Graveyard Shift (1990)

Description

Graveyard Shift – 4K UHD Disc Review

Kino Lorber | 1990 | 86 min | Rated R
Genres: Horror | Supernatural | Thriller

Disc Specs (4K Ultra HD)

• Disc Type: BD-100
• Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
• HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10
• Codec: HEVC / H.265 (71.68 Mbps)
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Audio:
  • English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
  • English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
• Subtitles: English SDH
• Region Coding: Region Free

VIDEO QUALITY: ★★★★☆ (4.0/5)

Kino Lorber brings Graveyard Shift to 4K with a brand-new restoration from the original camera negative, presented in native 2160p and graded for both Dolby Vision and HDR10.

Breakdown:

• Image Clarity & Depth: Visuals are significantly sharper than previous releases, especially in brighter or outdoor scenes. Fine textures on clothing, facial detail, and production design come through well in 4K.
• HDR Performance: Highlights (like the beam of flashlights and daylight peeking into dark rooms) benefit from Dolby Vision grading. Blacks are deep, though some scenes suffer from unnatural sharpness or slight smearing—especially in the darkest moments.
• Color & Contrast: Primaries look stronger, especially reds and blues in lighting or wardrobe. The grimy mill’s beige, yellow, and rust tones have more nuance than before.
• Grain & Restoration Notes: Some light damage remains visible (e.g., faint scratches), but it’s mild. Grain is generally well-managed, though in a few shadowy sequences, it appears overly smoothed or manipulated.

Verdict: A noticeable upgrade over the Blu-ray with better depth, dynamic range, and color, but the grain handling and artificial sharpness in certain scenes keep it from reaching reference quality.

AUDIO QUALITY: ★★★★★ (5.0/5)

This disc includes both a DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround mix and a DTS-HD MA 2.0 stereo track.

Highlights:

• Dialogue Clarity: Excellent across the board. Voices are intelligible and isolated cleanly from environmental noise and effects.
• Atmosphere & Effects: The soundscape in the basement scenes—dripping water, distant scurrying, and unsettling ambient tones—is enhanced nicely in the 5.1 track.
• Surround Dynamics: Rear channels come alive during sequences with the rat horde or industrial machinery, though effects remain front-heavy overall.
• LFE/Subwoofer Action: Bass hits when it needs to—especially in moments of attack or collapsing environments—but don’t expect room-shaking booms.

Verdict: A solid and atmospheric mix, especially in 5.1. No weird anomalies, dropouts, or compression artifacts. If you want a more vintage experience, the 2.0 track retains that classic VHS-style soundstage.

SPECIAL FEATURES (on 4K disc)

• ️ Audio Commentary by Howard S. Berger & Marc Edward Heuck
  A thoughtful, film-literate track that explores the adaptation’s divergence from Stephen King’s short story, how the film developed a cult identity, and the ‘90s genre film landscape it existed within.

OVERALL SCORE: ★★★☆☆ (3.0/5)

Kino Lorber’s 4K disc of Graveyard Shift is a mixed bag that genre fans may still want to own:

✅ Pros:

• Native 4K restoration with Dolby Vision and HDR10
• Solid 5.1 surround mix
• Thoughtful audio commentary
• Improved color and detail vs. past releases

❌ Cons:

• Occasional digital harshness and grain smoothing in dark scenes
• The film itself hasn’t aged well and lacks the “Stephen King magic”
• Only one new feature (commentary) on the 4K disc; most extras are on the Blu-ray

RECOMMENDED for Stephen King completists, ‘90s horror collectors, and fans of creature feature B-movies with practical FX charm. Casual viewers may want to stream it first or stick to the Blu-ray if 4K isn’t essential.