This has Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) for the feature. Flesh tones generally shift slightly from the Blu-ray, the overall image is even darker and colors gain an impressive richness and depth. Grain is further supported. It looks excellent. Larger systems will proportionately notice the very pleasing improvement.

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.

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages recently: Signs (software uniformly simulated HDR), A Simple Plan (software uniformly simulated HDR), Fright, The Tenant (software uniformly simulated HDR), Gummo, Demon Pond, Happiness, Cheeky (software uniformly simulated HDR), Produced By Val Lewton , The Long Good Friday, The Ladykillers (software uniformly simulated HDR), Torso (software uniformly simulated HDR), All of Us Strangers, Last Year at Marienbad (NO HDR applied to disc), Peril & Distress (And Soon the Darkness / Sudden Terror) (NO HDR applied to disc), The Case of the Bloody Iris (software uniformly simulated HDR), Reptilicus (software uniformly simulated HDR), Risky Business (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Conversation (software uniformly simulated HDR), Perfect Days, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) (software uniformly simulated HDR), Le samouraï  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Castle of Blood (software uniformly simulated HDR), Pat Garret and Billy the Kid (HDR), Fist of Legend (HDR), American Gigolo (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Long Wait (no HDR,) Bound (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Valiant Ones (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mute Witness (software uniformly simulated HDR), Narc (software uniformly simulated HDR), Peeping Tom (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dr. Terrors House of Horrors (software uniformly simulated HDR), High Noon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Picnic at Hanging Rock (Criterion) (software uniformly simulated HDR)

NOTE: 34 more more  full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K UHD captures, in lossless PNG format, for Patrons are available HERE

On their 4K UHD, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (24-bit - a bump over the Blu-ray) or a new optional 5.1 surround bump - both in the original English language. There are a few surprising separations in the surround.  Effects are not extravagant - a few mental-anguish  screams from Evelyn but the audio is more apparent in the music utilized. The score is by Dee Barton, the jazz trombonist, big band drummer, (who also composed on a couple of other Clint Eastwood films; Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, and High Plains Drifter.) Notable of course are Erroll Garner's "Misty", Roberta Flack's beautiful "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", Johnny Otis, Gene Connors, Cannonball Adderley etc.. all sounding clean and effective in the lossless. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE 4K UHD.

The 4K UHD has no video supplements but does included the previous Tim Lucas commentary discussed below and a new commentary by screenwriter Alan Spencer. He was one of the youngest members ever to join the Writer's Guild of America - quite an interesting and funny guy. He talks about Play Misty for Me being the first film ever directed by Clint Eastwood and many aspects of this psychological thriller including the unofficial remake Fatal Attraction, the local American artist Don Heitkotter who did the portrait of Eastwood, Alexander Golitzen's art direction and much more. It's a very good commentary and nice new addition to the 4K UHD package. There is reversible art (see below.)

Clint Eastwood's directorial debut Play Misty for Me is a fabulous thriller evoking 'obsession' films like "Fatal Attraction" made 17 years later. The script was originally conceived by Jo Heims, a former model and dancer turned secretary. Play Misty for Me is a gem realized efficiently by Eastwood and has his buddy/director Don Siegel as a bartender. The Kino 4K UHD has the complete Blu-ray included with the 1080P, Lucas commentary, extensive Berger video essay etc. The 4K UHD adds a superior a/v (2160P and 24-bit stereo plus a new surround bump) and the fresh Alan Spencer commentary. This is the best for this, tense, often disturbing, psychological thriller that, factoring in the conclusion, could circle closely to the horror genre.   

***

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (October 2020): Kino have transferred Clint Eastwood's Play Misty for Me to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand New 2K Master". Without comparing it to the 2015 Universal Blu-ray, we can say that this look very strong on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. Rich, deep colors, excellent detail in close-ups and a consistently impressive appearance in 1080P showcasing Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Monterey, California.

NOTE: We have added 79 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (16-bit) in the original English language. Effects are not extravagant - a few mental-anguish  screams from Evelyn but the audio is more apparent in the music utilized. The score is by Dee Barton, the jazz trombonist, big band drummer, (who also composed on a couple of other Clint Eastwood films; Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, and High Plains Drifter.) Notable of course are Erroll Garner's "Misty", Roberta Flack's beautiful "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", Johnny Otis, Gene Connors, Cannonball Adderley etc.. all sounding clean and effective in the lossless. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers some excellent supplements.  We get a new audio commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas who is as prepared as anyone in the business. He covers screenwriter Jo Heims early friendship with Eastwood, the scenes that evoke an homage to Hitchcock - notably Psycho, Don Siegel, how Clint Eastwood's Malpaso Productions (established in 1967) was named, how the Roberta Flack song "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" was heard by Clint on his car radio, he called her at home and she got paid $2,000 for use of the using in the film (she wanted to re-record it - thinking it was too slow - he disagreed.) There are so many interesting anecdotes and details exported and it doesn't hurt that Lucas's own voice sounds like a smooth talking DJ. There is a new dozen-minute interview with co-star Donna Mills done remotely (lockdown). I LOVED the new 1 1/4 hour Video Essay by film historian Howard S. Berger (written by The Flying Maciste Brothers - Kevin Marr and Howard S. Berger) entitled Split Screen: "Clint Eastwood, Play Misty For Me and the Feminine Abstraction" a Thematic Examination. Without spoiling too many details it's magnificently deep analysis and a valuable addition to this, already impressive, package. Wow. Included is the 50-minute Play It Again... A Look Back at "Play Misty For Me" documentary written and directed by Laurent Bouzereau made in 2001 with input from Clint Eastwood, Robert Daley, Dean Riesner, Jessica Walter, Donna Mills and Richard Schickel. We also get "The Beguiled, Misty, Don and Clint" featurette running 6-minute ands also directed by Bouzereau. There is an episode of Trailers From Hell with Adam Rifkin. Trailers, Teasers, TV Spots, Stills montages from the film, 'Clint in production' an the evolution of making a poster. The package has reversible art (see below) with a limited edition slipcase.

Gary Tooze