Carly Norris (Sharon Stone, Basic Instinct), a new resident of the chic, high-tech, and ultra-thin (like a sliver) Manhattan apartment building 113, is a divorcee looking for a good time. She finds that in her neighbor Zeke (William Baldwin, Backdraft), a wealthy video game designer-cum-playboy who harbors a dark secret which her other neighbor Jack (Tom Berenger, The Substitute) is all too willing to go into detail on. As Carly navigates her sexual tryst with Zeke and Jack’s increasing paranoia, deaths in 113 begin to pile up as do revelations about the prior tenant in Carly’s apartment, who died under mysterious circumstances.
One of the essential erotic thrillers of the early 90s, from director Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games) and writer Joe Eszterhas (Basic Instinct, Showgirls), who adapted the novel by Ira Levin (Rosemary’s Baby), SLIVER is a marvelously twisted neo-noir with a supporting cast that includes Colleen Camp (Death Game), Martin Landau (Ed Wood), and CCH Pounder (TV’s The Shield). Photographed by acclaimed Oscar-winning cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond (Close Encounters of the Third Kind) and scored by three-time Oscar winner Howard Shore (Silence of the Lambs), Vinegar Syndrome proudly brings this envelope-pushing box office hit to 4K UHD, newly restored from its original 35mm camera negative under the supervision of director Phillip Noyce and presented in its unrated version.
For thoughts on Sliver, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality
Vinegar Syndrome presents Sliver with a stunning 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR transfer in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K restoration of the unrated Original 35mm Camera Negative under the supervision of director Phillip Noyce. The presentation opens with a text card stating that this release was graded to convey the aesthetic that was always intended by Noyce that could not be achieved upon its theatrical release. Having never seen this movie, we cannot judge the impact of these changes, but nothing stands out as overtly garish, and the subtle blue push of the film suits that narrative. This change may bother some, but those who want an overall improved picture will have to respect the director’s vision.
The implementation of Dolby Vision for expanded color output is a major win for this production. There is a depth to the various environments that shines through. Bold colors saturate the screen and unleash a level of nuance that is appreciated. The contrast is ferocious with deep black levels free of crush and flawless highlights with no blooming. When it comes to encoding, there do not seem to be any digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such nuisances. There are no signs of print damage or stray specks throughout this splendid restoration. The film grain appears completely natural and consistent without any inkling of unwanted manipulation as everything resolves well. The texture present in the costumes and within the production design is off the charts. Vinegar Syndrome has knocked it out of the park.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of the film comes with the original DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that does everything that is asked of it. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being overshadowed by the sound effects or music. Nothing ever gets too kinetic outside of some scuffles, but every noise is delineated with meaning and precision. The urban environment is brought to life with a din of sound that flows through to provide some impeccable ambient details. All of the various sounds in the mix seem faithfully rendered so that nothing ever feels incongruous. The soundtrack and the moody score from Howard Shore establishes the appropriate tone for this feature that never stumbles in its fidelity. This presentation is clear of any hiss or other age-related wear-and-tear. Vinegar Syndrome has done nice work here. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- The Skinny on Sliver – An Interview with Director Phillip Noyce: A terrific new 33-minute interview with the filmmaker in which he discusses getting a foothold in Hollywood, being chosen to direct Sliver, the peculiarities of working with Sharon Stone, the tension between the actors, the shooting locations, the reaction from test audiences, changing the ending of the film, and more.
- Taking Chances on Sliver – An Interview with Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas: A new 13-minute interview with the screenwriter in which he discusses his somewhat rebellious writing process, his infamous unproduced script, adapting the source material for the screen, working with director Phillip Noyce, and more.
- Re-Marks on Sliver – An Interview with Actress Colleen Camp: A new nine-minute interview with the actress in which she discusses reuniting with Sharon Stone after Police Academy 4, what she brought to her character, minor casting controversies on set, and more.
- Archival Electronic Press Kit Interview Clips: A small selection of archival interviews is presented with the cast discussing the movie in broad terms.
- Sharon Stone (3:45)
- William Baldwin (5:52)
- Tom Berenger (2:44)
- Behind-The-Scenes Footage – From Electronic Press Kit: An eight-minute look at the production of the film.
- Alternate Scenes From The R-Rated Edit: An 11-minute look at the R-rated footage from the film which comes in at a slightly different aspect ratio.
- Still Gallery: A six-minute collection of photos from the production and marketing materials.
- Original Video Trailer (2:35)
- TV Spots (2:13)
Final Thoughts
Sliver is a not the absolute apex of erotic thrillers, but it has a trashy, erratic charm to it that makes it an entertaining watch. The legendary behind-the-scenes drama makes you wonder how this film turned out as good as it did, as there is at least a spark between Sharon Stone and her on-screen counterparts. The narrative is very haphazard, but there are still some strong ideas explored when it comes to the voyeurism angle. It is imperfect yet worth a watch for fans of the subgenre. Vinegar Syndrome has delivered a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a first-rate A/V presentation and a pleasing assortment of special features. If you are a fan of the film, this is a knockout release. Recommended
Sliver 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: Vinegar Syndrome 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.

Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.