Writer-director Peter Hyams (Capricorn One, 2010, The Relic) takes classic Western tropes off-world and into the future in sci-fi thriller Outland, starring Sean Connery as a federal marshall assigned to keep the peace on a distant moon.

Con-Am 27 is a mining facility on Io, one of Jupiter’s largest moons. Six hundred million miles away, the gravity there is one sixth of what it is on Earth, and there is no breathable atmosphere. The work is hard, the bonuses big and productivity is breaking all records. But people are dying. Every so often they just snap. The secret? A drug that can keep its miners working days on end, but over time results in burn-out and psychosis. When new Marshall William O’Niel (Sean Connery) investigates, he uncovers a deadly conspiracy and finds his life under threat from a company that will stop at nothing to keep him quiet.

A chillingly prophetic depiction of corporate greed and exploitation with muscular direction from Hyams, and a stellar performance from Connery, Outland arrives on 4K UHD in a brand new restoration that is out of this world.

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Video Quality

Arrow Video presents Outland with a stellar 2160p transfer in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. This restoration was handled by Arrow Films with a 4K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative restored and graded in 4K HDR10/Dolby Vision. The previous Blu-Ray release from Warner Bros. in 2012 was derived from an older master, and we do not have that release to compare directly. By all accounts, that release was serviceable, but this transfer overhauls the viewing experience and brings it forward to its ultimate viewing potential while dialing in the nuances of the color space.

This restoration preserves the rich natural film grain as it resolves perfectly without any indication of clumping or swarming. Everything is completely authentic with no lingering specks of print damage or stray lines observed. The movie looks exceptional with minute details on display that will make you feel like you are watching the film for the first time. The texture present in the uniforms and within the futuristic production design is astounding. When it comes to encoding, there are no digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or other such nuisances. Even in rooms with extremely bright light sources, the screen sidesteps any spiking or other stray encoding issues.

The utilization of Dolby Vision for increased color output is an immediate benefit despite this not being the most colorful film. The standout aspect is the depth found in the black levels with nothing in the way of crush present, as well as the impeccable highlights that are crisp with no signs of blooming. The stark lighting rigs and certain facets of the production design make the most of the technology with more accuracy than ever. The frame is packed with detail that is a delight to observe with this disc. The sterile shades of the dining hall and labs are complemented by a more rugged locker room and other workspaces. Each environment is presented with the appropriate delineation. This presentation from Arrow Video is a winner on all fronts.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of the film comes with an LPCM 2.0 stereo track, along with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio experience, each of which handles the material with the utmost care. The label has made the wise choice of providing two audio options for fans, with at least one of them capturing the theatrical intention without any notable flaws. We love the effective score from Jerry Goldsmith that flows through the room without any dip in fidelity. All of the various sounds in the mix seem accurately rendered so that nothing ever feels askew.

Dialogue comes through clearly without being clipped by the sound effects. The largely mechanical soundscape emanates to provide some unsettling ambient details. The surround sound track makes things more immersive without fundamentally changing the heart of the soundscape. Moments of excruciating tension are exciting without becoming a sonic slurry, as everything is distinguished with precision. This presentation does not succumb to any hiss, distortion, or other age-related wear and tear. Arrow Video is thriving all the way here. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentaries: There are two unique commentary tracks provided which delve into the movie from both a personal and analytical perspective. The filmmaker has a great memory and delivers so much background information about the production, while the film critic speaks a bit more extemporaneously than most historians, while managing to hit on many interesting points.

- Audio Commentary #1 (Archival): Writer-director Peter Hyams

- Audio Commentary #2 (New): Film critic Chris Alexander

Interviews

- A Corridor of Accidents – An Interview With Peter Hyams: A new 52-minute interview with the filmmaker in which he delves as much into his life as he does the making of Outland, which makes this an invaluable viewing experience.

- Stephen Goldblatt Remembers Filming Peter Hyams’ Outland: A 29-minute piece with director of photography Stephen Goldblatt in which he discusses his background, the evolution of his lighting style, the experience of working on Outland, working with models, and more.

- The Introvision Files – William Mesa on Outland: A 34-minute conversation with visual effects artist William Mesa in which he talks about his background, how he got involved in the entertainment industry, his work with manipulating perspective, getting hired on Outland, working with Peter Hyams, and more.

No Place For Heroes: A nearly 19-minute appreciation piece from film scholar Josh Nelson in which he explores how the film parallels ideas from the Western genre, the morality of the film, the themes, subversions within the narrative, and more.

Hollywood Outland: A nearly 22-minute visual essay by film historian Howard S. Berger in which he delves into the fascinating space that Peter Hyams occupies in the history of cinema.

Teaser Trailer (1:55)

Theatrical Trailer (2:55)

Image Gallery (2:39)

Booklet: The Limited Edition release of the film comes with a multi-page booklet featuring new writing by film critics Priscilla Page and Brandon Streussnig.

Fold-Out Double-Sided Poster

Final Thoughts

Outland is an engrossing crime drama that thrusts a beaten-down authority figure into a tangled conspiracy brimming with corruption and danger. This crusader for justice just so happens to be in space, which is used to intensify the feeling of isolation rather than fundamentally change the trajectory of the narrative. Sean Connery is appropriately commanding alongside an ensemble that feels every bit as capable of ascending to his level. This movie just feels cool as hell with its practical special effects, propulsive pace, entrancing score, and a maturity that makes you yearn for the glory days of cinema for adults. You are missing out if you have yet to see it. Arrow Video has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a 5-star A/V presentation and a fine assortment of special features. Recommended

Outland is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

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.