This week, two films featuring hostile extraterrestrials invade the 4K Ultra HD format: M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs and Jon Favreau’s Cowboys and Aliens. Both films tackle the theme of alien life in drastically different settings, from a haunting rural mystery to a sci-fi Western. But how do these films translate into ultra-high definition? Let’s take a closer look.
Signs: Shyamalan’s Alien Mystery in Ultra HD
M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs (2002) remains one of the director’s most iconic and terrifying works, and its debut in 4K Ultra HD is a visual treat. This taut thriller centres around Graham Hess (Mel Gibson), a former priest who has lost his faith after the tragic death of his wife. His life is thrown into further turmoil when crop circles begin appearing on his farm, followed by inexplicable and eerie events. As Graham and his family wrestle with the strange phenomena, it becomes clear that a far more sinister force—extraterrestrial invaders—might be looming on the horizon.
The 4K transfer, using the original camera negative, provides a fresh visual experience, especially when compared to previous Blu-ray releases. The film’s nighttime sequences, in particular, stand out, as the terrifying tension builds in the dim light of a flashlight-wielding Graham wandering through the cornfield. The menacing presence of the aliens is amplified in these moments, making the visuals a key element in creating the suspense Shyamalan’s films are known for.
What’s especially striking in this release is the enhanced detail in the outdoor shots, with the grainy textures of the cornfields and the expansive sky on full display. The film’s climactic scenes are chilling in their starkness, and the crisp 4K resolution makes every shadow and movement more intense. The texture of the corn, the setting sun, and even the morning mist over the farm are given a sharper, more immersive quality that adds to the tension.
However, despite the film’s technical upgrades, Signs doesn’t offer any new retrospective or special feature material beyond the Blu-ray’s previously released content. Fans are treated to a lengthy six-part documentary on the making of the film, but the lack of new extras is a slight disappointment. Still, for fans of Shyamalan’s eerie alien tale, this 4K release is a must-have for the upgraded visuals alone.
Best Features:
- Visually stunning 4K transfer with remarkable details in night scenes
- Previously released extras, including an hour-long documentary on the film’s making
- Enhanced depth and clarity in wide outdoor shots and creepy alien encounters
Price: $45.99
Release Date: Available now on Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Cowboys and Aliens: A Sci-Fi Western in 4K
Next, we have Cowboys and Aliens (2011), which makes its 4K debut under Kino Lorber’s release. Directed by Jon Favreau, this film takes a bold swing at merging the Western genre with alien invaders, starring Daniel Craig as the amnesiac outlaw Jake Lonergan and Harrison Ford as the wealthy but ruthless cattle baron Col. Dolarhyde. When an extraterrestrial threat begins abducting townsfolk, the two must band together with a motley crew—including a mysterious woman played by Olivia Wilde—to take on the invaders.
Despite a stellar cast and an interesting premise, Cowboys and Aliens never quite lived up to its potential as a summer blockbuster. The film’s mix of Western tropes and sci-fi action is somewhat muddled, and while the alien twist adds excitement, it doesn’t fully deliver on its promise. The 4K presentation, unfortunately, does little to elevate the film beyond its modest original visual appeal. The film was upscaled from a 2K digital intermediate, which means it doesn’t receive the full 4K treatment it could have had if it were remastered. There’s no high dynamic range (HDR) support, either, making the visual experience somewhat underwhelming for home theater enthusiasts hoping for a more immersive viewing experience.
That said, the film does offer beautiful wide shots of the Southwest, particularly the panoramic desert scenes, which look crisp and detailed in 4K. Cinematographer Matthew Libatique’s sweeping landscapes are a highlight, but these moments are undermined by the lack of HDR to bring out the contrast and brightness of the visuals. The action scenes with the aliens are still exciting, though the film’s reliance on CGI for the alien creatures can sometimes feel too artificial.
An additional gripe with this 4K release is that the extended cut of the film, which includes roughly 16 minutes of extra violence, is not included on the 4K disc itself but only available on the Blu-ray. This is a strange oversight for fans hoping to enjoy the full experience in ultra-high definition.
Best Features:
- Beautiful wide shots of the desert landscape
- 4K resolution enhances clarity in outdoor scenes
- Extended cut available only on Blu-ray
Price: $39.95
Release Date: Available now on Kino Lorber
Both Signs and Cowboys and Aliens offer distinctively different experiences when it comes to alien invasions, but only Signs truly shines in its 4K release. Shyamalan’s suspenseful horror-drama benefits from enhanced visual clarity, with a more immersive atmosphere that amplifies the film’s tension. Cowboys and Aliens, while entertaining in its own right, doesn’t quite live up to the visual standards expected from a 4K Ultra HD release, making it a more lacklustre entry for collectors. However, if you’re a fan of either film, both titles are worth picking up for their distinct takes on extraterrestrial terror.
