UHD Review A Few Words About A few words about...™ Dressed to Kill -- in 4k UHD Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

Brian De Palma's 1980 Dressed to Kill has arrived on 4k courtesy of Kino, and it's a class act that beautifully mimics a 35mm print in projection.

A fun thriller (unbelievably) 42 years ago, that nicely stands the test of time.

The new 4k, a harvest from the OCN, gives us great color, black levels, gray scale, and a beautiful velvety sheen of grain.

Kino gives collectors the full gamut of extras - commentaries, featurettes, interviews and short docs.

Image – 5 (Dolby Vision)

Audio – 5 (DTS-HD MA Monuaral)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Upgrade from Blu-ray - Yes

Makes use of and works well in 4k - 4

Highly Recommended

RAH

 

[Will Krupp]

Glad to hear the upgrade is worth it, thanks! I snoozed and missed my chance to pre-order this on Amazon and suddenly it's hard to find. I'm hoping to pick it up once it becomes available again. Looking forward to it!

 

[Worth]

I wonder how the colour compares to the Criterion disc, which looked completely different from the older MGM blu-ray.

 

[Robert Harris]

Seemed fine.

 

[Powell&Pressburger]

I wonder how the colour compares to the Criterion disc, which looked completely different from the older MGM blu-ray.

The Kino 4K is less green in those police station scenes than the Criterion.

Perfect Thanksgiving week film.

 

[Richard Kaufman]

I saw the film upon its opening in New York and enjoyed it. Watching it a few years ago it seemed far less appealing. Is there something distasteful about it now that was less obvious then?

 

[Robin9]

I saw the film upon its opening in New York and enjoyed it. Watching it a few years ago it seemed far less appealing. Is there something distasteful about it now that was less obvious then?

I found it distasteful when I saw it. I've never watched it again.

 

[Patrick McCart]

Only DePalma I’ve seen that I outright dislike. It’s quite well-made, but it’s so repellent in a way that I didn’t even pick up from The New York Ripper. Doesn’t help that the ending comes off as incredibly

Spoiler

transphobic

, something certain films by Hitchcock and Castle managed to avoid two decades earlier. Great to see Kino knocking it out of the park with these UHD upgrades, but those new to the film might want to tread carefully.

 

[DigniT@DigniT!]

While extremely provocative for its time and filled with strong performances, I find it difficult to watch now. I was excited when it reached blu ray but watched and just thought... it has not aged well

 

[John Maher_289910]

How does the 5.1 track sound? I recall a previous release (MGM?), where the stereo track completely diminished Pino Donaggio's incredible score. I wonder if they corrected that?

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

This is featured on a recent episode of Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avery's podcast. They have Eli Roth on to discuss it with them. They watched it on a VHS tape and appear to love the way the film is presented on VHS. This is a feature of the podcast because Tarantino apparently purchased the Video Archives library of VHS tapes.

Their opinion on the film is it is a masterpiece. All three are huge De Palma fans.

 

[Worth]

Only DePalma I’ve seen that I outright dislike. It’s quite well-made, but it’s so repellent in a way that I didn’t even pick up from The New York Ripper. Doesn’t help that the ending comes off as incredibly (spoier), something certain films by Hitchcock and Castle managed to avoid two decades earlier. Great to see Kino knocking it out of the park with these UHD upgrades, but those new to the film might want to tread carefully.

I don't think the film has any particular social or political agenda. DePalma was trying to be edgy and transgressive, piling excess on top of excess to provoke a reaction in the audience, like a little boy being deliberately 'naughty.'

 

[Will Krupp]

I don't think the film has any particular social or political agenda. DePalma was trying to be edgy and transgressive, piling excess on top of excess to provoke a reaction in the audience, like a little boy being deliberately 'naughty.'[/spoiler]

Although I can't begrudge anyone their repulsion at the casual

Spoiler

transphobia

of the movie (at all!) I DO tend to agree with you.

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

This is featured on a recent episode of Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avery's podcast. They have Eli Roth on to discuss it with them. They watched it on a VHS tape and appear to love the way the film is presented on VHS. This is a feature of the podcast because Tarantino apparently purchased the Video Archives library of VHS tapes.

Their opinion on the film is it is a masterpiece. All three are huge De Palma fans.

I saw a print once at the New Beverly and you should have heard Quentin laughing when Kate finds the doctor's note.

 

[TravisR]

Although I can't begrudge anyone their repulsion at the casual

Spoiler

transphobia

of the movie (at all!) I DO tend to agree with you.

Same. People can certainly not like the movie based on it but I see Dressed To Kill as DePalma riffing on or trying to one-up Psycho rather than intending to paint an entire group of people as dangerous psychopaths.

 

[nyguy2046]

How does the 5.1 track sound? I recall a previous release (MGM?), where the stereo track completely diminished Pino Donaggio's incredible score. I wonder if they corrected that?

The 5.1 track is included in lossless, as well as the original mono track which is much more balanced in its mix. It sounds wonderful here.

 

[Thomas T]

Angie Dickinson's best performance! She should have gotten a supporting actress Oscar nomination. Her scene in the museum minus any dialogue is sensational.

 

[nyguy2046]

Angie Dickinson's best performance! She should have gotten a supporting actress Oscar nomination. Her scene in the museum minus any dialogue is sensational.

It's true. She's onscreen, almost in every shot, for an uninterrupted 30 minutes with only two brief dialogue sequences. She manages to do so much without words.

 

[B-ROLL]

Angie Dickinson's best performance! She should have gotten a supporting actress Oscar nomination. Her scene in the museum minus any dialogue is sensational.

I'ld say YES

!

 

[usrunnr]

Angie Dickinson's best performance! She should have gotten a supporting actress Oscar nomination. Her scene in the museum minus any dialogue is sensational.

I was somewhat repelled by the film because MS Dikinson's performance was so emphathetic and warm and yes, sad, that after what happened to her it was difficult to enjoy the rest of the film. But as you said, the museum scene is a masterpiece of performance, direction, music, and editing. Later when she opens the desk and sees the health department report, I was disgusted. There was no reason for that to be in the script. Of course someone had a reason.