Pulp Fiction stars Uma Thurman and Samuel L. Jackson are back in The Kill Room, a dark comedy/crime-thriller about a hitman, his boss, an art dealer, and a scheme that accidentally turns one of them into an overnight art world sensation.
Patrice Capullo (Thurman, Kill Bill: Vol. I and Vol. 2) has a big problem – her art gallery isn’t making money. Gordon Davis (Jackson, The Avengers, The Hateful Eight) has an even bigger problem: while arranging hits for the mob is lucrative, he and his “colleague” Reggie Pitt (Joe Manganiello, Magic Mike, True Blood) need a better way to launder their money. A chance introduction through Patrice’s drug dealer facilitates the art world meeting the underworld … and a plan is hatched. There’s one hitch: Patrice needs something to sell. With that, Reggie taps into his inner artist and makes a painting that immediately sells for an incredibly high price. But when the noteworthy price for this new mystery artist accidentally leaks, the art career of “The Bagman” is born, attracting attention, press … and a target on his back.
For thoughts on The Kill Room, please see my colleague Phoenix Clouden’s review from its theatrical release here.
Video Quality
The Kill Room arrives on 4K UHD Blu-Ray courtesy of Shout! Studios. The release offers an appreciated uptick in quality over the accompanying Blu-Ray, even if it might not be a night and day difference. The 4K UHD presentation thrives with strong gains in clarity that cannot be taken for granted. There are some really nifty production design flourishes and makeup effects featured in the film which you value with this transfer. Every location with distinct lighting is handled with the utmost precision you expect from the format. The use of Dolby Vision allows scenes to look their best. The increased range of the color spectrum is put to good work with a greater sense of accuracy compared to the Blu-Ray.
The most formidable gains in this presentation come from the contrast and color. The highlights in the film are firmly defined with whites more pure and balanced with no instances of blooming that we noticed. Moments in the film taking place in shadows or the cover of darkness are more vivid and finely delineated. Black levels are a treat in this presentation, staying deep and inky with great detail. Any instances of compression artifacts and banding present on the Blu-Ray are not an issue with this 4K UHD disc. The Blu-Ray gets the job done, but Shout! Studios levels up with the format upgrade.
Audio Quality
This 4K UHD Blu-Ray release sports a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 lossless track that captures this material just right. The narrative allows room for kinetic sequences to show off with an inviting sound design that is never inauthentic. Activity in the low end digs deep and does not falter when it comes to strength. The dialogue flows clearly from the center channel without getting drowned out by the music or any sound effects. This disc deftly brings the thrills to life with nuance and clarity of sound worthy of the mix. The sounds of each new location saturate your side and rear speakers for a fully three-dimensional experience. Every sound is thoughtfully placed for maximum effectiveness. The score utilized in the film comes through with a rich fidelity. The track engages the necessary channels with sound effects and ambient noise that push the level of immersion to great heights. Shout! Studios has treated this one well. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided on this disc.
Special Features
- Trailer: The two-and-a-half-minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
The Kill Room is a clever satire that deftly explores the baffling corners of the art world in which a select few get to judge whether art has value. The film is a bit tonally manic in the early part of the narrative, yet in settles into a nice groove once all the pieces of the plot start coming together and we get to understand more about the characters. The situations are a bit outrageous, but the cultural commentary lands while remaining very fun throughout. All three of the main cast members do a good job of making sure this movie works. Shout! Studios has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring an excellent A/V presentation but barely anything in the way of special features. If the cast or plot intrigues you, definitely give it a chance. Recommended
The Kill Room is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, and DVD.
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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.