In 2011, Ostia is the subject of a giant real estate project intended to make the harbor of Ancient Rome the Las Vegas of today. But the place soon becomes a battlefield where criminals and politicians either join forces cynically or fight each other ruthlessly. The infernal showdown will last seven days, claiming many lives.

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Video Quality

Suburra arrives on Blu-Ray in a tremendous 1080p transfer which proves to be even more dazzling than the rich visuals that director Stefano Sollima and cinematographer Paolo Carnera conjured on Gomorrah. This feature is taken to another level thanks to its decision to shoot on location in some of the most gorgeous locations in the world. Every setting looks impeccable in high definition with subtle nuances in every frame. Distinct textures define the modern production design and costumes for a very tactile experience. Skin tones look natural with facial details such as stubble easily observed in close-ups, and there are no digital anomalies to speak of from what we observed. The presentation does not suffer from compression and black levels remain rock solid. The color palette is bold and vivid with brilliant moments of flashy lighting saturating the screen. You could not ask for better from Unearthed Films

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray set comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track and an LPCM 2.0 track that both handle this material fabulously. The tracks are presented in the original Italian with optional English subtitles. The film features some notable sequences of brutality that dig deep when it is necessary to the narrative. The M83 soundtrack and other elements of the score are a highlight of the film, and every tune comes through with flawless fidelity as it permeates the room. The dialogue mostly stays anchored in the center channel and is reproduced clearly. There is some unforgettable ambient activity in the mix as we follow these characters in this fraught urban environment. Certain moments are especially kinetic in the surround channels with sounds emanating from the appropriate directions. The track does a good job of making sure neither sound effects nor the score ever overpowers dialogue. This track never falters at any point.

Special Features

The Making Of Suburra: There is a terrific 19-part documentary totaling 128 minutes that goes in-depth into nearly every aspect of the production including the development of the story, the casting of this world, the locations, crafting various scenes, the character dynamics, and much more you will not want to miss.

Production Gallery: A 10-minute gallery of stills from the film is provided.

Trailers: There is a Teaser Trailer (1:12) and a Theatrical Trailer (1:26) provided for Suburra.

Final Thoughts

Suburra is a dynamite crime film that plunges you into its world and makes a meal out of untangling motivations and allegiances throughout its robust runtime. Director Stefano Sollima has proven himself to be a major talent both on the small screen and in his transition to feature films, deftly balancing a strong eye for visuals with his ability to get to the essence of a narrative no matter how dense. There are certain threads we do not completely love, and the representation of women in this is threadbare, but overall this is a very engaging piece of work. Unearthed Films has released a Blu-Ray that offers a stellar A/V presentation and a staggering making-of documentary. If you love intricate crime dramas, you will have a great time here. Highly Recommended

Suburra is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.

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

Disclaimer: Unearthed 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.