THE BIKERIDERS captures a rebellious time in America when the culture and people were changing. After a chance encounter at a local bar, strong-willed Kathy (Comer) is inextricably drawn to Benny (Butler), the newest member of Midwestern motorcycle club the Vandals, led by the enigmatic Johnny (Hardy). Much like the country around it, the club begins to evolve, transforming from a gathering place for local outsiders into a dangerous underworld of violence, forcing Benny to choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club.

For in-depth thoughts on The Bikeriders, please see my colleague Gaius Bolling’s review from its AFI Fest screening here.

Video Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of The Bikeriders offers a favorable uptick in quality over the already enjoyable accompanying Blu-Ray. The increased range of the color spectrum is working to its full effect here. The HDR10 finesses the colors from already bold to pinpoint accurate in the shading. The earthy landscapes keep mostly to dusty tones and pops of green vegetation, but there are nuances throughout each location. There are some brilliant flourishes of color in some of the lighting on display throughout. The highlights in the film are more defined with whites pure and balanced with no instances of blooming to be found. The black levels are particularly strong in this presentation, staying deep and inky with great detail even in the darkest interiors.

Film grain is deftly actualized which allows even more detail to come out of the period production design. It is a treat to see the 35mm film stock rendered to visual perfection for a nostalgic, lived-in aesthetic that suits the narrative. The film grain resolves well so nothing appears to swarm or feel static, and the encode remains solid so there are no compression artifacts or anything of the sort. Skin tones appear more natural with healthy doses of crisp detail apparent on faces such as pores, facial hair, and perspiration. This 4K UHD presentation really delivers on all fronts including strong gains in clarity and color. The Blu-Ray is great, but Universal has delivered another top-tier transfer on this latest 4K release.

Audio Quality

This disc comes equipped with a fantastic Dolby Atmos presentation that translates this world perfectly. Dialogue is forefront and is presented clearly without ever being overshadowed by any of the competing sonic elements. There are moments in this track that really take advantage of the expanded soundscape, even if this might not be a traditional auditory onslaught. There are inventive flourishes within the sound mixing that fare comparably to certain action films.

Sounds are rendered with precise directionality from the more propulsive scenes to the somewhat subdued dialogue-driven moments filled with reserved inflections. The soundtrack of tunes and the score from David Wingo brings a vital warmth to the film. The low end comes alive with the roar of the engines on the open road. The implementation of environmental sounds is executed very effectively. This can be experienced in the height channels that expand the space as necessary. The mix here is very well done with nice engagement of all the channels, which makes this track a winner for fans of the film. There is a vast array of optional subtitles provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Writer/Director Jeff Nichols provides a terrific commentary track in which he discusses first coming across the book that inspired the film, the question of how much to fictionalize, the music that was chosen, recreating iconic images from the book, and more

Johnny, Benny & Kathy: A five-minute featurette that takes a look at the journey to creating a story fit for the screen, the character dynamics, the bonding between the performers, moments discovered on the set, and more.

The Era of The Bikeriders: A three-minute piece that takes a look at the various craft categories that brought this world to life through production design, costumes, and more.

The Filmmaker’s Eye – Jeff Nichols: A three-minute piece on the direction of Jeff Nichols, how he brought his vision to life, and more.

Final Thoughts

The Bikeriders is a stellar example of the type of film we wish we could get more of from the studio system. All you need is an interesting world to explore and some terrific performers to bring the characters to life. Not everything needs to be a big, bombastic spectacle when you have a good script. Jeff Nichols deftly spotlights this era without enforcing a moral judgment on what is occurring. Every element feels genuine, and you are never less than glued to the screen as everything unfolds. This is a standout from the first half of the year. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a wonderful A/V presentation and a few welcome supplemental features. If the idea of a motorcycle drama with some of our best modern performers intrigues you, you are in for a treat. Recommended

The Bikeriders will be available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, and DVD on August 13, 2024. The film is currently available to own on Digital.

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

Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment 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.