In Stephen King’s thrilling adaptation of his novelette, Cycle Of The Werewolf, a peaceful town is suddenly terrorized by a maniacal killer. The townsfolk think a madman is on the loose, but a wheelchair-bound 13-year-old (Corey Haim, The Lost Boys) knows the truth … a werewolf is on the hunt. With the help of his Uncle Red (Gary Busey, Lethal Weapon), young Marty Coslaw sets out to stop the half-man/half-beast before he sinks his teeth into another innocent victim. Now, time is ticking … and the full moon is about to rise.

For thoughts on Silver Bullet, please check out our previous review from the Stephen King 5-Film Collection here.

Video Quality

Scream Factory presents Silver Bullet with a fantastic 2160p transfer in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio sourced from a new 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative with Dolby Vision/HDR. This film was originally released on Blu-Ray by Scream Factory about four years ago in 2019 which was derived from an older source, by all accounts the same source used for the Blu-Ray release in the Stephen King Collection from 2020 that we reviewed here. When judging this upgrade against that release, the 4K UHD release shows some unbelievable improvements, allowing this film to be exhibited in its intended glory for the first time.

The implementation of Dolby Vision brings forth a substantial sense of depth in all scenarios. The HDR sets up the black levels to hold firm with immense detail and no signs of crush or other artifacts. This is especially welcome with all the scenes during the night when the attacks take place. Highlights likewise never veer into blooming in any lighting condition. The film features a natural color palette during the day that radiates nicely, especially on display at the town festival at the beginning of the story. This disc harnesses the nuances of the palette on display which have never looked better. The new presentation allows the film to shine like it never has before.

The transfer comes correct with the natural film grain on display that resolves impeccably with subtle texture in the practical makeup effects, production design, outfits, and more. The creature effects work is terrifically tactile with some elements making an impression more than ever in its gory glory. This grain rarely veers into noise as it plays through evenly with nothing ever swarming or spiking. This new transfer does a blissful job of eliminating all signs of print damage that plagued the previous source. This is brought to life with a strong encode that does not falter with any dips in quality. This disc makes the most of the murky moments as it navigates these scenarios for a consistent experience. This transfer is a welcome one for fans who have wanted this to be treated with respect.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track which delivers a clear and consistent listening experience. While some may bemoan the lack of a more expansive audio experience, we are simply grateful to have the original audio included in good quality. Dialogue comes through with immense clarity even during chaotic sequences. The low end of the track delivers some amount of texture within the sonic constraints. The music and score sound great without any sign of age-related wear and tear. Environmental noises such as the revving of the titular bike or the werewolf carnage come through with an admirable definition. The film delivers an audio experience that maintains its fidelity in every scenario. Scream Factory has put in some strong work with this one. English SDH subtitles are provided for those who want them.

Special Features

Audio Commentaries: A selection of creative figures and film historians provide very thoughtful and insightful commentary tracks in which they reveal details about the production, the Stephen King source material, the direction of Daniel Attias, the performances in the film, technical aspects of the production, the tweaks to the script, the development of the score, and so much more that is worth a listen.

- Audio Commentary #1: Producer Martha De Laurentiis

- Audio Commentary #2: Director Daniel Attias

- Audio Commentary #3: Isolated Score Selections and Audio Interview with Composer Jay Chattaway

- Audio Commentary #4: Eric Vespe and Scott Wampler of The Kingcast

A Little Private Justice – Interview with Actor Kent Broadhurst: A 12-minute interview with the performer is provided in which he discusses his role in Silver Bullet, his early interest in acting, his work as a filmmaker, why this role was a nice change of pace, and more.

Cutting To The Bone – Interview with Editor Daniel Loewenthal: A 17-minute interview with the editor in which he discusses his history in the film business, graduating from working on pornos to horror films, getting involved with Silver Bullet, memories of the performers, feelings about being a director, and more.

The Wolf Within – Interview with Actor Everett McGill: A 16-minute interview with the actor in which he discusses his motivations behind the movements of the creature, memories of working with Dino De Laurentiis, the discomfort of working in the suit, the direction of Daniel Attias, and more.

Full Moon Fever – The Effects of Silver Bullet: A 21-minute interview with special makeup effects artists Michael McCracken Jr. and Matthew Mungle in which they reflect on their friendship, their start on Ice Pirates, how they got involved with Silver Bullet, the complexities of the church scene, and more.

Theatrical Trailer: The minute-and-a-half trailer is provided here.

TV Spot: The 31-second TV spot is provided here.

Radio Spot: A 39-second radio spot is provided here.

Still Gallery: A collection of stills and images from the production are provided here.

Final Thoughts

Silver Bullet is not the absolute best Stephen King adaptation, but it is one that is quite entertaining in a somewhat familiar way. There is not much included to upend what you expect from a werewolf tale, but the film provides great practical effects and consistent direction from Daniel Attias. The performances are a bit all over the place, but most of the performers seem to be having a lot of fun. Scream Factory has provided this one with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts a terrific A/V presentation and a welcome selection of special features. If you are a fan of the film, this is a substantial upgrade Recommended

Silver Bullet (Collector’s Edition) is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Scream Factory 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.