Weird Science: Limited Edition – Arrow Video (4k UHD)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1985
Director: John Hughes
Writer: John Hughes
Cast: Anthony Michael Hall, Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Kelly LeBrock, Robert Downey Jr, Bill Paxton, Suzanne Snyder, Judie Aronson

Release Date: August 21st, 2023 (UK), August 22nd, 2023 (USA)
Approximate Running Times: 94 Minutes 6 Seconds (Theatrical Version), 96 Minutes 38 Seconds (Extended Version)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10 (Both Versions)
Rating: 12 (UK), PG-13 (USA)
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 English (Theatrical Version), DTS-HD Stereo English (Both Versions)
Subtitles: English SDH (Both Versions)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: £29.99 (UK), $49.95 (USA)

“Perennially picked-on high school nerds Gary and Wyatt are sick of their status at the bottom of the social food chain. Using Wyatt s computer, the two hatch a plan to create their dream woman and following a massive power surge, that woman unexpectedly appears in the form of Lisa. Gorgeous, intelligent, and blessed with limitless magic powers, Lisa makes the boys dreams come true… but what about Wyatt s gun-toting psycho older brother Chet, and the two bullies determined to put them back in their place?” – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 5/5 (Both Versions)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K resolution on a Lasergraphics Director at EFilm, Burbank.

The film was graded and restored at Pinewood Studios, London. Picture grading was completed on a DaVinci Resolve and restoration was completed using PF Clean software."

Weird Science comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD

Disc Size: 88.1 GB

Feature: 67.6 GB

This release comes with the original theatrical version of the film and, via seamless branching, an exclusive extended version. Arrow Video already gave Weird Science a solid transfer with their Blu-ray release, and they used that source for this release transfer. That said, as great as their Blu-ray release transfer looked, this release transfer somehow improves upon that transfer. Areas of greatest improvement are shadow detail and color grading. Also, compression is solid, and the image always looks organic.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 English, DTS-HD Stereo English)

The theatrical version of the film comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD stereo mix in English and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. Both audio mixes are in excellent shape; dialog always comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced; and range-wise, both audio mixes do a superb job with the ambient sounds. The extended version of the film comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD stereo mix in English. And this audio mix is identical to the DTS-HD stereo that was used for the theatrical version. Both versions come with removable English SDH.

Extras:

Extras for this release include three image galleries; shooting script (133 images), production stills (119 images), and poster and video art (22 images), nine radio spots (4 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), two T.V. spots (1 minute 1 second, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a theatrical teaser (2 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a theatrical trailer (1 minute 34 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), additional scenes (2 minutes 45 seconds, DTS-HD stereo English, no subtitles), an archival featurette titled It’s Alive: Resurrecting Weird Science (16 minutes 41 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with composer Ira Newborn (13 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with editor Chris Lebenzon (10 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with special makeup creator Craig Reardon (19 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor John Kapelos (6 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with casting director Jackie Burch (6 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a split-screen comparison of the uncut version and made for TV version (18 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles) and edited-for-TV version of the film (94 minutes 6 seconds, 4:3 aspect ratio, DTS-HD stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), a BD-ROM PDF of the original shooting script, reverisble cover art, a slipcover (limited to first pressing), and a 44-page booklet (limited to first pressing) with cast & crew information, an essay titled Electric Venus; or, How I Learned to Stop Caring and Love Weird Science written by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, an essay titled Pictures from a Magazine: Reflecting on E.C. Comics’ Influence on Weird Science written by Amanda Reyes and information about the restoration.

Summary:

Growing up in the 1980s, no one personified the American teenage experience more than John Hughes. Where many others failed in their ability to create genuine teenage characters’ and experiences that teenagers could easily connect with. John Hughes effortlessly created characters’ and scenarios that resonated with teenagers. And nowhere was this more clear than in how his screenplays and the films that he directed were genuinely authentic.

Though most of the films that John Hughes is most remembered for revolve around teenagers, he was not the type of creator who rested on his success by repeating himself. And though there are some overlapping similarities in his first four feature films as a director, tone-wise, he was able to create four distinctly different films that continue to stand the test of time.

In hindsight, looking back on the films of John Hughes Though it is difficult to pinpoint which of his films is my favorite, if I had to choose one, it would be Weird Science. And that’s because it's the film more than any of his other films that my inner teenage self most identifies with.

From its opening moments, it becomes abundantly clear that Weird Science is not grounded in reality. And as the narrative progresses, the events that unfold become more outlandish. With the finale providing an extremely satisfying conclusion to the journey that Gary and Wyatt embarked on.

That being said, there’s only so far a film can push an audience before it loses them. And though the two main characters, Gary and Wyatt, go to extremes to fulfill their fantasies, it is the universal appeal of Weird Sciences’ premise that ultimately resonates with audiences.

There are many areas that can make or break a film. Nothing can sink a film more quickly than being poorly cast. Fortunately, Weird Science has an outstanding cast, all of whom are very good in their respective roles.

And without a doubt, Weird Sciences’ greatest asset is Anthony Michael Hall’s (National Lampoon’s Vacation) portrayal of Gary Wallace, the trouble-making friend who comes up with the idea to create a perfect woman. And cast opposite of Anthony Michael Hall is the role of Wyatt Donnelly, played by Ilan Mitchell-Smith (The Wild Life). His character’s need for structure provides the perfect contrast to Gary’s personality.

Not to be overlooked is Kelly LeBrock (The Woman in Red) in the role of Lisa. She delivers a captivating performance as an object of desire. Other notable cast members include Robert Downey Jr. (Less Than Zero) and Robert Rusler (Vamp) as two bullies who torment Gary and Wyatt; Suzanne Snyder (Killer Klowns from Outer Space) and Judie Aronson (American Ninja), two girls Gary and Wyatt like; and Bill Paxton (Aliens) in the role of Wyatt’s obnoxious older brother Chet. Ultimately, Weird Science is an extraordinary film where everything perfectly falls into place.

Weird Science makes its way to 4K UHD via an exceptional 4K UHD upgrade from Arrow Video, highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a VLC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer