Working from an Academy Award-nominated screenplay by Scott B. Smith (adapting his own bestselling novel), director Sam Raimi swapped his trademark hyperkinetic horror for stark, bone-chilling tension in the expertly-crafted, critically-acclaimed thriller A Simple Plan.

Hank Mitchell (Bill Paxton) and his wife Sarah (Bridget Fonda) have big dreams and a baby on the way, but are stuck in the small Minnesota town where Hank grew up alongside his sweet but naive brother Jacob (Billy Bob Thornton, Oscar-nominated for Best Supporting Actor). One day while walking in the woods, Hank, Jacob, and Jacob’s friend Lou (Brent Briscoe) discover a small plane buried in the snow, with a dead pilot inside… and a duffel bag containing over $4 million in cash. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to grasp the American dream in one fell swoop, if they can just keep it a secret – but Hank soon learns that keeping that secret will come at a terrible cost.

A bleak, heart-stopping morality play with allusions to Macbeth and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (Raimi’s favorite film), A Simple Plan returns in a brand new director-approved 4K remaster accompanied by new and exclusive bonus features.

For thoughts on A Simple Plan, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Arrow Films presents A Simple Plan with an exceptional 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative in 4K HDR/Dolby Vision approved by director Sam Raimi. Arrow always impresses with their restorations, and it is all the better to get this considering there was not even a Blu-Ray release in North America prior to this. This release comes from the label’s deal with Paramount, but luckily Arrow was in charge of the remastering – and it shows. Fans who have been waiting for this to be upgraded are blessed with a peerless presentation.

The presentation retains the ideal amount of natural film grain that allows the textural details of the locale and design elements to spring forth. The grain is nice and thick but never unwieldy or clumpy. Director Sam Raimi establishes a distinct sense of reality within this sordid tale that suits the moral uncertainty at play. The subtle textures on display in the costumes and within the environments are unbelievable. This disc handles every location without a hiccup. The black levels are practically perfect with nothing in the way of crush present, and highlights show no inkling of blooming even when gazing upon the brilliant white snow. The enhanced detail and clarity will allow you to pick up elements of the background you likely never noticed before.

One of the most important aspects of the disc is the application of Dolby Vision for unforgettable color output that takes this visually desolate film and allows it to look more impressive than you might imagine. The new restoration features hues from the dreary landscape that are generally presented with exquisite complexity. Certain outfits and lighting choices saturate the screen without seeming artificially boosted. This new transfer features essentially nothing in the way of print damage. This dream presentation always appears natural with the added resolution bringing out sumptuous nuances within the environment. No egregious digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or other such nuisances manifested here. The good people at Arrow Video have put the appropriate care into preserving this on physical media.

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with the original DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track along with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track which both capture this film idylically. The original surround track has a great sense of directionality with sounds always emerging from the appropriate channels. The film is not going for grandeur and spectacle, but key moments engage the low end appropriately. Dialogue comes through clearly in the front channel without being clipped by any sound effects or score. The Danny Elfman score establishes the tone of the story which fills the speakers well. There are no issues with fidelity or damage to the track. The movie is filled with a tapestry of environmental sounds that come alive in the channels. This audio presentation is everything you could ask from this film. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

The first pressing of the Arrow Video 4K UHD Blu-Ray of A Simple Plan includes a 36-page booklet featuring new writing on the film by Bilge Ebiri and an excerpt from the book The Unseen Force: The Films of Sam Raimi by John Kenneth Muir. These works provide a great analysis of the film and the talent at large in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentaries: Two new commentary tracks are provided that delve into the film from a more analytical and historical viewpoint along with a personal lens with someone who actively worked on the film. These are both packed with interesting insights that are worth a listen for fans.

- Audio Commentary #1: Critics Glenn Kenny and Farran Smith Nehme

- Audio Commentary #2: Production designer Patrizia von Brandenstein with filmmaker Justin Beahm

Of Ice and Men with Alar Kivilo: An eight-minute conversation with the cinematographer in which he discusses getting the film, his first meeting with Sam Raimi, how cold it was on location, achieving the vision desired by the filmmaker, scouting shooting locations, and more.

Standing Her Ground with Becky Ann Baker: A nearly seven-minute conversation with the actress in which she discusses getting involved with the project, the original filmmaker behind the project, her love of working with Sam Raimi, contributing ideas to the narrative, memories of her fellow performers, and more.

Dead of Winter with Chelcie Ross: An 11-minute conversation with the actor in which he discusses building a history for his character, the personal history he brought to his character, mishaps on his first night of shooting, memories of his fellow performers, and more.

On-Set Interviews: A collection of brief interviews from the original production in which the cast and creative team discuss their experiences making the film.

- Bill Paxton (3:47)

- Billy Bob Thornton (3:59)

- Bridget Fonda (2:22)

- Sam Raimi (6:02)

- James J. Jacks (1:05)

Behind The Scenes: A seven-minute fly-on-the-wall look at the production of the film.

Theatrical Trailer (2:23)

Final Thoughts

A Simple Plan is a captivating crime drama shot with impeccable precision by the great Sam Raimi. The plot is reminiscent of other beloved classics, but there is enough care put into the execution of the material to make it stand on its own. There are character decisions that will make you want to scream, but the performances are so good that you find yourself forgiving many developments. The film is bleak yet not cruel in its execution. It is an underappreciated entry in the filmography of all involved. Arrow Video has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a glorious A/V presentation and a rich array of special features. If you are a fan of the film, this is the type of release you have been dreaming about for years. Recommended

A Simple Plan is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Arrow Video has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.