The Bikeriders 4K Ultra HD

"The Bikeriders" captures a rebellious time in America when the culture and people were changing. After a chance encounter at a local bar, strong-willed Kathy (Jodie Comer) is inextricably drawn to Benny (Austin Butler), the newest member of Midwestern motorcycle club the Vandals, led by the enigmatic Johnny (Tom Hardy). Much like the country around it, the club begins to evolve, transforming from a gathering place for local outsiders into a dangerous underworld of violence, forcing Benny to choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Writer/Director Jeff Nichols, the featurettes "Johnny, Benny, & Kathy" (HD 04:56), "The Era Of The Bikeriders" (HD 03:22) and "The Filmmaker’s Eye: Jeff Nichols" (HD 02:57) and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 2.39:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 4K Ultra HD HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed on Kodak Vision3 film stock in anamorphic Panavision® using the Arri Alexa 65 camera system and sourced from a 4K Digital Intermediate. Grain is smooth and never a distraction. The color palette is nicely saturated with warm and rich hues exhibited throughout. Some hues pop and there are nuanced hue shading that enhance the realism. Flesh tones appear perfectly natural. HDR contrast is realistically wide with natural black levels, revealing shadow delineation and natural white levels Resolution is excellent with imagery that is sharp and clear. Facial and body features are finely detailed. Costumes reveal fabric texture. Objects, sets and motorcycles all appear sharp and realistically textured. This is a solid filmic visual experience that exhibits realism and aliveness. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is dynamic sounding with a focus on dialogue and the roar of motorcycles. Atmospherics fill the soundfield and sound realistic. Sound effects are highlighted with powerful loud bike engine/muffler sounds, and enhanced with deep bass frequencies and high SPL. The music is generally stock rhythm and blues and some rock, and occupies a wide soundstage that extends aggressively to the surrounds. Bass extension is powerful during loud engine revs and a burning bar with elevated .1 LFE levels. Foley sound effects enhance the realism. Surround envelopment is strong with exciting back-to-front and side-to-side motorcycle action. Dialogue is largely ADR produced and even when captured on a set still sounds wanting in spatial integration, though intelligible.

The Immersive Sound element is virtually non-existent and does not contribute meaningfully to the soundtrack. There is not even an extension of the music. So much more could have been achieved , especially during segments of loud, bass heavy motorcycle engine revs.

While the soundtrack should have never been credited as Dolby Atmos produced, the 7.1 ear-level presentation is holosonicly® satisfying, especially the bike sounds and the music. (Gary Reber)