Dog Soldiers (Scream Factory) Blu-ray Screenshots (Patreon)

Another one of those annoying 4Ks that Just. Won't. Rip. So, Blu-ray will have to suffice. Text refers only to the 4K disc. 

Video

A merciful release given the dismal Blu-rays prior, Dog Soldiers finally looks like it was intended. The 16mm source can't make significant gains in resolution, but considering those Blu-rays, texture and sharpness show improvement. Well resolved grain doesn't struggle, remaining pure without the suggestion of being digital. This transfer looks like true film.

Muted color keeps the forest environments locked in on earth tones. Browns and greens dominate, the only reprieve being the slightly brighter flesh tones. Still, the trees display a consistently dense hue, and on occasion, a moss will saturated to bring a little dynamism to the imagery.

Graced with Dolby Vision, routine contrast barely brightens up. A few sparks from flames make themselves noticeable. Black levels stay away from the deepest levels, slightly raised. Dog Soldiers still brings dimensionality when it can though, and it's hardly a loss. Crush is minimal and on the source material, not the disc.

Audio

There's something amiss with the 5.1 mix on this disc. The volume is so drastically low, even a significant boost isn't enough. Dialog is lost, sound effects fall away, and range is so pinched, Dog Soldiers' surround track has more in common with compressed Dolby Digital than the stated DTS-HD.

Luckily a stereo mix is on offer, an marked improvement if still restrictive. Acknowledging the lower budget, range still doesn't impress and everything occupies a middle ground. The channel split does fine work, adding the needed space.