DVD Corner

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest 4K UHD Review

“One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” is one of the all-time great films. 

Based on the Ken Kesey novel of the same name, 1975’s “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” begins with Randle McMurphy being transported to a mental institution. Randle is a criminal and a troublemaker, but he’s also a free spirited jokester. He’s in the institution because he wants to avoid a prison farm. While in the Oregon institution, he comes up against the strict and cruel Nurse Ratched who doesn’t seem to help the patients at all. She feeds them medicine, engages in group therapy sessions, and generally lords over the place. Randle’s presence disrupts her rule of law and encourages patients like Chief, Charlie, Max, and Billy to open up more. Randle shakes things up and manages to get into further trouble via hijacking a bus and boat, fighting, and throwing a party with women. Eventually his actions catch up to him and lead to dire consequences. 

“One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” is a timeless film that somehow gets better with age. Director Milos Forman and writers Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman crafted a funny, frustrating, heartbreaking and challenging film all at once. It’s a story that perhaps means just as much now as it did in the 70s as it tackles themes of mental health, freedom, humanity, and authoritarianism. 

One of the aspects that really stands out here is the ensemble characters (and the cast). Under less capable direction and writing, Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Sydney Lassick, Christopher Lloyd, Will Sampson, and Brad Dourif could have been given caricatures to work with, but that’s not the case here. These characters feel like real people dealing with pain, trauma, and difficulties. The way they interact with one another or react to situations feels very raw and human in a way most movies could never replicate. You also have Louise Fletcher as one of the most sinister villains in movie history as the cold and calculating Nurse Ratched who really breaks the spirit of every patient in a way. Of course, you’ve also got Jack Nicholson as Randle. Sure, he’s very Jack Nicholson in nature, but you believe this character all the way through. He doesn’t belong at the hospital, he likes to live life to the fullest, and he’s not a conformist (which rubs people the wrong way). He makes a fair share of mistakes that he pays for, but he yearns to be free. As tragic as his fate is, he ends up inspiring others including Chief who is ultimately able to move forward in life.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 2160p. How does it look? The new print is a 4K digital restoration from the original 35mm picture negative. Having seen this film countless times before, the transfer is impressive. It’s not showy and it’s subtly an improvement over past home video releases to be sure.

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? Sourced from the 2001 5.1 theatrical mix, the 5.1 DTS-HD MA is a little soft in spots but comes alive when needed.

Extras:
* Digital copy
* 5 deleted scenes
* Conversations On Cuckoo: Group Therapy and Moviemaking Memories- 2 new online video chats between Michael Douglas, Christopher Lloyd, Brad Dourif and Danny DeVito.
* “Completely Cuckoo”- An 86 minute documentary with cast and crew interviews and an insightful interview with author Ken Kesey.

November 18, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | 70s Movies, Danny DeVito, Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest 4K UHD Review