‘The Chronicles Of Riddick’ Arrow Video 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review – A 5-Star Release For An Ambitious Sequel

Following the sleeper success of their breakthrough sci-fi/horror smash Pitch Black, writer-director David Twohy and star Vin Diesel reunited for 2004’s action-packed The Chronicles of Riddick, an expansive and ambitious sequel that took their eponymous antihero to the farthest reaches of the galaxy.

Riddick (Diesel) is an intergalactic fugitive whose dark past catches up with him when he is lured out of hiding by Imam (Keith David, The Thing), another survivor of the planet of horrors they barely escaped from five years earlier. Now out of the shadows, Riddick is identified by an ethereal emissary (Academy Award winner Dame Judi Dench) as the descendant of an ancient race of warriors who may be the universe’s last hope against the Necromongers, an evil army of fanatics intent on bending the world to their will. As enemies close in on all sides, including the ruthless Lord Marshal (Colm Feore, Thor) and his scheming lieutenant Vaako (Karl Urban, The Boys), Riddick finds himself a reluctant saviour of the cosmos, with only his razor-sharp wits and cunning killer instinct standing in the way of total annihilation.

At long last, Twohy and Diesel’s hard-hitting outer-space epic has been restored in glorious 4K, with hours of incisive bonus features exploring every detail of this densely-constructed and masterfully-executed mythology.

For thoughts on The Chronicles of Riddick, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: 

Video Quality

Arrow Films presents The Chronicles of Riddick with a stellar 2160p transfer in its original 2.40:1 aspect ratio for both the Theatrical Cut and the Director’s Cut sourced from a 16-bit 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative in 4K HDR/Dolby Vision approved by David Twohy. Additional 2K master files were sourced for the sections unique to the Director’s Cut. There is also a version of the theatrical cut available in an alternate aspect ratio of 1.78:1 that is provided in 4K UHD exclusively in the limited edition set. Arrow is one of the leading labels delivering dynamite 4K UHD presentations, and this release is another example of their exemplary work. Fans who have been waiting for this to be upgraded are blessed with a remarkable presentation.  

One of the most obvious upgrades for this film is the application of Dolby Vision for a refined color output that takes this visually dazzling spectacle and allows it to reach its full potential. The new restoration harnesses the cosmic colors that are presented with the proper nuance and complexity. Costumes and armor saturate the screen along with lighting choices with a nice depth. This new transfer features virtually nothing in the way of print damage. This 5-star presentation always appears natural with the added resolution bringing out more life within the environment. No serious digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or other such nuisances make an appearance. The unique footage in the Director’s Cut brings about a slight downgrade in the overall image, but the narrative benefits make up for it. 

The presentation retains the perfect amount of natural film grain that helps bring out the intergalactic textural details of the various worlds. The grain is consistent without ever swarming or becoming clumpy. The textures on display in the outfits and within the environments are unbelievable. This disc handles every location from the snowy planet we first find Riddick to the opulent palaces with the same level of care. The black levels are perfectly deep with nothing in the way of crush present, and highlights show no evidence of blooming even when they are pushed very hot for creative effect. The enhanced detail and clarity will allow you to pick up elements of the production design you may not have noticed before. Arrow Video continues to be a dream for film fans. 

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with a new Dolby Atmos track for the Theatrical Cut along with the original DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio surround sound track for both cuts which each capture this film masterfully. We love that the label took the care to cater to audiophiles who desire the most out of their sound systems along with purists. The Atmos track is a monster with a great sense of directionality deploying sounds from the appropriate channels. The new height channels are a game changer in certain moments as they support the environmental sounds that feel more overwhelming flying over you. The film has plenty of memorable action sequences that slingshot the low end into gear. 

Dialogue comes through clearly in the front channel without being clipped by any sound effects or score. The score captures the epic tone of the narrative which fills the speakers well. The music adds a formidable presence that makes the movie feel like it is working. There are no issues with fidelity or damage to the tracks. The movie is filled with an abundance of environmental sounds that come alive in the channels. This audio presentation is everything you could ask from this film short of also having Atmos on the Director’s Cut. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided. 

Special Features

The first pressing of the Arrow Video 4K UHD Blu-Ray of The Chronicles of Riddick includes a 44-page booklet featuring new writing on the film by Walter Chaw, original production notes and the ‘Chronicles Compendium’, an overview of the characters and planets featured in the film. These works provide a great analysis of the film and the talent at large in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows: 

Disc One – Theatrical Cut (4K UHD)

• Ambition On Another Scale – Chronicling A Blockbuster Sequel: An epic new 74-minute documentary featuring new interviews with writer-director David Twohy, actors Keith David and Linus Roache, storyboard artist Brian Murray, miniature effects artist Ian Hunter, and concept artist Matt Codd that allow for an oral history of the conception, production, and release of this ambitious sequel. 

