DVD Corner

Blue Velvet Criterion 4K UHD Review

“Blue Velvet” is one of David Lynch’s best films. 

The Story: When college student Jeffrey returns home to Lumberton after his dad suffers a heart attack, he finds an ear in an open field. It appears everything is not as it seems in the seemingly peaceful suburban town of Lumberton after all. Jeffrey hands the ear over to a local Detective and soon finds himself bonding with (and falling for) the Detective’s daughter Sandy. Jeffrey can’t seem to shake the mystery though and winds up doing his own amateur investigation. He starts off by snooping on a club singer (Dorothy), but this act takes him down a very dark path involving police corruption, a kidnapping plot, murder, and the psycho abusive monster that is Frank Booth. 

“It’s a strange world, isn’t it?” That quote certainly sets the tone for writer/director David Lynch’s neo-noir mystery that takes viewers into the dark underbelly of a normal white picket fence American town. Although the challenging and disturbing 1986 film may not be everyone’s cup of tea (Roger Ebert famously hated it), there’s a reason “Blue Velvet” has stood the test of time. It’s a compelling (and often horrifying) tale of lust, voyeurism, obsession, trauma and innocence lost. It’s the type of movie you find yourself rewatching time and time again as with most David Lynch works. He’s a one of a kind auteur whose hypnotic visual style and filmography is unlike anything else out there and that certainly goes for “Blue Velvet.” There’s so much to digest within the story from the relationship between Jeffrey and Sandy, the symbolism, the use of color, Americana, and the exploration of violence and its effects. It’s much more than a surface level story to put it mildly.

Lynch is aided by a grand cast (including many often seen his work). Kyle MacLachlan is the perfect lead as the naive college boy whose life soon changes. Can’t imagine anyone else in this role. Isabella Rossellini gives a bold performance as Dorothy. Her deeply vulnerable and tragic character arc in this movie is something most actors could never pull off. Laura Dern dazzles as the pure and innocent Sandy. Of course, the most notable performance here is that of Dennis Hopper as Frank Booth. Hopper had a tendency to be an uneven actor, but he’s at his absolute best here. He’s a terrifying and unpredictable monster of a human being. 

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.35:1 2160p With Dolby Vision HDR. How does it look? Despite some image flickering, the 4K is a significant improvement over the Blu-ray release. The image quality picture is sharper and less fuzzy/grainy.

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? The soundscape of Lynch films are always essential to the viewing experience and this 5.1 track does not disappoint in delivering crisp Angelo Badalamenti music, dialogue and sound effects. A 2.0 Surround option is also available.

Extras (on the Blu-ray):
* Blu-ray copy
* A booklet featuring credits, photos, and a piece on “Blue Velvet” from “Room To Dream” by Kristine McKenna.
* 53 minutes of deleted and alternate scenes.
* “Test Chart”- A montage of test footage.
* “Mysteries Of Love”- A 79 minute 2002 documentary with cast and crew interviews.
* A 16 minute 2017 interview with composer Angelo Badalamenti and 2019’s “It’s A Strange World” which features interviews and discussions about the visuals and locations.
* “Room To Dream”- Audio recordings of David Lynch reading from the novel he co-wrote.
* “Blue Velvet Revisited”- An 89 minute extra that documented the production of the film.

June 22, 2024 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | 80's Movies, Blue Velvet Criterion 4K UHD Review, David Lynch, Dennis Hopper, Frank Booth, Kyle MacLachlan, Laura Dern