NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (March 2025): Criterion have transferred Arthur Penn's Night Moves to Blu-ray and 4K UHD. It is cited as being from a "New 4K digital restoration". The Criterion 4K UHD package has one 4K UHD disc (Dolby Vision HDR) of the film and this Blu-ray (which is also available separately) with the film and special features. While we are in possession of the 4K UHD disc, we cannot resolve the encode yet and therefore cannot obtain screen captures. We hope to add to this review when possible. So, the below captures are from Criterion's 2025 1080P Blu-ray transfer. We compared the Warner 1.78:1 2005 DVD and 2017 Blu-ray HERE - as well as to this 2025 transfer below. The new Criterion image is uncomfortably green and blue-ish that will court controversy. It is also much darker than the previous digital editions. Cinematographer Bruce Surtees employed a muted color palette - sandy browns, washed-out blues - to evoke a world drained of vitality. The Los Angeles scenes are shot with tight, claustrophobic framing, reflecting Harry’s domestic entrapment, while the Florida Keys sequences open up into wide, humid vistas that feel both liberating and oppressive. Bruce Surtees (Risky Business, Dirty Harry), brings a low-key lighting approach to Night Moves. Natural light dominates, often filtered through overcast skies or diffused by interiors, lending the film a raw, unpolished feel. The 4K UHD appearance is similar to the BD exemplifying the style and may offer a more sanguine color disparity than the 1080P. Why the heavy green-ish-blue? With its neo-noir atmosphere of disillusionment and ambiguity, might have been graded with cooler/darker tones (blue-green) to enhance its moody, melancholic feel, especially in the Florida Keys scenes where water and night settings dominate. I'm not quite sure. Fans may continue to appreciate the brighter Warner HD presentation.  

NOTE: We have added 56 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Night Moves has aggression that has depth but remains authentically flat. The dialogue in Night Moves, written by Alan Sharp, is delivered with a naturalistic cadence that enhances the film’s character-driven focus. The film’s understated score, composed by Michael Small (Marathon Man, Puzzle of a Downfall Child, Klute, The Drowning Pool, Black Widow, Child's Play, The Driver, The Star Chamber, The Parallax View) is sparse yet haunting, with jazzy undertones that amplify the noir mood. Key scenes - like Harry’s discovery of Delly’s underwater corpse - are punctuated by silence or ambient sound (water lapping, plane engines), heightening the visceral impact. The music is rooted in a jazzy, melancholic sensibility - a hallmark of noir - featuring soft piano, muted brass, and occasional woodwind flourishes. These elements evoke a sense of longing and unease, mirroring Harry Moseby’s internal conflict and the film’s existential undertones. The audio transfer is flawless and sounds authentic. Criterion offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' / 'B' Blu-ray and Region FREE 4K UHD. 

The Criterion Blu-ray contains all the extras offers a new commentary by Matthew Asprey Gear (Moseby Confidential: Arthur Penn’s Night Moves and the Rise of Neo-Noir.) His commentary offers a deep dive into its production, context, and significance, making it a valuable addition for fans and scholars of neo-noir cinema. He situates Night Moves within the cultural and political landscape of the mid-1970s, a period marked by disillusionment after Watergate and Vietnam. He discusses how the film reflects the era’s cynicism through its morally ambiguous characters and unresolved narrative, aligning it with other New Hollywood classics like Chinatown or The Parallax View both from 1974. His commentary for Criterion builds on his expertise, offering an authoritative perspective rooted in years of research. He's the expert's expert and well worth the indulgence. The commentary is on both Blu-ray and 4K UHD - all video supplements are on the BD including a newly recorded 17-minute audio interview featuring Jennifer Warren, who played Paula, the enigmatic and morally ambiguous woman who Moseby encounters in the Florida Keys. It’s a substantial piece. Warren, whose career includes roles in films like Slap Shot (1977) and a stint as a director (Partners in Crime), reflects on her experience working on Night Moves - her preparation for the role, her chemistry with Hackman, and her collaboration with Penn. This interview adds a fresh perspective from a key player, offering fans a contemporary look back at a performance that’s often praised for its understated depth. Also included is a 20-minute interview with Director Arthur Penn from a 1975 episode of Cinema Showcase. Conducted shortly after the film hit theaters, it captures Arthur Penn at the height of his 'New Hollywood' prominence, following successes like Bonnie and Clyde and Little Big Man. This is a meaty discussion that covers Penn’s creative process, lengthy time away from directing, his intentions behind the film’s moody tone, and his take on adapting noir conventions for the 1970s. There is another interview with Penn - this shorter segment, clocking in at 5 minutes is excerpted from the 1995 documentary Arthur Penn: A Love Affair with Film. Produced two decades after Night Moves, it features an older Penn reflecting on his career, with this clip focusing on the film in question. This complements the 1975 interview by showing how Penn’s views evolved, adding a layer of historical perspective. Additionally, there is a 8 1/2 minute featurette entitled The Day of the Director - a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Night Moves. It’s a vintage piece offering a window into the on-set dynamics. Lastly is a theatrical trailer, and the package has a liner notes supplement, penned by critic Mark Harris (Pictures at a Revolution.) It blends analysis and context. These extras form a compact but rich package typical of Criterion’s approach. The new Jennifer Warren interview brings a fresh voice from 2025, while the two Penn interviews (1975 and 1995) span his career, offering both immediacy and reflection. The Day of the Director and the trailer provide period flavor, grounding the film in its production and marketing moment. Harris’ essay ties it all together with critical heft.

Arthur Penn's Night Moves is a meditation on disillusionment and the search for meaning in a morally ambiguous world. Harry Moseby is a quintessential noir protagonist: a flawed, introspective man trying to impose order on chaos. His background as a football player suggests a past rooted in physical certainty, yet his current life as a detective is defined by intellectual and emotional uncertainty. Key motifs are subtle, like the chess metaphor (the "knight moves" of the title), and futile maneuvering through a web of deceit. The film uses this to underscore themes of control and futility. Delly (18-year old Melanie Griffith) embodies the corruption of innocence, a recurring motif in noir. Her sexual precocity and entanglement with older men (including Quentin and Tom) contrast sharply with her youth, painting a grim picture of exploitation. Night Moves is a slow-burning, cerebral neo-noir that rewards careful attention. Gene Hackman’s Harry Moseby is a tragic everyman, a detective whose quest for answers only deepens his alienation. The film’s refusal to provide closure - coupled with its rich symbolism, evocative visuals, and thematic heft - marks it as a standout in the genre. Criterion are offering the film in new 4K UHD and Blu-ray transfers with a thorough commentary, interviews, and booklet. Fans missing Gene Hackman - lost to us in such sad circumstances only a few weeks ago - may find this package too enticing to pass up.

Gary Tooze