4K Ultra HD horror movie reviews: ‘Smile’ and ‘Halloween Ends’

Here’s a look at a pair of horror movies available in the 4K ultra-high definition format starring two determined women looking to stop evil.

Smile (Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, rated R, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, 131 minutes, $35.99) — Filmmaker Parker Finn’s award-winning short film “Laura Hasn’t Slept” inspired the director’s first full-length movie and gave audiences an overdose of psychological horror.

The terrifying story takes psychiatrist Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) on a delusional, unexplainable psychotic trip after being subjected to a patient complaining of a smiling entity following her and then killing herself in front of the doctor while displaying an ominous grin.

Rose’s trauma continues as she investigates others smiling while killing themselves as she now believes an entity is stalking her, much to the chagrin of her uncaring fiancée.

The slow-burning gem fueled by Miss Bacon’s unnerving performance straddles the horror genre while embracing the creep factor of some of my favorites, such as “It Follows,” “The Grudge” and “The Babadook.”

“Smile” does offer less gratuitous gore but a steady diet of visual and aural jump scares, disturbing imagery and the obligatory clueless police detectives.

The key to these types of films are the ending, and Mr. Finn does not truly deliver a home run, instead offering a too-conventional finish that places Rose’s monster at the forefront.

The 2160p presentation brings to light some crisp moments including a close-up look at a shiny eyeball; upside down mooted Pennsylvania landscapes; a curved bloodstain soaked into a coroner’s sheet; and Rose’s skin tones gradually draining, complete with her sullen eyes as she spirals into insanity.

Best extras: Fans will appreciate the collection of digital goodies starting with an optional commentary track with Mr. Finn who gladly explores the origins of his story, scene-specific motivations, set design choices, visual effects use and casting. He sometimes over explains the obvious of what viewers are watching on screen, but the informative track will certainly make listeners smile.

Next, a 30-minute production overview satisfies with Mr. Finn, the producers, cast and main crew covering the adaptation of the short, story themes, the performances, character motivations, cinematography, production design, costuming and make-up creature effects with a minimal amount of backslapping.

Most important of all, viewers also get the disturbing 11-minute “Laura Hasn’t Slept” short with an introduction by the director.

Halloween Ends (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, rated R, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, 111 minutes, $37.99) — The conclusion of director David Gordon Green’s trilogy of films that offered an extension to the John Carpenter’s original horror classic sputtered at the box office and now looks to entice 4K disc-loving fans of an iconic horror icon.

The unsatisfying finale takes place four years after Laurie Strode’s (Jamie Lee Curtis) last encounter with her serial-killing, mask-wearing brother Michael Myers and she is now living with her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) and writing a book about her survival.

However, before Laurie’s saga continues, viewers go back in time in Haddonfield, Illinois, and meet Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell), an unassuming babysitter that on Halloween night of 2019 accidentally killed a child and ruined his future.

Back to the present as Allyson, who has now become romantically involved with Corey, has the broken pair plot to wreak havoc in their small town. The narrative twist gets even more ominous when Michael surfaces in a sewer cave about an hour into the film, meets Corey and decides to visit Haddonfield again on Halloween night. 

The long, long journey ends on a definitive note, gratuitous enough to satisfy hardcore horror fans but a bit more soap operatic than necessary for a slasher movie.

The 4K shines when one least wants it to as Michael’s kills mount toward the end of the movie — as grislier, grotesque, blood-spurting and flesh-grinding as possible, yuck.

Mr. Carpenter’s memorable musical theme, enhanced by a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, will continue to make the hairs on the back of a viewer’s neck stand up.

Best extras: The most important offers an optional commentary track with Mr. Gordon Green, co-producer Atilla Salih Yücer, production assistant Hugo Garza and, via Zoom, Miss Matichak and Mr. Campbell.

The group has too good a time, talking enthusiastically and laughing, as they discuss the film details, deconstruct scenes, explore the performances, explain the lack of Michael Myers and offer plenty of on-set nuggets.

However, noticeably missing is Miss Lee Curtis who would have certainly added a level of historical impact about the film, the franchise’s legacy and her journey with the character.

Viewers also get six featurettes (roughly 30 minutes in total) covering the final appearance of Miss Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode (and Miss Lee Cutis as Laurie Strode), the production, the final fight between Laurie and Michael, costumes and set design, the dark evolution of Corey and those messy make-up effects.