Underworld Awakening 4K UHD Screenshots (Patreon)

Video

Made for the 3D era, Underworld Awakening is the first movie in the series to drop the film aesthetic. Instead, clarity takes precedence, and in a 4K world, the imagery looks every bit the early digital filmmaking that it is. While yes, it's generally pristine and almost wholly devoid of noise, there's hardly any natural fidelity left. Instead, everything takes on a glossy, smooth appearance that doesn't spark much confidence in the format (through no fault on UHD itself).

The upscale avoids introducing any faults like ringing, if to little help. Resolution is lackluster in its best moments. Factor in Underworld's now familiar adoration of blue, and the disc's ability to impress keeps hitting snags. Brought into the cities, some other colors do factor, albeit limited; it's primarily orange/blue for the duration, and deep color doesn't have a chance to do anything.

HDR grading brings full life to the black levels, and as usual, Underworld Awakening follows the pattern of keeping the action draped in shadow. That work keeps crush at bay to maintain depth even without the 3D capabilities. Contrast hits where needed, emboldening lights from police cars or the city in general. It's nice, if not enough to warrant an upgrade.

Audio

Punishing low-end doesn't favor nuance, preferring to overload bass in a near constant rush of bass. Explosions generate a substantial, even massive jolt. Underworld Awakening doesn't like anything short of room-shaking power, and after a time, it's draining, especially during a fight against a mega-werewolf. That sequence is just a sensory overload.

Where audible above the bass, motion does spectacular work, sweeping the soundstage while filling every positional whenever the visuals call for it. In the jump to Atmos, the typical rainfall finds the heights. However, the extension goes further, especially as Selene suffers visions. Air whips by, both surrounds and heights accounted for. The new mix boasts significant upgrades because of these flourishes, this in an already potent track that scatters werewolves and gunfire flawlessly.