The latest addition to my 4K collection. Hell or High Water 4K UHD from Studiocanal and its a modern classic! |

Studiocanal’s latest 4K UHD release brings David Mackenzie’s much loved 2016 crime drama Hell or High Water to physical media collectors, and for me, it was a blind buy and a first-time watch. Sometimes those purchases can be a gamble. In this case, it paid off brilliantly.

Oddly enough, Hell or High Water had long occupied a strange corner of my watchlist because I continually confused it with other similarly titled films. For whatever reason, I kept mixing it up with Deepwater Horizon and Only the Brave. I genuinely can’t explain the mental connection, but it meant I spent years thinking I’d already seen it. It wasn’t until I saw the cover artwork for this release that I realised I was almost certain I’d never actually watched it. That discovery convinced me to take a chance. As a fan of writer Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone, Sicario, Tulsa King) and director David Mackenzie (Starred Up) I felt in safe hands with these two talents behind the film.

Hell or High Water stars Jeff Bridges as a veteran Texas Ranger pursuing two brothers, played by Chris Pine and Ben Foster, who are on a series of bank robberies in a desperate attempt to save their family land and make as much money as they can to do so. On paper, it’s a deceptively simple plot. The film however is anything but simple (but it’s very easy to follow). What unfolds is a gripping modern western packed with tension, character development, and exceptional performances. Every member of the cast delivers their A-game, and the chemistry between Chris Pine and Ben Foster gives the film even more of a lift. Jeff Bridges, meanwhile, is effortlessly charismatic as always, bringing some light humour to the role of the ageing lawman on one final hunt.

Before watching the film, I posted online that I was finally sitting down to watch it, and the response was overwhelming. Virtually everyone had something positive to say. Many called it one of the best films of 2016, while others described it as a modern classic. After finally seeing it for myself, it’s difficult to argue with the praise.

One question I had before purchasing was whether Hell or High Water truly warranted a 4K upgrade. Some films benefit enormously from higher resolution and HDR presentation; others don’t gain nearly as much. The answer here is an emphatic yes. The Texas landscapes are beautifully captured throughout the film, and David Mackenzie makes excellent use of the setting. The sweeping vistas, dusty towns, and endless highways all benefit from the increased detail and clarity offered by the 4K presentation. It’s a gorgeous looking transfer that showcases the cinematography at its very best.

The audio is equally impressive. The disc features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which provides a strong and immersive soundscape, while there is a 2.0 option also included for those with more modest setups. English subtitles are provided as well. Studiocanal has included a very decent selection of bonus content on the disc, totalling just over 74 minutes. The extras include:

Enemies Forever (13:55)

Visualizing the Heart (9:26)

Damaged Heroes (12:22)

Red Carpet Footage (1:54)

Filmmaker Q&A (29:51)

Interview with Director David Mackenzie (6:44)

The standout extra is undoubtedly the nearly 30-minute filmmaker Q&A, which offers insight into the production and creative process behind the film. I love the lengthier extras on physical media, but even the shorter ones all add up to create a great look at the film and those who made it. I would have loved to have seen an audio commentary (or rather, loved to have heard one). That said, the amount of supplementary material on offer is still impressive and provides plenty of value for fans.

Hell or High Water proved to be one of the most rewarding blind buys I’ve made in recent months. It’s a gripping, beautifully acted modern-day western that balances thrilling crime drama with genuine emotional storytelling and performances. As a 4K release, Studiocanal has done the film justice (pun intended) with a strong presentation and a worthwhile collection of extras. Whether you’re discovering the film for the first time (like I did) or revisiting it, this release deserves a place on the shelf.

For physical media collectors looking for their next purchase, you could do far worse than Hell or High Water. This is an easy recommendation and another strong release from Studiocanal.