Why So Blu?

Cure (4K UHD Blu-ray Review)

A landmark in the history of Japanese cinema, Cure was the breakthrough film for director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who would go on to make several further modern masterpieces in Pulse, Creepy and Tokyo Sonata. Released to critical acclaim in both the East and the West, this nerve-shredding thriller charts the hunt for a depraved serial killer in a bleak and decaying Tokyo. A series of murders have been committed by ordinary people who claim to have had no control over their actions, many of them having killed friends, co-workers or even their spouse. There are only two links between each crime: an X carved into the neck of each victim, and a mysterious stranger who seems to have had brief contact with the perpetrator a short period of time before each killing. But to follow these leads and end a seemingly inexplicable wave of terror, police detective Kenichi Takabe (Koji Yakusho, 13 Assassins) will need to put his own sanity on the line and endure a descent into hell. Described as one of the greatest films of all time by Bong Joon-ho, the filmmaker behind Memories of Murder, The Host, Snowpiercer and Parasite, Cure is a cerebral and deeply unsettling hybrid of police procedural, serial killer film and horror movie to stand with The Silence of the Lambs and Se7en. Having given the film its UK Blu-ray premiere in 2018, the Masters of Cinema series is now proud to present the film on 4K UHD Blu-ray January 27, 2025!

 

Film 

I originally reviewed the Eureka! Masters of Cinema Blu-ray in 2018. The review for that can be located HERE

‘There are startling images and moments in this picture that will haunt you for a long time to come… it’s not for the faint of heart.  But be brave, because it’s worth it.  Kurosawa is a major filmmaker’ – Martin Scorsese

 

Video 

NOTE: Stills are provided for promotional use only and are not from the 4K or HD Blu-rays

Encoding: HEVC / H.265

Resolution: 2160p

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10

Layers: BD-100

Clarity/Detail: Cure is not one of the most aesthetically pleasing films due to the intentional production design but you will notice an awesome uptick in contrast levels. The film opens at the hospital and if your set is properly calibrated, you will be blown away at how these scenes look. Keep in mind that due to the overall gloomy aesthetic of the film, these “bright” scenes are few and far between.

Depth:  The 4K UHD Blu-ray transfer enhances the dirt and grime in the Tokyo outskirts. You won’t see the flashy lights and skyscrapers of Japan in this film. You will see dirt and grime – the new 4K transfer enhances these traits, as if it were a chiaroscuro painting.

Black Levels: Black levels also get a nice upgrade on 4K UHD. They are deep and inky and bury the previously released Blu-ray.

Color Reproduction: The color palette is limited due to intent by the director. You only have seldom spats of color sprinkled about, mainly in the scenes involving murder and violence.

Flesh Tones: Flesh tones look good for the most part unless someone is sick or deceased.

Noise/Artifacts: I did not detect any noise or artifact intrusions.

 

Audio 

Audio Format(s): Japanese LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)

Subtitles: English

Dynamics: The soundtrack on this 4K UHD Blu-ray is presented in uncompressed Japanese stereo 2.0 (at a fixed 2.3 Mbps). It seems that Eureka has dropped the 5.1 soundtrack that was included on their previously released Blu-ray. From what I understand, the 5.1 was actually a 5.0 “unfolded” version of the stereo mix. That said, the 2.0 soundtrack on this disc is quite punchy. There is only a faint musical cue that bookends the film, while the rest of the soundtrack features no music. Otherworldly sound effects pepper the left and right channels. When one of the characters uses his subtle gift of hypnotism, you can hear the bass rumble on both channels, and it’s particularly creepy. It’s a “quiet” film for the most part, but there are still spots that become more active, especially in the final twenty minutes or so.

Height: N/A

Low-Frequency Extension: N/A

Surround Sound Presentation: N/A

Dialogue Reproduction: Dialogue levels are clean, clear, and easy to understand throughout.

Extras 

The extras are essentially the same as those from the previously released Blu-ray from 2018, with the exception of the newly curated featurette, which expands on Kurosawa’s career. The standout special feature, aside from the interviews with the director, is the brand-new 30-minute interview with Korean director Bong Joon-ho. He is a Cure scholar. He loves the film and brings up a lot of information that the casual viewer may have missed. He considers the film a masterpiece, watches it at least once a year, and can’t wait for the 4K disc!

• Curating Cure
• Interview with Director Bong Joon-ho
• Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Time Tomorrow
• Two archival interviews with director Kiyoshi Kurosawa from 2003 and 2018
• Kim Newman on Cure – Interview with critic and author Kim Newman
• Trailers
• PLUS: A collector’s booklet featuring essays on Cure by Tom Mes

Summary 

If you like films that don’t give you all the answers, that mess with your mind and make you question everything you thought you understood, then Cure is definitely worth checking out. Just be prepared for a lingering unease that stays with you long after the credits roll. Cure on 4K UHD Blu-ray will be one of the best new releases of 2025!

 

 

Cure is released in the UK on

4K UHD Blu-ray January 27, 2025!

 

ORDER NOW!

 

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