Michael Mann (Thief, Collateral), the acclaimed auteur celebrated for his action panache and commitment to cinematic realism, turns his hand to depicting the high-stakes world of global cybercrime in Blackhat, a contemporary, ripped-from-the-headlines twist on the espionage thriller. Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers, Extraction) stars as Nick Hathaway, a gifted hacker currently serving a lengthy prison sentence. When a Hong Kong nuclear plant goes into meltdown after its security is penetrated, Chinese army cybersecurity captain Chen Dawai (Leehom Wang, Lust, Caution) offers his old college roommate a deal: help identify and apprehend the culprit in exchange for his own freedom. What follows is a frenetic, globe trotting race against time to avert disaster, fraught with hidden agendas and ever-shifting loyalties. Praised for its unusually accurate portrayal of cybersecurity, Blackhat boasts an impressive international cast, including Tang Wei (Decision to Leave), Viola Davis (The Woman King) and Yorick van Wageningen (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), and showcases one of cinema’s finest filmmakers bringing the skills he honed during a long and storied career to bear on a distinctly 21st-century phenomenon.

For thoughts on Blackhat, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

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Video Quality

Arrow Films presents Blackhat with a terrific 2160p transfer in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 2K DPX master of both the Theatrical and International Versions of the film sourced from NBC Universal presented in 4K resolution and graded in 4K HDR10/Dolby Vision. Much like the Michael Mann feature Collateral, this has a very distinct digital style that could very easily look quite poor even with the enhanced resolution, but audiences can rest easy knowing that the master David Mackenzie at Fidelity in Motion was responsible for the 4K remaster and color grading of this disc, meaning it ostensibly looks the best it possibly can. This film was previously released by Universal on Blu-Ray in 2015, but we have never seen that disc to compare the presentations.

One of the most notable aspects of the disc is the application of Dolby Vision for finessed color output that takes this meticulously composed film and displays every unique hue to its grandest ambition. The new master features some nuances within the lighting, production design, and clothing that harness a stellar amount of depth. Very few moments are going to look candy-colored, but this film achieves its primary creative intention of gritty realism. It works perfectly in tandem with the narrative drive of the film, and every choice is nicely suffused in this transfer. The black levels are as deep as necessary with nothing in the way of crush present, and highlights show no evidence of blooming.

This transfer showcases absolutely nothing in the way of damage or unsightly digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such nuisances. Audiences are treated to a globe-trotting adventure that feels lived-in and three-dimensional thanks to a depth of field that is simply stunning. The disc also does not falter when it comes to the command of contrast. The level of minute detail and clarity on display is significant and likely blows away any previous home exhibition. The digital photography can get a little bit squirrely during some of the fast-moving sequences at night such as a pivotal shootout, but nothing too egregious rears its ugly head. This presentation is a first-rate effort from the crew at Arrow Video.

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with a lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that captures this thrilling narrative without issue. Michael Mann is a director who enjoys immersing his audience in complex sound design, and this track accomplishes such desires at every turn. The film is built upon a lot of great environmental effects that engage the surround speakers including many jaunts through urban environments and gunfire that echoes out effectively. The movie is filled with some pulse-pounding moments which add some welcome texture to the low end.

The track has a precise sense of directionality with sounds always emanating from the appropriate channels. Dialogue comes through clearly in the front channel without being overshadowed by any sound effects or the score. The terrific score and certain song choices set the mood for this story which fills the speakers well. There are absolutely no issues with fidelity or damage to the track that we could find. This audio presentation is an effective showing of this feature thanks to Arrow Video. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

The first pressing of the Arrow Video 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Blackhat includes a 15-page booklet featuring the essay “Cyber Mann: An Examination Of Michael Mann’s Hack-Happy Dark Thriller” by film historian and author Andrew Graves which provides a great analysis of the film, the themes, the creatives, and the behind the scenes details in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Disc One (4K UHD Blu-Ray)

US Version (2:13:28) and International Version (2:12:55)

Audio Commentary: Entertainment journalists Bryan Reesman and Max Evry provide a very informative and entertaining commentary track in which they discuss the background of the film, the performers and their background, the unique elements Michael Mann brought to the story, the topics they explore within the narrative, the reception of the film, and so much more that gets covered quite thoroughly throughout this track.

Firewall: A new 19-minute interview with cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh in which he discusses his background, his work with Michael Mann on this film, the different types of cameras used throughout the production, what they wanted to accomplish with various aesthetic choices, the deliberate use of color, and more.

Zero Day Threat: A new 31-minute interview with production designer Guy Hendrix Dyas in which he discusses his background, his work with Michael Mann, the unique challenges of the production design of this film, the research that went into achieving authenticity, working in multiple countries for this feature, the location shooting, and more.

Archival Extras

- The Cyber Threat: A 13-minute piece in which the cast, creative team, and cyber security consultants discuss the realities of cybercrime and the act of translating this threat into a feature film.

- On Location Around The World: A nearly 10-minute look at the globe-trotting journey of this narrative and how the production handled this ambitious shooting schedule.

- Creating Reality: A 17-minute more expansive look at the production of the film with insights from the cast and creative team.

Image Gallery: A collection of images from the production are provided here.

Disc Two (Blu-Ray)

Director’s Cut (2:12:08): The highly-anticipated director’s cut of the film is provided here for the first time in HD with DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio. This version of the film changes some minor elements and restructures the movie quite a bit to flow in a more rewarding manner. This is a very welcome addition to the set.

Final Thoughts

Blackhat was oddly passed over when it was released in theaters, but it honestly has a lot going for it that makes it ripe for a reevaluation – that’s the very least you can ask for a filmmaker working at the level of Michael Mann. The hacking angle is explored in a very involving and unsettling way, and the ramifications are captured with an unmistakable style and artistry thanks to Mann. The performances are pretty solid across the board, and the consistency with which this narrative delivers intrigue and action makes this one a gripping experience. Arrow Video has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a fabulous A/V presentation and a welcome array of special features. Most notably, this release finally gives audiences a chance to see the mythic Director’s Cut in great quality. This is a dream release for longtime fans and newcomers alike. Recommended

Blackhat will be available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Blu-Ray on November 28, 2023.

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.