Halloween is sort of right here, and because the nights get darker, what higher strategy to have fun than with an excellent ol’ customary scary film evening? However, if you happen to’re a house theater proprietor, neglect streaming: it’s time to interrupt out the 4K Blu-ray.
We love 4K Blu-ray at TechRadar, not solely as a result of it’s considered one of our major sources for testing the finest TVs and the finest soundbars, however as a result of we’re collectors ourselves! It’s additionally the easiest way to expertise films at house, due to its superior image high quality (4K Blu-ray bitrate is 128Mbps in comparison with 4K streaming’s 20Mbps common, although this adjustments based mostly on the streaming service) and uncompressed audio.
For horror films, sound is as necessary because the visuals. Consider the fear-inducing rating of a few of your favourite scary films, just like the twinkling piano of Halloween or the razor-sharp strings of Psycho. In these movies, the sound does as a lot to create the temper as seeing Michael Myers or Norman Bates on display.
Absolutely the easiest way to expertise horror on your house theater system is with a 4K Blu-ray. I’ve been reviewing 4K Blu-rays for practically a yr as a part of our Blu-ray Bounty function, and I’ve come throughout some horror gems which might be excellent for a fright fest. Try my high three picks under.
1. Nosferatu
Nosferatu (2024) is Robert Eggers’ remake of Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922), a film impressed by Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It tells the story of Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp), a younger lady who, as a toddler, developed a reference to a being named Depend Orlock (Invoice Skarsgård), which is rekindled when her new husband Thomas (Nicolas Hoult) encounters Orlock throughout a enterprise association.
Featured within the Might 2024 version of the Blu-ray Bounty, Nosferatu is ideal if you happen to’re searching for that edge-of-your-seat viewing expertise. The scratching strings of violins within the rating are sufficient to ship chills down the backbone, and Orlock’s deep, gravelly voice will take a look at the capabilities of your system’s middle channel speaker.
The Dolby Atmos soundtrack additionally produces sturdy peak results, reminiscent of rain, and with a full encompass system, different, extra nuanced results can add to the ambiance. Footsteps by echoing hallways, the crackling of a lit torch, and the squeak of rats all add to the eerie ambiance.
Visually, Nosferatu is ideal for darkish room situations and nighttime viewing. The film’s deep blacks in evening scenes look unbelievable on the finest OLED TVs, and scenes of remoted mild sources produce sturdy distinction, as in a single the place Hutter meets Orlock in his citadel and a hearth illuminates one half of Hutter’s face. You probably have a TV with Dolby Imaginative and prescient, you’ll be handled to even better element and stronger distinction.
2. Alien: Romulus
The newest film within the Alien franchise, Alien: Romulus follows a bunch of younger colonists who discover an deserted area station, solely to come across a bunch of hostile alien creatures. The film takes place between the occasions of Alien and Aliens.
First featured within the December 2024 Blu-ray Bounty, Alien: Romulus’s wonderful sound design is completely conveyed by the 4K disc’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The creaking metallic of the ship’s hull will be clearly heard in encompass audio system, mixing completely with the nerve-shedding string-led rating to place you on edge.
The pitter-patter of tiny facehugger toes in Alien: Romulus is positioned so exactly that it’ll have you ever desperately scanning your room. And within the film’s extra action-packed moments, gunfire and explosions produce a robust rumble that’s excellent for exhibiting off your subwoofer’s chops.
A film with loads of excessive distinction scenes, Alien: Romulus is a visible feast. Inky, deep blacks steadiness properly with the coloured lights to create really beautiful photos, significantly through the climax of the film, the place orange lights illuminate a blackened hallway. Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR additionally provides textures reminiscent of scales and pores and skin actual depth and definition. The moments of violence can have you wincing, including as much as an ideal film evening in order for you action-packed leisure and stress.
3. Sinners
Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler (Black Panther, Creed), is a genre-bending film that follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore (each performed by Michael B. Jordan), two criminals who return to their hometown in Nineteen Thirties Mississippi to begin recent, solely to be met by an evil drive. The movie additionally stars Hailee Steinfeld and Miles Caton.
First reviewed within the July 2025 version of the Blu-ray Bounty, the film’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack shines throughout musical moments. For example, in a single scene in a barn the place Sammie (Caton) performs music, seemingly summoning the spirits of musicians previous and current, the sound follows the motion of the motion on display with pinpoint precision. It had me wanting across the room!
The identical scene additionally blends delta blues with hip-hop beats that can exhibit your subwoofer’s capabilities. Nonetheless to come back: loads of chilling, action-packed moments with a tense rating and room-rattling rumble.
Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR actually brings out the richness of Sinners’ image, producing vibrant however pure colours, deep blacks and powerful HDR highlights. A show with excessive brightness will probably be excellent for the film’s daytime scenes captured underneath the beating solar in sweltering Mississippi, in addition to reproducing excessive distinction scenes the place lamplight and fireplace distinction with pitch black environments. Tremendous particulars reminiscent of sweat-covered pores and skin and the finely textured costumes additionally actually stand out on this 4K disc. The movie’s extra gore-centric scenes, and sure, there are some, will entice horror followers even additional.
Searching for a brand new 4K Blu-ray participant to get began, or for an improve? Try as we speak’s finest 4K Blu-ray participant offers under
