What Lies Beneath (2000) – 4K Ultra HD Disc Review
“He was the perfect husband until his one mistake followed them home.”
Format: 4K UHD | ️ Release Date: May 6, 2025
️ Distributor: Scream Factory | Cinematography: Don Burgess
⏱️ Runtime: 130 minutes | Rated PG-13
Genres: Supernatural • Psychological Thriller • Mystery • Horror
From a fresh 4K scan of the original 35mm negative and approved by cinematographer Don Burgess, this Dolby Vision presentation is a revelation in shadow and nuance. The HDR subtly lifts the film’s shadowy palette with refined detail, avoiding the waxy look common in older masters.
Natural grain is preserved, and the darker indoor scenes—like the Spencer home and foggy exteriors—shine with mood and atmosphere. Dolby Vision highlights, like reflections on water and spectral lighting, are luminous without overexposing.
This is the best the film has ever looked—a chillingly elegant transfer that enhances Zemeckis’ Hitchcockian visual intent.
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Native 4K | HDR: Dolby Vision / HDR10
Disc Size: BD-100 | Bitrate: 84.4 Mbps (video), 93.3 Mbps (overall)
Region: 4K UHD – Region Free
Presented in:
The 5.1 mix is mostly front-loaded, with occasional surround immersion—notably during thunderstorms, Silvestri’s swelling score, and moments of ghostly suspense. Dialog is generally clean, though volume boosting (+3–5 dB) is often needed.
The 2.0 mix retains clarity and sounds closer to the film’s original theatrical experience. Bass is moderate but effective when used.
Recommended Track: 2.0 for purists, 5.1 for cinematic presence
Subtitles: English SDH (minor transcription errors noted)
Disc 1 (4K UHD):
Disc 2 (Blu-ray): Rented Seperatley
What Lies Beneath is a well-crafted, high-gloss ghost story with clear influences from Hitchcock and Polanski, but it leans too heavily on homage over originality. While the script teeters between supernatural thrills and domestic noir, Michelle Pfeiffer is the undeniable anchor of the film—elegant, vulnerable, and magnetic.
Ford is solid but emotionally distant, which works thematically but makes the final act feel more mechanical than haunting. Alan Silvestri’s score, though eerily effective, borders on pastiche—intentionally modeled after Bernard Herrmann.
The scares are stylized and deliberate, but the narrative loses steam once its biggest mystery is revealed.
Verdict: Beautifully made, but narratively hollow.
✅ VIDEO: Reference quality transfer
✅ AUDIO: Solid, but could use remastering depth
✅ EXTRAS: Robust, with a superb new documentary
⚠️ FILM: Handsome thriller with a hollow soul
Recommended for collectors, fans of Pfeiffer/Zemeckis, or fans of elegant suspense. This 25th Anniversary set is a definitive edition for a divisive but undeniably well-produced supernatural thriller.
$29.99
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What Lies Beneath (2000) – 4K Ultra HD Disc Review
“He was the perfect husband until his one mistake followed them home.”
Format: 4K UHD | ️ Release Date: May 6, 2025
️ Distributor: Scream Factory | Cinematography: Don Burgess
⏱️ Runtime: 130 minutes | Rated PG-13
Genres: Supernatural • Psychological Thriller • Mystery • Horror
From a fresh 4K scan of the original 35mm negative and approved by cinematographer Don Burgess, this Dolby Vision presentation is a revelation in shadow and nuance. The HDR subtly lifts the film’s shadowy palette with refined detail, avoiding the waxy look common in older masters.
Natural grain is preserved, and the darker indoor scenes—like the Spencer home and foggy exteriors—shine with mood and atmosphere. Dolby Vision highlights, like reflections on water and spectral lighting, are luminous without overexposing.
This is the best the film has ever looked—a chillingly elegant transfer that enhances Zemeckis’ Hitchcockian visual intent.
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Native 4K | HDR: Dolby Vision / HDR10
Disc Size: BD-100 | Bitrate: 84.4 Mbps (video), 93.3 Mbps (overall)
Region: 4K UHD – Region Free
Presented in:
The 5.1 mix is mostly front-loaded, with occasional surround immersion—notably during thunderstorms, Silvestri’s swelling score, and moments of ghostly suspense. Dialog is generally clean, though volume boosting (+3–5 dB) is often needed.
The 2.0 mix retains clarity and sounds closer to the film’s original theatrical experience. Bass is moderate but effective when used.
Recommended Track: 2.0 for purists, 5.1 for cinematic presence
Subtitles: English SDH (minor transcription errors noted)
Disc 1 (4K UHD):
Disc 2 (Blu-ray): Rented Seperatley
What Lies Beneath is a well-crafted, high-gloss ghost story with clear influences from Hitchcock and Polanski, but it leans too heavily on homage over originality. While the script teeters between supernatural thrills and domestic noir, Michelle Pfeiffer is the undeniable anchor of the film—elegant, vulnerable, and magnetic.
Ford is solid but emotionally distant, which works thematically but makes the final act feel more mechanical than haunting. Alan Silvestri’s score, though eerily effective, borders on pastiche—intentionally modeled after Bernard Herrmann.
The scares are stylized and deliberate, but the narrative loses steam once its biggest mystery is revealed.
Verdict: Beautifully made, but narratively hollow.
✅ VIDEO: Reference quality transfer
✅ AUDIO: Solid, but could use remastering depth
✅ EXTRAS: Robust, with a superb new documentary
⚠️ FILM: Handsome thriller with a hollow soul
Recommended for collectors, fans of Pfeiffer/Zemeckis, or fans of elegant suspense. This 25th Anniversary set is a definitive edition for a divisive but undeniably well-produced supernatural thriller.
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