Pusher – A gang of mid-level criminals navigates Copenhagen’s gritty underworld after a drug deal goes wrong.
Pusher II – Fresh from jail, a criminal vows to leave his past behind following the birth of his first child, but getting out of the life isn’t so easy when you’re born into it.
Pusher III – An aging drug dealer and addict struggles to come to terms with his life choices while a new criminal starts making waves in the underworld.
For thoughts on The Pusher Trilogy, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:
Video Quality
Pusher, Pusher II, and Pusher III come to Blu-Ray from Second Sight Films with glorious 1080p transfers sourced from 4K restorations supervised by director Nicolas Winding Refn. These transfers are also available as a part of a 4K UHD set released by the label, but those discs were not sent for review at this time. This label is based in the UK, but the 4K UHD version of this set will play in all 4K UHD Blu-Ray players, including those in the United States. This specific Blu-Ray set is Region B locked, which means you will need a region-free player to play the discs or a player-specific workaround like the “Top Menu” trick I used on my Panasonic player.
While I have never seen these movies in another format, all three of these presentations are dynamite and appear to improve upon any previous releases, if screenshots of competing releases are to be trusted. These movies were crafted with a purposefully gritty, down-and-dirty aesthetic that unexpectedly flourishes in this new presentation. These restorations avoid virtually all digital manipulation, as the natural film grain renders clearly and consistently, allowing for distinct texture throughout. The transfer could likely be a bit more favorable for shadow detail, but that likely improves with the 4K UHD release. With an ideal encode, there are no serious issues with macroblocking and banding.
Skin tones are natural and lend themselves to showcasing an exceptional amount of detail when up close and personal. There are also subtle details in the meticulously constructed production design that are readily observable, from tiny details in the police headquarters to small facets of the clothing. Colors are deep and commendably saturated, even if the world has more of a dour flavor to it. Second Sight Films has done an unparalleled job of bringing these films to a larger audience, as virtually all of the print damage has been cleaned up without messing with the natural look of the film. If you want the ultimate Blu-Ray release, this is almost certainly your best option—if you’re 4K UHD capable, though, we can imagine there are subtle improvements that you will not want to pass up.
Audio Quality
The Pusher films come with new Dolby Atmos tracks in the original Danish, plus the original lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track. While we typically prefer the original audio mix whenever possible, these Atmos tracks seem tastefully constructed to sound as pleasing as possible while honoring the original intentions of the film. The optional English subtitles are formatted clearly in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Dialogue comes through clearly for all three films with a keen focus on the center channel. The mix does a good job of balancing all of the vital exchanges with the pulsating score and sound effects so that nothing ever gets overwhelmed.
The addition of the height channels expands the reality of this world to feel more immersive and tense as each dramatic development emerges. The music featured here sounds rich and fleshed out in the surround sound channels. The track handles the sounds of the city and other environmental noises perfectly. The track has some notable activity in the rear channels that properly conveys the largely urban setting. The low end does not give the most bombastic workout, but it provides a good amount of texture. These tracks do everything that is asked of them.
Special Features
Second Sight Films had an optional Deluxe Edition of The Pusher Trilogy that is magnificent in person. The 4K UHD version of this release is sadly now out of print, but the Blu-Ray edition is still available as of publication. The release includes a 120-page book with new essays by Jamie Graham, Justin LaLiberty, Janine Pipe, Ariel Power-Schaub, Alison Taylor, and Nadine Whitney, plus an excerpt from Scandinavian Blue by Jack Stevenson on the films of Poul Nyrup. You also have 5 collectors’ art cards. The on-disc special features are as follows:
- Audio Commentaries: The creative force behind the films teams up with a different film expert to explore each feature by sharing insights into the production, memories of working with the performers, motivations behind certain choices, and much more.
- Pusher Audio Commentary: Filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn and film critic Peter Bradshaw
- Pusher II Audio Commentary: Filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn and film critic Catherine Shoard
- Pusher III Audio Commentary: Filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn and film critic Alan Jones
- Gambler: An 82-minute 2006 documentary from filmmaker Phie Ambo is provided in which you follow Refn in the midst of a major financial failure, leading him to return to the Pusher franchise that was so successful for him early in his career.
- Danish Director Poul Nyrup’s 1960s Trilogy of Youth Films: Three completely unrelated films that inspired Nicolas Winding Refn to create the Pusher films are presented with new 4K restorations. In terms of valuable supplemental features, extra movies are near the top. This is a top-tier addition.
- Mellem Venner (1:31:10)
- Call Girl Centralen “Villa Vennely” (1:33:23)
- Stenbroens “Helte” (1:37:27)
Final Thoughts
The Pusher Trilogy represents the thrilling fearlessness of Nicolas Winding Refn during his scrappy emergence as an important voice in cinema. While this trio of films covers similar territory as this story evolves, each one offers a unique experience that brings something to the table structurally and narratively. These films have many names that have become beloved faces on our screens, and it is a treat to see them really strike a chord in their early careers. This is an exciting journey on all fronts. The new Blu-Ray set from Second Sight Films features a really great A/V presentation and a plentiful assortment of special features. If you are a fan of the filmmaker, this release is worth seeking out. Recommended
The Pusher Trilogy is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray (Standard) and Blu-Ray (Limited Edition & Standard).
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Second Sight Films 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.
