BLU-RAY REVIEW

Violent Night

Featured In Issue 265, January/February 2023

Picture4
Sound4
WSR Score3
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):
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
1000819013
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Strong bloody violence, language throughout and some sexual references
(Retail Price):
$24.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
112
(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):
1/24/2023
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Tommy Wirkola
(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):
DTS HD Lossless 7.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Subtitles):

In "Violent Night," when a team of mercenaries breaks int a wealthy family compound taking everyone inside hostage, they are not prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (David Harbour). (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director Tommy Wirkola, Producer Guy Danela and Writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller, nine deleted and extended scenes (HD 19:02), the featurettes "Quarrelin' Kingle" (HD 03:43), "Santa's Hepers: The Making Of Violent Night" (HD 05;56) and "Deck The Halls With Brawls" (HD 06:04) upfront previews and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 2.39:1 1080p picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed digitally in anamorphic Panavision® using the Arri Alexa Mini LF camera system and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. The picture is digitally captured and non-filmic. The color palette is saturated with strong hues that pop. Santa's red suit is a dark red and other reds are much brighter, Because the production design is set at Christmas the setting exhibits vivid holiday coors that are bright. Flesh tones appear generally natural. Contrast is excellent with naturally deep blacks, revealing shadows and brilliant white levels. Resolution is superb with nice detail exhibited in Santa's attire and his hair and beard. Overall imagery i is sharp with fine detail exhibited throughout in costumes and object texture. Facial features are revealing of lines, skin pores, hair and beard stub. This is a vividly colorful picture with excellent detail. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1-channel soundtrack has lots of sound effects that support the action violence, many of which are enhanced with deep bass. Gunfire sounds realistic. Virtually constant is a Christmassy orchestral/choral score, at times in the back ground, that extends aggressively wide across he soundstage with soundfield envelopment. The music at times is dynamic sounding. Foley sosund effects sound realistic. Dialogue is intelligible and generally well integrated spatially, Surround energy is aggressive, especially evident in the enveloping orchestral/choral score. This is a well crafted holosonic® soundtrack. (Gary Reber)