Blu-ray + 4K reviews: Event Horizon, Wild Things (Arrow Video) , Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Our latest Blu-ray and 4K review roundup features the re-release of ’90s cult classics Event Horizon and Wild Things, along with the home video debut of the smash hit Sonic the Hedgehog 2. All three titles are available now (and would make for one heck of a movie marathon).

Event Horizon 4K UHD Steelbook review (Paramount)

Event Horizon is the true definition of a cult classic. Unleashed into theaters in 1997, Paul W. S. Anderson’s sci-fi/horror hybrid was a commercial and critical failure, but has since come to be recognized as one of the scariest films of all time.

Set in 2047 (which doesn’t feel too far off these days), the crew of the Lewis and Clark is sent to investigate a signal from the Event Horizon ship, which disappeared near Neptune years earlier. Led by Captain S.J. Miller (Laurence Fishburne), the crew — including Event Horizon creator, William Weir (Sam Neill) — begin to explore the seemingly empty ship, which Weir explains was created to travel quickly through the universe by folding space in half.

While the crew try to uncover the mystery of the missing Event Horizon staff, they are beset by terrifying visions that point to the true horrors unleashed by the Event Horizon, leading to a pulse-pounding game of cat and mouse as the crew battle their deepest fears while adrift in space.

Filled with unforgettably disturbing images, Event Horizon is a terrifying journey into madness, and one of the finest examples of cosmic horror ever put to screen. This new 4K release from Paramount highlights the depth of the film’s cinematography like no other release before. In particular, the use of HDR makes the Event Horizon mechanism at the heart of the ship shine, highlighting the difference between the deep blacks and the glowing lights of the contraption.

While Scream Factory recently released a stacked special edition of the film, this is the version fans need to pick up, at least in terms of technical merits (though fans may want to grab both). Housed in a striking steelbook with a plastic wraparound cover, Event Horizon will now haunt your shelf the same way it haunts your dreams.

Event Horizon 4K UHD Steelbook extras

Audio Commentary: Director Paul W.S. Anderson and Producer Jeremy Bolt
The Making of Event Horizon
The Point of No Return: The Filming of Event Horizon
Secrets
The Unseen Event Horizon
Trailers

Wild Things Limited Edition Blu-ray review (Arrow video)

If you were a teenager of a certain age in 1998, several moments from Wild Things may be permanently imprinted onto your brain. The steamy neo-noir from director John McNaughton (Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer) stars Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Kevin Bacon, and Denise Richards in a twisty crime thriller that still holds up remarkably well nearly 25 years later.

Wealthy teen Kelly Van Ryan (Denise Richards) shocks the ritzy community of Blue Bay, Florida, when she accuses her high school guidance counselor Sam Lombardo (Matt Dillon) of rape. Soon after, the tough Suzie Toller (Neve Campbell) makes a similar accusation. With Sam struggling to make sense of the allegations, he hires a cheap attorney (Bill Murray) to help refute the claims.

Meanwhile, detective Ray Duquette (Kevin Bacon) has his doubts about the claims and begins to investigate the trio at the heart of the story, setting off a dangerous chain of events filled with double-crosses and sultry hookups.

Filled with seemingly endless twists and turns, Wild Things is a sleazy neo-noir that feels as Florida as a movie can be. A staple at late ’90s house parties, Wild Things gets the deluxe special edition treatment from Arrow via Blu-ray and 4K editions, each featuring commentary tracks, new interviews, and archival features. We received the Blu-ray edition for review, and the new scan is a revelation, showcasing fine details and the film’s rich color palette in a way that no home video release of the film has been able to replicate.

An endlessly rewatchable thriller that feels both of its time in some respects and surprisingly current in others, Wild Things is a clever and surprising ride worth revisiting.

Wild Things Blu-ray / 4K extras

Two versions of the film: Original Theatrical Version and Unrated Edition
Commentary by John McNaughton and Steven A. Jones
Commentary by John McNaughton and crew including cinematographer Jeffrey Kimball, producers Steven A. Jones and Rodney Liber, editor Elena Maganini and score composer George S. Clinton.
Interview with John McNaughton
Interview with Denise Richards
On Set Interviews
“An Understanding Lawyer” Outtakes
Trailer
Stills Gallery

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 4K UHD review (Paramount)

The Sonic the Hedgehog films are way more fun than they have any right to be. Films based on video game franchises have been almost uniformly terrible over the decades, but these Sonic films manage to bring the wild energy of the games to the screen in a refreshing way.

For fans of the games and the cartoons, the excitement with this sequel to the 2020 blockbuster is the addition of Sonic’s pal Tails (voiced by Colleen O’Shaughnessey), a two-tailed yellow fox that has the ability to fly. Sonic (voiced by the hilarious Ben Schwartz) and Tails have to team up to face off against the returning Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey), who also has a new sidekick this time around: Nuckles (voiced by Idris Elba), a super-strong red echidna warrior.

With a strong cast (including James Marsden and Tika Sumpter as Sonic’s parental figures), Sonic 2 features just the right blend of wackiness and inventinve filmmaking to make this palatable for the entire family.

Featuring a dazzling 4K UHD presentation, a robust Dolby Atoms soundtrack, and a strong collection of special features, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is worth a purchase for fans (and those pretending the disc is really for their kids).

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 4K UHD extras

Audio Commentary with director Jeff Fowler and Ben Schwartz.
Animated Short: Sonic Drone Home.
Deleted and Extended Scenes
Bloopers
Music Video: Kid Cudi – Stars in the Sky.
Finding Your Team featurette
The Powerful Puncher: Knuckles featurette
Rapid Fire Responses with Ben Schwartz
Robotnik Reimagined featurette
A Sibling for Sonic: Tails featurette