John Wick: Chapter 4 4K UHD Review (Patreon)

Video

Masterfully shot digitally at full 4K, the resolution on display is quite luxurious. Detectable ringing does show through (look at the distant mountains against the skyline during the first horse chase action scene). That's the lone holdup keeping this from perfection, leaving the sense the sharpness was bumped to middle setting on the TV. Look at the ceiling lights at 55:21 for visible aliasing as well. This roughens otherwise gorgeous shots, mostly wide angle material. Mostly, this is confined to the first act, but does reappear elsewhere.

Otherwise, John Wick 4 is beyond precise. If ringing is the cost of delivering detail at this tier, it's almost worth it. Facial definition looks ridiculously pure, and establishing shots of cities (and the like) present meticulously refined imagery.

Multiple palettes steer the color in various directions, beginning in amber/gold, switching to solid, striking blues. Even orange/teal appears, as if back in the early 2010s. Dolby Vision adds the final bite, contrast searing and black levels pristine. Incendiary rounds used during the final act look dazzling. Shadows, even when crushing in places, still manage to deliver the necessary depth. John Wick 4's dimensionality is reference, even if the color grading can and will skew the black levels toward various deep blues or greens.

Audio

As soon as punches hit rope after the opening credits, it's clear John Wick 4 is going to be one of "those" discs, an absolute bass monster that even the best subwoofers will cry over. Joining the likes of Godzilla vs Kong, Transformers, and other John Wick entries, the bass represents an absolute crushing peak for home audio. Gunshots, music, explosions, and more erupt in the low-end. Plus, it's wonderfully varied, from the deepest levels to the lighter jolts. The range is remarkable.

Sword clashes and gunfire bounce speaker-to-speaker effortlessly. Atmos effects remain lean, but where possible, they shine as well. Ejected bullet shells bounce onto the floor alongside the specific placement of the shots themselves. Beyond the action, voices separate the soundstage flawlessly, varying enough in volume/position to suggest distance from the listening position without visual aid.