4K Review: SWEENEY TODD (2007)

Review

Tim Burton’s classic 2007 musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street has finally arrived on 4K ultra-HD in the UK. The film has received a substantial adrenaline shot thanks to a glorious new HDR transfer from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment which adds new depth to this murky story of love and murder.

From the outset it’s clear that Warner Bros. new transfer is a massive step up from the previous 1080p Blu-ray release of the film. Even from the opening credits, as blood flows through the drains of London, the HDR kicks in. The rich red of the blood stands out brilliantly against the backdrop of Burton’s gothic-inspired and inky blue London set design. Those familiar with the film will know this is Burton-noir rather than quirky colourful fairytale. But that doesn’t mean that it’s any less vibrant thanks to the power of high dynamic range. Fans who are upgrading from the Blu-ray will find a lot to love as the image feels as fresh now as it did originally in cinemas.

On the technical side the films predominantly blue and grey palette is served well by the Dolby Vision aspects of the new transfer. The image stability in the films frequent low light is near perfect. As are the black levels, making the film feel even more murky than before. There’s barely a natural skin tone in the film but when they appear it’s as natural as Burton’s noir image can muster. Whilst the ghostly complexions of Sweeney (Depp) and Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) stand in stark contrast. Likewise the film’s original grain levels remain intact and never become intrusive. There’s no visible image compression, maintaining the cinematic experience in the way the filmmakers always envisioned.

Being a musical then Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street needs a suitable impressive audio track. This 4K release arrives with an English language 5.1 Dolby Digital track similar to the original Blu-ray release. It’s more than capable of handling the Stephen Sondheim-penned songs. There’s a richness to the audio which exemplifies the vocals from most of the film’s accomplished cast. The orchestral score is clear and well definite within the mix. Even at its most chaotic the audio mix is able to handle everything which the film throws at it.

Bonus features on the 4K release include:

• Burton + Depp + Carter = Todd: A behind-the-scenes look at the collaboration of Tim Burton with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, featuring exclusive footage from rehearsals, recording sessions and more!
• Sweeney Todd Press Conference
• Sweeney Todd Is Alive: The Real History Of The Demon Barber
• Musical Mayhem: Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd
• Sweeney’s London
• The Making of Sweeney Todd
• Grand Guignol: A Theatrical Tradition
• Designs For A Demon
• A Bloody Business
• Moviefone Unscripted with Tim Burton and Johnny Depp
• The Razor’s Refrain
• Photo Gallery

The features cover the breadth of the filmmaking process. There’s a look at yet another team up between Burton, Depp and Carter which finds the trio discussing bringing the film to life. There’s also a look back at the history of the musical and its journey to the big screen which is sure to please musical fans as well as those searching for more context to its story. There’s plenty of rehearsal footage and behind-the-scenes content for cinephiles to enjoy and it perfectly rounds out the package for any Ultra HD collector.

Verdict

Warner Bros. new 4K ultra-HD release of Tum Burton’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is the definite edition for collectors. The new 4K transfer is stunning in its visual presentation and arrives complete with a suitably impressive audio track to ensure Stephen Sondheim‘s musical is an experience like no other on home video.

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