Halloween [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray] [1978]

Of the many incarnations of Halloween on DVD, there is little doubt that this version stands higher against the others. One of the reasons is the supplemental features. Other than missing the commentary track that was available on the laserdisc (which really is an unfortunate omission), there are plenty of extras to satisfy fans. The main point of interest would be a 26-minute documentary on the history and making of the movie. It features interviews with the main crew and cast and sheds new light on this classic horror film. Along with that are numerous trailers, television spots, and even radio spots. In addition, there is a lengthy gallery of publicity shots, posters, and behind-the-scenes photographs. Finally, though not listed on the box, there are a number of interesting points of trivia. As for the picture, this disc includes both pan-and-scan and widescreen transfers. Since nearly 50 percent of the image is lost with pan-and-scan, widescreen is far preferable in the original aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Image quality is outstanding, with nicely saturated colors and deep, menacing blacks. As for sound, there are a number of configurations, from the original mono track, to a two-channel surround and a new 5.1 Dolby Digital track. While the 5.1 track is far more robust, the majority of the sound with any of the options is centered upfront. It is clear and distortion free, creating just the right effect.