In the mid-16th century, after annihilating the Incan empire, Gonzalo Pizarro (Allejandro Repullés) leads his army of conquistadors over the Andes into the heart of the most savage environment on Earth in search of the fabled City of Gold, El Dorado. As the soldiers battle starvation, natives, the forces of nature, and each other, Don Lope de Aguirre (Klaus Kinski), “The Wrath of God,” is consumed with visions of conquering all of South America and revolts, leading his own army down a treacherous river on a doomed quest into oblivion. Featuring a seething, controlled performance from Klaus Kinski, this masterpiece from director Werner Herzog is an unforgettable portrait of madness and power.

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Video Quality

Shout! Studios presents Aguirre, The Wrath of God with a fetching 2160p transfer in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative with Dolby Vision/HDR. This film was originally released on Blu-Ray by the label as part of a Herzog collection in 2014, followed by an individual release in 2015, which was derived from an older source. That release was pleasing for the time, but this new release finally gives the film the treatment it deserves with a fantastic refinement of the picture. The implementation of Dolby Vision brings out so much depth and complexity within this visual feast. This is a film with many complex hues, and this disc showcases its vivid palette with the greatest level of accuracy. The new presentation reaches a level of perfection and color detail that likely matches or exceeds the original run in theaters. Black levels are formidable with no crush present, and the highlights remain firm and never get overly hot or noisy.

This disc retains the ideal level of natural film grain which brings forth a treasure trove of distinct textures in the locales, the costumes, and more. This grain resolves consistently with nothing ever appearing clumpy or spiking throughout both the daytime and nighttime scenes. This disc executes every new environmental shift with consistency. The makeup effects and natural perspiration render with worthy clarity. This transfer has done a fine job of eradicating any print damage with nary a speck of dirt making it through the restoration gauntlet. The encoding on this one is in good shape with no obvious dips in quality. This new presentation is simply a welcome upgrade and is by far the best the film has looked on home entertainment. Fans can buy with confidence.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track in “German” (multi-language) and dubbed English and a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio in German, which each captures this journey within its sonic intentions. There are times when things get a bit more lively as our party gets attacked, but this is not an action-forward narrative experience. The adventure comes alive as well as it should with plenty of detail transporting you to the locale. Environmental noises come through with a refined quality, and the surround sound track expands things out tastefully. It does not open up the world unnaturally, but it adds some fine texture.

What little low-end there is in the track complements the experience with some nice flourishes. Dialogue emerges with clarity even during the more bustling developments. The score establishes the tone of this story, and everything sounds rich without major damage. The fidelity is in good shape throughout, but there are signs of age in the English dub, especially. Shout! Studios has treated this one with a decent amount of care. Optional English and English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentaries: There are two different commentary tracks with the filmmaker providing unique tidbits about the perilous production in two different languages.

- Audio Commentary #1: Werner Herzog (English)

- Audio Commentary #2: Werner Herzog (German)

Theatrical Trailer (3:19)

Still Gallery (5:23)

Final Thoughts

Aguirre, The Wrath of God finds director Werner Herzog tumbling down a rabbit hole that feels hauntingly resonant with his life. Not every destination is a mythical city, but Herzog is no stranger to being surrounded by madness on his set, especially when Klaus Kinski is involved. The authenticity bleeds onto the screen, and the narrative is quite compelling to the delirious end. This one is intended more for the arthouse crowd, but those who get on the right wavelength will love it. Shout! Studios has provided this one with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that delivers a favorable A/V presentation and a welcome array of special features. Even if you already own this one on Blu-Ray, this new presentation is a nifty upgrade all around. Recommended

Aguirre, The Wrath of God (Collector’s Edition) is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack.

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

Disclaimer: Shout! Studios has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.