NOTE: The below Blu-ray and 4K UHD captures were taken directly from the respective discs.

ADDITION: Arrow 4K UHD (April 2025): Arrow have transferred Robert Wise's The Andromeda Strain to 4K UHD. It is cited as being from a "4K restoration from the original camera negative by Arrow Films", as was their 2019 Blu-ray - that we compared to two other Blu-ray editions HERE. This 2160p 4K UHD (lone disc) presentation has Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible.) There are a few subtle color shifts (flesh tones) from previous editions - mostly with colors appearing bolder, richer and deeper. Wise’s direction, paired with cinematographer Richard H. Kline (Body Heat, The Fury, 1976's King Kong, Soylent Green,) production designer Boris Leven (West Side Story, Giant,) and special effects by Douglas Trumbull (2001: A Space Odyssey) and James Shourt, crafts a sterile, documentary-like aesthetic that contrasts the chaotic threat of Andromeda. This is supported extremely well by the 4K UHD. Shot in Techniscope (2.35:1) with contrasting colors, the film uses a clinical palette - grays, whites, blues - in the Wildfire lab’s sterile corridors, shot on Los Angeles soundstages. Handheld and static shots mimic a documentary, with split-diopter lenses creating deep focus (e.g., foreground consoles, background scientists). Disaster scenes (Piedmont’s corpses, jet crash) use stark, high-contrast lighting, evoking dread. The bitrate is about 2.5X that of the last Blu-ray. It has richer contrast and deeper blacks compared to the 2019 Blu-ray. It is also sharper with more consistent textures. The overall 4K UHD look is somewhat darker and the improved resolution offers the best HD presentation yet. The more intense colors can be debated but I thought it looked fabulous.

NOTE: Discussed in the past there is a strange shot at around 24:05 that can look like a digital anomaly. We have concluded that it is the reflection looking through the scientist's visor. It can be seen HERE on the 4K UHD but that was the same as the 2019 Blu-ray - see HERE. 

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: We have added 52 more large resolution 4K UHD captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

Like the 2019 Blu-ray, on their 4K UHD, Arrow use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The Wildfire lab’s futuristic effects - beeping computers, whirring robotic arms, hissing sterilization chambers - are precise and tangible, filling the front soundstage with clarity The Andromeda Strain's memorable score was by Gil Melle (The Victim, Fatal Vision, The Deliberate Stranger, Frankenstein: The True Story, Night Gallery, 7 episodes of Kolchak the Night Stalker, Colossus: The Forbin Project, You'll Like My Mother, The Sentinel and The Organization.) Mellé’s experimental electronic score, with dissonant synth pulses, atonal drones, and tape effects, is clear and impactful, despite the mono format’s limitations. The authentic mono track is pristine, delivering Mellé’s avant-garde score, subtle effects, and dialogue with clarity, free of hiss or distortion. Arrow offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE 4K UHD.

The Arrow 4K UHD offers all the same extras as their last BD edition including the previous commentary by Bryan Reesman. This legacy commentary, included in the 2019 Blu-ray, is a highlight, with Reesman delivering an informative and enjoyable discussion. He covers Michael Crichton’s novel, the film’s production (e.g., casting non-stars for authenticity), and its place in the contagion genre, addressing criticisms (e.g., Vincent Canby’s review) with defenses of the editing and visuals. Reesman’s blend of technical anecdotes (e.g., Trumbull’s effects) and personal asides makes it engaging, less scholarly - ideal for fans. "A New Strain of Science Fiction" is a 28-minute newly-filmed appreciation by critic Kim Newman. It sees Newman, a sci-fi historian, contextualizing The Andromeda Strain within the viral outbreak subgenre, from Elia Kazan's Panic in the Streets to George A. Romero's The Crazies. He explores Crichton’s novel, the film’s social-political resonance (Cold War paranoia), and its influence on 1995's Outbreak, offering his usual enthusiastic and engaging analysis. "The Andromeda Strain: Making The Film" and "A Portrait of Michael Crichton" are the same featurettes that appeared on previous Blu-rays, same with the trailer. Also included here are TV and radio spots and an image gallery featuring promotional and behind the scenes material. Remaining is the innovative bonus features; "Cinescript Gallery", where you can read the original shooting script by Nelson Gidding, illustrated with diagrams and production designs to form a "cinescript". The full 192-page document as a PDF file in a folder of this 4K UHD disc. There is also an illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Peter Tonguette and archive publicity materials. It's a handsome package (see image above) with slipcase and booklet. 

Robert Wise's The Andromeda Strain employs a tightly structured, pseudo-documentary narrative, unfolding in a linear, time-stamped progression that mirrors a scientific report. Arrow Video’s Limited Edition 4K UHD release of The Andromeda Strain is the definitive presentation of Robert Wise’s seminal techno-thriller. The 4K restoration delivers a stunning visual experience, with enhanced colors, deep blacks, and intricate details that elevate the film’s sterile lab and eerie disaster scenes - beyond the 2019 Blu-ray. The original uncompressed mono audio still offers clear, precise sound for Gil Mellé’s avant-garde score, subtle effects, and jargon-heavy dialogue, faithfully restoring the 1971 mix. Nothing new with the, already stacked, extras but the commentary is worthy of a second spin as are enjoyable Newman, Laurent Bouzereau’s archival featurettes and collector's booklet. It's one of those films that you must-have in the best home theater presentation available. This Arrow 4K UHD is it. So great to watch this timeless film again with the very best viewing experience. 

Gary Tooze