Motel Hell 4K UHD Screenshots (Patreon)

Video

Scream Factory debuts Motel Hell on 4K with a fresh 4K scan, and the benefits appear immediately. The grain structure isn't an easy one, but the encode has enough space and a delicate touch to keep it intact (slight aside for the smokiest/haziest scenes aside). It's generally a spotless print too. While much of Motel Hell takes place in darkened, confined areas, daylight exteriors reveal splendid definition of the landscapes. In darker light, texture still carries punch, doubly so in close.

With Dolby Vision's touch, color reaches brilliant, vivid tiers. Vincent's yellow tractor never appeared so bright in previous home releases, for one example. Primaries, including the superlative greenery around the farm, make full use of the format's potential. The red neon of the motel sign looks spectacular. Flesh tones resolve warmly and naturally.

Black levels veer from the truest black, more a case of the cinematography finding the balance between tone and visibility. Motel Hell still brings depth with it from the early '80s, and a nicely elevated brightness gives pop to various light sources.

Audio

While the score offers refinement and clarity worthy of this DTS-HD track, the dialog is an issue. It's rough, scratchy, and sloppily defined. While Motel Hell doesn't lose any lines or render them unintelligible, the result is unusually coarse, even when considering the period. Sound effects wane too, but in terms of benefit, the ranking goes music, effects, then dialog.