• Realizing Riddick: A new 14-minute interview with writer-director David Twohy in which the filmmaker discusses the audience’s reaction to the Riddick character in the first film, building the world out in the sequel, cutting back the scale to keep the studio happy, working with composer Graeme Revell, the tie-in video game, and more. 

• Back To Black: A new 11-minute interview with storyboard artist Brian Murray in which he discusses the place this film has in his work, getting goosebumps from the opening scene, differences from the original David Twohy script, and more. 

• Chronicles of a Cult Film Celebrity: A new nearly 11-minute interview with actor Keith David in which he reflects on his journey with the franchise, Vin Diesel staying true to his word, the place of his character in the story, what he tries to bring to his characters, and more. 

• Trailer Gallery: This disc provides the Teaser Trailer (1:28) and the Theatrical Trailer (2:22).

Disc Two – Director’s Cut (4K UHD)

• Commentaries: Two archival commentary tracks are provided.

• • Audio Commentary #1: David Twohy and Vin Diesel

• • Audio Commentary #2: David Twohy and co-stars Karl Urban and Alexa Davelos

• Introduction by David Twohy: A 48-second introduction in which Twohy discusses how the Director’s Cut was created. 

• Creation of New Mecca: An 11-minute archival piece focused on the creation of Helion Prime with its production design and special effects along with the inhabitants that populate it. There are some decent insights from the cast and creative team. 

• Riddick Rises: A nearly 14-minute archival piece focused on the prison planet of Crematoria and the evolution of Riddick from the first film with insights from the cast and creative team. 

• Keep What You Will: Another nearly 18-minute archival piece focused on the world of the Necromongers with insights from the cast and creative team about the production design, characters, and more.

• Visual Effects Revealed: A six-minute archival featurette on the visual effects of the film. 

• Interactive Production Calendar: A nearly 25-minute production diary is provided. 

• Production Vignettes: A 34-minute collection of production videos that played on previous releases as a picture-in-picture experience. 

• Deleted Scenes: There are three unused scenes totaling nearly eight minutes provided with optional audio commentary from David Twohy. 

• Virtual Guide to The Chronicles of Riddick: Thirteen short videos totaling 8 minutes of animated characters explaining the world of the film. 

• Toombs’ Chase Log: A ten-minute short film narrated by actor Nick Chinlund as Toombs. 

• Vin Diesel Guided Tour: Get a three-minute tour of the set with Vin Diesel. 

• Riddick’s Worlds: Eight spaces are given a brief visual exploration. 

• On-Set Interviews

• • Vin Diesel (3:24)

• • Dame Judi Dench (2:44)

• • Thandiwe Newton (3:17)

• • Karl Urban (3:29)

• • Colm Feore (3:05)

• • Alexa Davelos (1:43)

• • David Twohy (2:31)

• • Scott Kroopf (1:40)

• Promotional Interviews

• • Vin Diesel (3:10)

• • Thandiwe Newton (2:18)

• • Karl Urban (3:27)

• • Alexa Davelos (3:50)

• • Colm Feore (4:53)

• • David Twohy (4:22) 

Disc Three – Theatrical Cut Alternate 1.78:1 Open Matte Aspect Ratio (4K UHD)

• Escape From Butcher Bay: A 34-minute compilation of cut scenes from the 2004 tie-in video game Escape from Butcher Bay featuring the voices of Vin Diesel, Cole Hauser, Kristen Lehman, Ron Perlman, Michael Rooker, and Xzibit. 

• The Lowdown: A 22-minute television special from 2004 that delivers interviews with the cast and creative team. This is not filled with tons of unique material, but it is great to have for completists. 

Final Thoughts

The Chronicles of Riddick is an ambitious follow-up to a relatively modest story that expands the universe with deep lore that can be hard to keep up with on an initial watch. Vin Diesel is a charismatic presence who helps keep this convoluted tale on the rails. The attention paid to production value is first-rate with lavish production design and distinct costumes. It’s not a perfect movie, but it is an engaging big swing that we respect. Arrow Video has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring an incredible A/V presentation and an abundance of special features. If you are a fan of the film, this is the type of release you have been dreaming about for years. Recommended 

The Chronicles of Riddick 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: Arrow Video 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.