Ten cases. Now 12. Why are young, healthy patients admitted for minor surgery at Boston Memorial Hospital ending up on life support? Dr. Susan Wheeler wants to know. Somebody else wants her dead.

Long before he created ER, Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park, Twister) adapted and directed this medical chiller based on Robin Cook’s bestseller. Geneviève Bujold plays Wheeler, trailing clues, clambering along ductways, hiding among morgue cadavers, infiltrating the eerie Jefferson Institute (an unforgettable marvel of spooky technology) and persuading her skeptical boyfriend and fellow doctor Mark (Michael Douglas) that her suspicions are not merely paranoia. For thriller fans, Coma is heart-poundingly good medicine.

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Video Quality

Coma debuts on Blu-Ray with a fantastic digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer derived from a new 2K scan of the Interpositive. The film was previously released on Blu-Ray by Warner Bros. from an older master in 2012, but we do not have that release to compare. Colors are confidently saturated throughout the frame with specific hues leaping off the screen in the lighting especially. Black levels never fall to crush and compression artifacts are completely avoided. Highlights are likewise kept in the appropriate range without blooming coming into play. Skin tones are natural and consistent across the ensemble.

Clarity and detail are first-rate with the locale, the costumes, and the production design coming forth with plenty of unique facets on full display. This is aided by the retention of the natural film grain without any unnecessary manipulation to compromise the image. The grain helps unveil the complexity of the interiors while staying clear of a shaky encode that could introduce some unwanted elements. Print damage has been eradicated with nothing serious showing up in the frame. The eerie environments render with a favorable amount of texture and definition. Shout! Studios has done nice work here.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray presents the film with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio dual mono track that brings this feature to life without a hitch. One of the strongest elements this experience has going for it is the score from legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith. Every new piece sounds wonderful as it establishes the paranoid mood of the narrative. Dialogue comes through clearly in league with all of the competing sounds. The environmental effects such as the medical machines and car engines are delineated favorably. This track does not attempt anything overly aggressive but it provides the necessary texture while never showing any weakness. Shout! Studios has crushed it on all fronts. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Film Critic/Author Lee Gambin and Novelist Aaron Dries provide a new commentary track in which they discuss the career of Michael Crichton, threads that run through his work, where this stands in second-wave feminism, the changes from the novel, hot button medical issues of the time, and more.

Trailer: The two-and-a-half-minute long trailer is provided.

TV Spots: A three-minute collection of TV Spots is provided.

Image Gallery: A gallery is provided with marketing materials, behind-the-scenes photos, and more.

Final Thoughts

Coma is a gripping thriller that preys on the inherent fear that comes with going to the doctor and the trust you put into the medical establishment when you are at your most vulnerable. There are certain characters like the one played by Michael Douglas who are written to be fairly two-dimensional and obnoxious, but director Michael Crichton does a surprisingly good job of giving his female lead a good amount of agency – especially at this time in film history. This one is well worth your time. Shout! Studios has delivered a Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and some cool new and archival special features. If you are a fan of the film, this is a great release. Recommended

Coma is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

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

Disclaimer: Shout! Studios 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.