Since WWII, Calvin Barr has lived with the secret that he was responsible for the assassination of Adolf Hitler. Now, decades later, the US government has called on him again for a new top-secret mission. Bigfoot has been living deep in the Canadian wilderness and is carrying a deadly plague that is now threatening to spread to the general population. Relying on the same skills that he honed during the war, Calvin must set out to save the free world yet again. Starring Sam Elliott (A Star is Born), Aidan Turner (“Poldark”), Caitlin FitzGerald (“Masters of Sex”) and Ron Livingston (Office Space), THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT follows the epic adventures of an American legend that no one has ever heard of.

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[youtube https://youtu.be/66A22AvMBjM?si=jmwz9S8z-HHnuzU5&t=4221]

Video Quality

The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot comes to 4K UHD Blu-Ray several years after the film debuted on Blu-Ray in 2019. We were unsure if the 4K UHD release would ever get a domestic release, but we are thrilled to have such a wonderful 2160p transfer even without HDR. RLJE Entertainment is a bit inconsistent when it comes to including HDR with their 4K UHD releases, but you still see plenty of improvements even when it is not available. The biggest benefit comes from the handling of the encode as black levels showcase less digital noise and fleeting compression artifacts. Where there is a bit of murkiness during the nighttime sequences on the Blu-Ray, the 4K UHD Blu-Ray resolves more favorably.

The cinematography in both periods spotlights some rich colors within the environments such as the shades of green within the forest and some of the uniforms. The resplendent saturation throughout allows for nuanced hues that bring more out of the picture. Skin tones are perfectly natural throughout with some amazing facets present in certain shots. The level of detail is improved somewhat, but there is not a jaw-dropping shift in texture. Every element from the ridges of the production design to the texture of the titular beast is rendered well. The special effects are implemented in a way that blends seamlessly. RLJE Entertainment has made fans happy with this one.

Audio Quality

The film comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that delivers a top-tier listening experience. Environmental effects are vital within the film, and this track captures and translates each sound with the utmost care. This track offers up an expansive world replete with unique sonic details across the decades. Directionality is precise so sounds typically present as natural when emanating from their respective points. Dialogue comes through clearly without being overshadowed by any of the other sounds. Activity in the low end digs deep when it needs to, but this is not as action-packed as you may imagine from the title. The score maintains a nice fidelity that suits the film well. RLJE has delivered a formidable track that serves the film well. There are English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles for those who desire them.

Special Features

RLJE Entertainment has provided The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot with a sleek new SteelBook exclusively available at Walmart that is gorgeous in person. The front artwork is an image of Calvin emerging from the woods, and the rear features more of the woods. The interior sports a still photo of Calvin in the woods with a gun. Photos of the SteelBook can be found at the bottom of this review.

Audio Commentary: Writer/Director Robert D. Krzykowski provides a deeply informative commentary track in which he discusses the film scene by scene as he delves into the production, working with Sam Elliott, developing different moments of the script, limitations he placed on himself as a first-time filmmaker, and more that is worth a watch if you like the film.

The Making of The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot: A 39-minute featurette is provided in which the cast and creative team discuss the creation of this story, the themes of the story, the casting of the feature, the direction of Robert D. Krzykowski, and more.

A Conversation with Composer Joe Kraemer: A six-minute conversation with the composer in which he discusses getting involved with Robert D. Krzykowski, his reaction to the script, developing the music for the project, and more.

Deleted Scenes: Nine minutes of unused material is provided here of minor moments that did not make the final cut but are interesting to watch.

Elsie Hooper Short Film: A nearly six-minute black-and-white short film is provided that is created using puppetry. Don’t skip this one!

Final Thoughts

The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot is one hell of a title that lures you in with a certain level of expectation. While the movie title is not false advertising, the film is much more focused on being a character study of age and regret rather than being a gnarly genre picture. Sam Elliott is in top form as our protagonist who has the weight of the world on his shoulders. This is a terrific picture that wades in unexpectedly rich narrative waters. RLJE Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a fantastic A/V presentation and a welcome array of special features, all in a gorgeous new SteelBook package. Everyone should at least give it a watch to experience it for yourself. Recommended

The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook exclusively at Walmart.

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

Disclaimer: RLJE 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.