From director Jason Reitman and producer Ivan Reitman comes the next chapter in the original Ghostbusters universe. In Ghostbusters: Afterlife, when a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather, an original Ghostbuster, left behind. The film is written by Gil Kenan & Jason Reitman.
For in-depth thoughts on Ghostbusters: Afterlife, please see my colleague Cassie Brown’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Ghostbusters: Afterlife offers a marginal uptick in quality over the already incredible accompanying Blu-Ray, making it a truly miraculous effort. Skin tones appear a touch more natural with healthy doses of crisp detail apparent on faces such as pores. The increased range of the color spectrum is stunning to behold. The HDR/Dolby Vision enriches the colors from already impressive to out of this world when it comes to vibrancy. Any time you get to see the streams from the proton packs or the swirling ghosts, you will marvel at the vividness. The highlights in the film are more defined with whites more pure and balanced with no instances of blooming to be found. Elements taking place in the cover of darkness are more vivid and finely delineated. The black levels are especially strong in this presentation, staying deep and inky with great detail. This 4K UHD presentation really delivers on all fronts including strong gains in clarity and color. The Blu-Ray is great, but Sony has delivered another demo-worthy transfer on this latest 4K release.
Audio Quality
This 4K UHD Blu-Ray utilizes a Dolby Atmos track that gives the already-excellent 5.1 track a real shot in the arm. There is an emphasis on the front channels for many of the sounds, but activity kicks in to the surrounds and rears during the numerous kinetic and action-oriented bits. Lookout for the implementation of the height channels that make the environment much more three-dimensional. The film also really satisfies when it comes to the music, and this track fills the room in a really satisfying, enveloping way. The score from Rob Simonsen is a real crowd pleaser. Dialogue is crisp and clear without ever getting lost amongst the music or sound effects. The low end effects from the subwoofer give moments a little bit of extra weight. Atmospheric sound effects are rendered appropriately within the mix so that directionality is never an issue. Ghostbusters: Afterlife has been gifted with a track that is not lacking for power or nuance. It does not get much better when it comes to home audio.
Special Features
- Summoning The Spirit – Making Ghostbusters: Afterlife: A 20-minute featurette in which director Jason Reitman discusses developing the seed of the idea for this film, the idea of legacy, the magic of the original film, harnessing older special effects techniques the characters and performances in this film and more with the help of some other great subjects.
- The Gearhead’s Guide to Ghostbusters Gadgets: A six-minute look at both the new props developed for this film and those making an appearance from the past.
- Spectral Effects – The Ghosts of Afterlife: A nearly seven-minute exploration of the ghosts of the film including their look, how they fit into this world, the process of bringing them to the screen and more.
- Bringing Ecto-1 Back To Life: A five-minute piece on what it means to bring back the iconic car after four decades and how that is executed in the film.
- We Got One! Easter Eggs Revealed: An eight-minute exploration of the numerous secrets within the film including cameos, tributes, props and more.
- Ghostbusters – A Look Back: A nearly 11-minute piece in which the original cast and crew reflect on the franchise. This is one original fans will especially enjoy.
- A Look Ahead: A four-minute look at the blending of the older movies to this newest chapter.
- Deleted Scene: A minute-and-a-half scene in which Janine and Callie discuss her father.
- Previews
Final Thoughts
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is an incredibly enjoyable continuation of the franchise which adds a touch more heart and thematic weight to the series. The laughs may not be as big or as consistent as they were in the original, but this latest chapter respects what came before while forging a new path. All of these performers make an impression in their roles, and seeing some familiar faces return puts a smile on our face. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a tremendous A/V presentation and a nice assortment of special features. If you are open to something less comedically driven, this one has a lot to offer. Recommended
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Sony Pictures 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.
