The elegiac last film by John Huston finds the legendary director adapting a masterly short story by his favorite writer, James Joyce, into a poignant reflection on the totality of life. During a snowy winter in turn-of-the-twentieth-century Dublin, the members of an extended family convene for a night of wine, song, and celebration—but it’s not until after the festivities that Gretta (Anjelica Huston) reveals a secret to her husband (Donal McCann) that casts the entire evening in a new light. Aglow with a mix of nostalgia and melancholy, and featuring a cast of stellar Irish actors, The Dead gracefully evokes the passage of time and the haunting power of memory.
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Video Quality
The Criterion Collection presents The Dead with an exquisite 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR transfer in its original 1.85:1 sourced from a 4K restoration of the 35mm Original Camera Negative that has never been released domestically on Blu-Ray, so the jump straight to 4K UHD is an unexpected boost for fans of the film. The utilization of Dolby Vision provides an unbelievable presentation that we would find hard to top. Any potential print damage is nowhere to be found thanks to the careful restoration. This transfer preserves the natural film grain as it resolves effortlessly, allowing for subtle details to spring forth. Elements of the period clothing and production design reveal subtle ridges. There are no signs of grain reduction or digital manipulation, as you get a consistent sheen that resolves evenly without swarming or clumping.
With the application of Dolby Vision, there is a deep complexity to the color palette, and every space within the home and fleeting excursions outside appear to be properly brought to life. The wintry landscape is quite striking, but the film also provides warm splashes of color in elements such as the lighting, some of the outfits, and background elements. The transfer has a confident sterling of the contrast. Highlights are handled favorably without any blooming as light sources are illuminated with ideal restraint. The prevalence of shadows and darkness is not an issue, as every space maintains its depth and does not suffer from crush or noise. This transfer is a virtually flawless effort for fans of the film.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a remastered DTS-HD 4.0 Master Audio surround sound track (in a DTS-HD 5.1 MA container), which represents this story wonderfully. The diegetic piano playing, the score, and other flourishes are used perfectly within the feature, and this track delivers every element without any stumbling blocks throughout the film. There is a sparse amount of low end texture, as this is not a particularly raucous story. Dialogue emanates crisp and clear primarily from the center channel. Environmental sounds are elegantly brought to life alongside everything else. There is no threat of them overwhelming vital information, and it maintains a proper balance so that dialogue comes through without issue. There does not appear to be any troublesome instances of age-related wear and tear. The Criterion Collection has given this film a first-rate audio experience. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.
Special Features
The Criterion 4K UHD Blu-Ray of The Dead includes a bound booklet featuring an essay by author and film critic Michael Koresky and a 1987 piece by screenwriter Tony Huston about the making of the film that is very illuminating. The on-disc special features are as follows:
- Colum McCann: A new 24-minute interview with the Irish author who explores James Joyce’s 1914 short story that inspired the film, the myriad of themes that make up the story, how John Huston’s film functions as an adaptation, and more.
- Anjelica Huston: A 13-minute audio piece in which the actress reads an excerpt from her 2014 memoir Watch Me, in which she shares memories of her father and the making of The Dead. This is accompanied by some amazing archival photos and clips from the film.
- John Huston and the Dubliners: An hour-long documentary directed by Lilyan Sievernich from 1987 that has been newly restored by The Criterion Collection and provides an expansive look at the production of the film and John Huston’s collaboration with his cast and crew. There are amazing conversations with the legendary filmmaker that allow you to understand why this was such an important project for him. The new restoration is gorgeous.
Final Thoughts
The Dead is a lovely final feature for the legendary John Huston, who tackles one of his most intimate films with the confidence of a seasoned veteran. The melodrama is kept to a minimum as our characters reveal so much about themselves through relatively mundane exchanges. The power comes from the familiarity they have with one another, coupled with the heightened emotions of the holiday season. Every little moment stacks on top of one another to reach an emotional crescendo that lingers long after the credits have finished rolling. It is a profound gem that resonates deeply. The Criterion Collection has delivered a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray that offers a first-rate A/V presentation and a valuable collection of special features. Recommended
The Criterion Collection edition of The Dead is now available to purchase on 4K UHD and Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: The Criterion Collection 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
