In the new action-comedy THE KILLER’S GAME, when top hit man Joe Flood (Dave Bautista) is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he decides to take matters into his own hands – by taking a hit out on himself. But when the very hit men he hired also target his ex-girlfriend (Sofia Boutella), he must fend off an army of assassin colleagues and win back the love of his life before it’s too late.

For in-depth thoughts on The Killer’s Game, please see my colleague Phil Walsh’s review from its original theatrical debut here.

Video Quality

The Killer’s Game arrives with a 2160p/Dolby Vision presentation in 2.00:1 on this 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc that more than does the trick. The 4K presentation provides a depth of field that cannot be conjured as well with the accompanying Blu-Ray. This transfer reveals an impressive amount of detail in the discrete facets of the production design and articles of clothing. Skin tones look exceptionally consistent throughout and show a great amount of facial detail including stubble and bruises. The increase in detail in every lighting condition is a major benefit.

The implementation of Dolby Vision is a huge win for this film as you hone in on precise colors. Hues look more natural in this presentation with splashes of vibrant production design and key light sources emanating off the screen with force. This presentation thrives with black levels that are deep and detailed with digital noise absent from the screen. None of the shadowy moments show signs of crush. Brighter scenes during the day dazzle with intense clarity and a strong handle of highlights that show no indications of blooming. This is a first-rate 4K UHD presentation that represents the film quite well.

Audio Quality

This disc comes equipped with a forceful Dolby Atmos presentation that brings this to life with great skill. The sound design of this film is quite dynamic, and the implementation of environmental sounds is executed very effectively. The low end is engaged consistently during the action set pieces that have gunfire kicking like a mule. The track is truly enveloping with sounds of chaos exploding through in a way that dominates the height channels.

Sounds are deftly rendered with precise directionality from the more kinetic scenes to the dialogue-driven expository moments. These exchanges are presented clearly without ever being overshadowed by any of the competing sonic elements. The score conjures the appropriate tone that complements the emotional stakes. The mix here is well done with top-tier engagement of all the channels, so those with a good system should be pleased. Optional English, English SDH, and Spanish subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Meet Joe Flood: A six-minute piece that takes a look at our lead character, the charismatic qualities of Dave Bautista, and more.
The Conductor: A five-minute look at the work of director J.J. Perry and his work with the performers.

World of Assassins: A nearly seven-minute showcase of the ragtag group of killers and the people who play them.

Killed It!: A seven-minute featurette on the practical stunt work and action set pieces executed in the film.

Theatrical Trailer: The two-and-a-half-minute red-band trailer is provided.

Final Thoughts

The Killer’s Game is fairly forgettable as an action film, but it has enough elements that work to make it a decently entertaining watch. If you want to watch charismatic performers get into unbelievable scrapes with a healthy dose of pithy humor, this mostly delivers. The script saddles the film with fairly rote dialogue and underdeveloped characters, but the performers are largely able to salvage the experience. If you know what you are getting into, this is a good mindless watch. Lionsgate Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray that sports a phenomenal A/V presentation and some fine special features.

The Killer’s Game is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital. There is a 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook available exclusively at Amazon.

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

Disclaimer: Lionsgate 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.