soundtrack whose sound design is unrealistically produced. (Gary Reber)