An international traveler reaches into the snack bowl at an airport bar before passing her credit card to a waiter. A business meeting begins with a round of handshakes. A man coughs on a crowded bus… One contact. One instant. And a lethal virus is transmitted.
When Beth Emhoff (Paltrow) returns to Minneapolis from business in Hong Kong, what she thought was jet lag takes a virulent turn. Two days later, she’s dead in the ER and the doctors tell her shocked and grieving husband (Damon) they have no idea why. Soon, others exhibit the same mysterious symptoms: hacking coughs and fever, followed by seizure, brain hemorrhage… and ultimately, death. The numbers quickly multiply as the contagion sweeps across all borders, fueled by the countless human interactions that make up the course of an average day. A global pandemic explodes.
As the death toll escalates and people struggle to protect themselves and their loved ones in a society breaking down, one activist blogger (Law) claims the public isn’t getting the truth about what’s really going on and sets off an epidemic of paranoia and fear as infectious as the virus itself.
For thoughts on Contagion, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/T7jBM3kHH9s?si=oYLZ0kYb405w1dRh&t=1161]
Video Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Contagion has been lovingly remastered by Warner Bros. through a process overseen by director Steven Soderbergh. As has become a trend with 4K UHD Blu-Ray releases from the company, there is no accompanying Blu-Ray included, so the degree that this is an upgrade cannot be stated definitively. That being said, this transfer is a knockout and likely looks the best you could ever wish for it to be. There are many murky, shadowy scenes, but this transfer provides robust detail in all environments thanks to mighty black levels. These moments are vivid and finely delineated, revealing depth to the image while maintaining the creative aesthetic. Highlights are likewise firm and balanced with no instances of blooming to be found.
Soderbergh implements his beloved color filters to offer up a film that may not necessarily be bursting with color, but these specific choices when it comes to grading and lighting appear with greater intensity than ever before thanks to the HDR expansion of the color spectrum. Skin tones appear natural with healthy doses of crisp detail apparent on faces such as pores. The transfer reveals an increase in the depth of field in the various interiors we visit throughout this nightmare. Amid the mounting chaos, you can more clearly make out textures within the societal collapse and similar elements. There does not appear to be any noise reduction or black crush. Warner Bros. has brought new life to an unconventional choice for the 4K UHD Blu-Ray format.
Audio Quality
This release provides what is presumably the same DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track as before. While this may be disappointing to fans who always crave a Dolby Atmos upgrade, this track is far from a disappointment. Directionality is never an issue and dialogue is not overshadowed by the multitude of sounds such as bustling environmental effects or the score from Cliff Martinez. Every element appears to be harmonious as they maintain excellent fidelity. The speakers come alive to create an all-enveloping soundscape. The low end of the track is not pushed to the brink, but it provides more than enough texture to be effective. This audio track puts in some good work to bring everything to life.
Special Features
- The Reality of Contagion: A 12-minute featurette is provided in which the cast, creative team, and experts discuss the potential dissolution of society if a virus ever hits in this way (obviously, an archival piece).
- The Contagion Detectives: A five-minute look at the real-life figures who track down important medical developments in hopes of avoiding a situation like the one depicted in the film.
- Contagion – How A Virtus Changes The World: A two-minute lighthearted look at what would happen if a pandemic ever occurred and how it can be prevented…
Final Thoughts
Contagion is an especially tough film to watch after the world has been through something unsettlingly similar, and without the hope of a Hollywood ending in sight. That does not make it a bad film, though, and Steven Soderbergh uses his technical mastery to create something very compelling. The talent gathered to flesh out the ensemble is the film’s greatest strength, and there is not really a false note in the bunch. The script makes some questionable choices concerning how it treats women, but otherwise, it delivers a layered dramatic arc. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray that offers fans of the series a stellar A/V presentation and all of the legacy special features. If you are a fan of the film and want to see it in the best quality possible, this is the release to get. Recommended
Contagion is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
