‘Streets Of Fire’ 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review – An Incomparable Rock & Roll Action Fantasy

Amid a brooding rock & roll landscape, the Bombers motorcycle gang, led by the vicious Raven Shaddock (Willem Dafoe, John Wick), kidnap diva Ellen Aim (Diane Lane, Man Of Steel). Her hope for rescue lies with unlikely heroes: soldier of fortune Tom Cody (Michael Paré, Bad Moon) and his sidekick, the two-fisted beer-guzzling McCoy (Amy Madigan, The Dark Half). Joined by Ellen’s manager, Billy Fish (Rick Moranis, Ghostbusters), the trio plunges headfirst into a world of rain-splattered streets, hot cars, and deadly assassins.

This cult favorite features a razor-sharp cast and original songs written by Jim Steinman, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty and Ry Cooder and performed by The Blasters and The Fixx. Directed by cult filmmaker Walter Hill (The Warriors, Southern Comfort, 48 Hrs.), Streets of Fire is a rock & roll shotgun blast to the senses.

For thoughts on Streets of Fire, please check out my piece on The Video Attic:  

[youtube https://youtu.be/aZzGzUFbAHY?si=pVeELpHnHlb9kiVQ&t=708]

Video Quality

Shout! Studios presents Streets of Fire with an awe-inspiring 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative with Dolby Vision/HDR. One of the most stunning achievements of the disc is the application of HDR for increased color output that will dazzle longtime fans with its depth and nuance. While the film takes place in primarily shadowy areas and during the night for extended portions of the narrative, there is a world of nuance to be found during the daytime scenes and other well-lit locales. The new presentation features some colors in the production design and effects such as the concert lighting or fiery explosions that radiate off the screen with a notable intensity. Lighting is an essential part of establishing the vibe of this film and this disc handles every slight environmental change with ease. Black levels are outstanding with nothing in the way of crush present, and highlights are solid as a rock with no evidence of blooming. 

The texture on display in the grimy production design and the outfits are unbelievable. The environmental effects such as wet streets seem more tactile now. This transfer does not register almost anything in the way of print damage. This presentation is true to the original look of the film with the added resolution making elements seem more defined and natural. The level of detail and clarity is a wonder with an excellent amount of natural film grain intact. The grain resolves incredibly well with nothing ever feeling clumpy or swarming even during smoky or murky environments. There do not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such nuisances. This presentation is a top-tier effort from the team at Shout! Studios. 

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a new Dolby Atmos track along with the previously released DTS-HD 4.1 and 2.0 Master Audio tracks, all of which serve up exactly what the movie deserves The previous excellent DTS tracks have been available for a while, so I’ll focus on the new Dolby Atmos track. From the very opening moments of the concert, the new track provides a formidable soundscape that perfectly captures the artistic intent with a fidelity that is perfectly maintained. The environmental sounds such as the roar of motorcycles or explosions are rendered well alongside everything else. 

The height channels are put to good use during the concerts to make you feel as if you are there in person. Other distinct elements show off how to tastefully apply this distribution of sound overhead. The score has never sounded richer and is used flawlessly to drive the story forward. There is never a moment where it threatens to overwhelm competing sounds, and it maintains a fine balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. There are not any noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear. Shout! Studios has given fans a whole new way to experience the feature with an audio presentation that is not to be missed. English SDH subtitles are provided for those who want them.

Special Features

• Shotguns & Six Strongs – The Making Of A Rock n Roll Fable: A terrific 100-minute documentary ported over from the previous 2017 Shout! Factory Blu-Ray release is provided here featuring interviews with Director/Co-writer Walter Hill, Producer Lawrence Gordon, Actors Michael Paré, Deborah Van Valkenburgh, Richard Lawson, Elizabeth Daily, Lee Ving, Screenwriter Larry Gross, Editor Freeman Davies, Associate Producer Mae Woods, Art Director James Allen, Costume Designer Marilyn Vance, Assistant Director David Sosna, Choreographer Jeffrey Hornaday, Sound Editor Richard Anderson, Music Producer Kenny Vance and many more. This combs through nearly every element of the production you could want to know with tons of great insights from the participants. 

• Rumble On The Lot – Walter Hill’s Streets of Fire Revisited: Just when you think you have learned everything, you get another 83-minute documentary previously included on the Koch Media and Second Sight discs overseas featuring interviews with Director/Co-writer Walter Hill, Actor Michael Paré, Amy Madigan and Art Director James Allen. There is the expected overlap, but there are a lot of great insights you will not want to miss. 

• Vintage Featurettes: A five-part, 11-minute collection of vintage featurettes is provided which is more promotional than the previous documentaries. 

• Music Videos: Three music videos totaling nearly 15 minutes are provided here. 

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

• On-Air Promos: A 13-minute collection of vintage promotional pieces is provided here featuring some on-set interviews. 

• Still Gallery: A nearly 11-minute gallery of stills from the production, promotional materials, and more. 

Final Thoughts

Streets of Fire is a rock-and-roll action fantasy that balances the blending of genres impeccably to offer up a tremendously fun time. Walter Hill controls this tonally as he embraces the counter-culture spirit of the text with an enjoyable recklessness while delivering a truly menacing adversary to establish real stakes. Michael Paré feels the slightest bit out of his league compared to the other performers, but everyone works well with one another. The music is incredibly catchy and helps the movie find its identity. This movie simply works, and it is one that you can return to time and time again while finding new things to love each outing. Shout! Studios has provided the film with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts a terrific A/V presentation and an assortment of special features that are not to be missed. Even if you already own this one on Blu-Ray, you owe it to yourself to upgrade and see this film in its ultimate presentation. Highly Recommended 

Streets of Fire (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: Shout! Studios 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.