Piranha (1978) 4K UHD Screenshots (Patreon)

Video

Piranha's film stock isn't among the greatest, immediately looking cheaper, cruddier, and grittier than most. Grain sustains a thick, hearty presence throughout, and the encode handles 80% of it well. Chroma artifacts create blocking issues on certain brighter colored areas (and this master bumps the saturation mightily). Complex wide shots struggle too in the same way. Generally, the image keeps a constant stability.

Newly scanned at 4K, detail and texture impress when not blotted out by the encode's battles. Sharpness keeps a steady level, defining the scenery and facial definition in close. Source limitations make the upgrade over the Blu-ray menial in this regard however.

Splurging for Dolby Vision, a definite bump in contrast and black levels impresses. Peak brightness keeps a steady, attractive appearance without betraying the film stock. Piranha employs a subtle touch, avoiding pure black as the source dictates. There's little loss to dimensionality.

Audio

Roughened DTS-HD mono sounds every bit Piranha's budget, dialog coarse and the score murky. It's vintage, clearly, and on the lower side of quality. Nothing is lost, dropped, or cracking. Thankfully, the condition keeps itself pure.