ADDITION: Vinegar Syndrome 4K UHD (March 2024): Vinegar Syndrome's are releasing Saul Bass's "Phase IV" to 4K UHD. It offers the 84-minute 'Theatrical Version' available on both the UHD and Blu-ray discs and the 89-minute 'Preview Version' with two soundtrack options is included on a second Blu-ray disc. We reviewed the 2015 bare-bones Olive Blu-ray HERE (compared captures below) but did not review the 2020 101 Films (UK) Blu-ray, available HERE - as we were not sent it.

So, the primo visual titles-designer Saul Bass's only feature directorial credit, Phase IV arrives on 4K UHD, with HDR applied, from Vinegar Syndrome in another of their ultra-complete packages. The 'Preview version' is on the second Blu-ray containing a reconstruction of the original preview version with the full ending montage (see samples below.). The 2160P image quality is quite a revelation - colors embolden, grain is rich and consistent, black levels deeper, and detail rises in the film's many close-ups. The 4K has an stratospheric bitrate and the Blu-rays renderings support the color schemes - both 'theatrical' and 'preview' 1080Ps looking similar (see comparison samples below.) This is big news - the film, that continues to get more intriguing each viewing, looks fantastic. Bravo Vinegar Syndrome!

It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. Our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the 4K system at your home. But the framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by this simulation representation.

NOTE: 50 more more full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K UHD captures, in lossless PNG format, for Patrons are available HERE

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages recently: Burial Ground (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dark Water (software uniformly simulated HDR), Fear and Desire (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf (no HDR), Paths of Glory (software uniformly simulated HDR), Southern Comfort (software uniformly simulated HDR), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (software uniformly simulated HDR,) The Wages of Fear  (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Roaring Twenties (software uniformly simulated HDR), Universal Classic Monsters Limited Edition Collection (software uniformly simulated HDR), Scarlet Street (software uniformly simulated HDR), eXistenZ (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (software uniformly simulated HDR), Conan the Barbarian (software uniformly simulated HDR),  Django (no HDR), Lone Star  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Suspect Zero (software uniformly simulated HDR), Count Dracula (software uniformly simulated HDR), Full Circle - The Haunting of Julia (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Warriors  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (software uniformly simulated HDR), Blackhat (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mark of the Devil (software uniformly simulated HDR), Barbarella (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Last Picture Show (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Man Who Knew Too Much (software uniformly simulated HDR), Rope (software uniformly simulated HDR), Frenzy (software uniformly simulated HDR), American Graffiti (software uniformly simulated HDR), East End Hustle (software uniformly simulated HDR), Three Days of the Condor (software uniformly simulated HDR), Witness (software uniformly simulated HDR), Fascination (software uniformly simulated HDR), Lips of Blood (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Others (no HDR), It Came From Outer Space (software uniformly simulated HDR).

All tracks on the three discs are DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The 'Preview version' Blu-ray offers the choice of the 'London Preview Soundtrack' (with no narration) or the 'California Preview Soundtrack' (fully narrated). "Phase IV" is filled with various effects. The scene where the ants are bombarded with intense noise is quite piercing in the lossless. Brian Gascoigne - 1985's The Emerald Forest , The Dark Crystal (1982) etc. - was the chief composer sounding experimental with jazz and electronics utilized. Japanese percussionist, keyboardist and composer Stomu Yamashta was responsible for the music in the final montage sequence in the 'Preview version' (see below - which was cut from the theatrical release.) Stomu contributed music in Nicolas Roeg film The Man Who Fell to Earth and Robert Altman's curious Images. There is also electronic music composed by David Vorhaus (the band White Noise) and Desmond Briscoe who was the co-founder and original manager of the pioneering BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Kendra Eldridge (Lynne Frederick) also sings the hymn inspired by Deuteronomy 33:27 Leaning On the Everlasting Arms as she sacrifices herself. The lossless renders the audio quite tightly and clean - adding significantly to the viewing experience. All discs offer optional English (SDH) subtitles for the feature - and the 4K UHD, is region FREE, playable worldwide - while the Blu-rays are region 'A'-locked.

Saul Bass's "Phase IV" is an intellectual creature-feature - philosophically examining man's place sharing the planet with 'creatures small'. This is augmented by wildlife photographer Ken Middleham's contemplative close-up photography of insects throughout. The scientists try to determine what the ants, who are gaining the advantage from a rapid evolution, actually want from humankind. Panned initially, "Phase IV", has developed a large cult-following for its dark, thought-provoking, science fiction. It stars recognizable Michael Murphy (Manhattan, An Unmarried Woman, Nashville, M*A*S*H, Count Yorga, Vampire, Batman Returns etc.,) Nigel Davenport (Tony Richardson's film, Look Back in Anger, I recall him as a policeman in Michael Powell's Peeping Tom, Dan Curtis' Bram Stoker's Dracula as Van Helsing and much more) and Lynne Frederick (Vampire Circus, Voyage of the Damned) famous as Peter Sellers, 30-years his junior, wife - sadly we lost her at only 39. "Phase IV" was inspired by H. G. Wells' 1905 short story "Empire of the Ants" (which bears little resemblance to the 1977 film of the same name.). There are many benefits to Vinegar Syndrome's 4K UHD release including the second Blu-ray containing a reconstruction of the original preview version with the full ending montage restored (see below) - along with several other reinstated portions. It's a shade over 5-minutes longer but fans will enjoy seeing the alternate version as well as the massive increase in video quality via the UHD. Commentary, new documentary and features, booklet, longer version and HDR upgrade - it's like Christmas! Our highest recommendation!

Gary Tooze