Panic Room (2002) - 4K Ultra HD Evaluation

      **Panic Room, 2002.**

      Directed by David Fincher.

      Starring Jodie Foster, Forest Whitaker, Dwight Yoakam, Jared Leto, and Kristen Stewart.

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      David Fincher's 2002 film Panic Room makes its debut on both Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD in this attractive Steelbook from Sony. As anticipated, the movie looks fantastic, and it comes with a digital copy code as well. While there are no new bonus features for this release, a wealth of content from the previous DVD version has been included. I’m not sure what additional extras could have been added, perhaps a conversation about how the narrative might unfold with today's technology.

      I've been a fan of David Fincher since Alien 3, which I believe is quite underrated, especially the Assembly Cut. However, I somehow overlooked Panic Room, so I was pleased to finally experience it.

      This film, released in 2002, follows a straightforward plot that Fincher expertly enhances. Jodie Foster stars as Meg Altman, a newly divorced woman, while Kristen Stewart portrays her daughter, Sarah, in a defining role at just 12 years old.

      Meg has bought a magnificent brownstone on the Upper West Side of New York City, likely at a bargain price by today’s standards. The house features a secure panic room stocked with supplies, complete with its own phone line and security camera monitors.

      Unbeknownst to Meg, however, the panic room also houses something that three intruders—played by Forest Whitaker, Dwight Yoakam, and Jared Leto—are after. They believe they have entered an unoccupied home, but once Meg learns of their presence and takes refuge in the panic room with Sarah, tensions rise as they plot to force her out. To complicate matters, Meg has yet to set up the room’s phone line.

      Initially, you might think Meg and Sarah could simply wait out the intruders, but David Koepp’s gripping screenplay introduces urgency with Sarah’s diabetes. If she doesn’t receive her insulin, which is not available in the panic room, she could lapse into a coma and potentially die.

      The thieves also have an advantage in the form of Burnham (Whitaker), who works for the company that designs and installs panic rooms, including the one in Meg’s house. He is the calmest of the group, while Junior (Leto) is a privileged kid battling addiction issues, and newcomer Raoul (Yoakam) is volatile and willing to kill anyone, including a child, to get what he wants.

      Despite most of the film occurring in a single location, Panic Room effectively captures the viewer’s attention early and maintains it until the conclusion. One can analyze how Koepp and Fincher develop the plot through a classic three-act structure within the film's 112-minute runtime.

      Remarkably, this new Steelbook from Sony represents the film’s first release on both Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD. It is part of a recent series of Fincher films being made available in 4K Ultra HD, and Panic Room appears just as impressive as expected in both formats.

      This is my first experience with the film on home video, but I believe all of the extras included were transferred from the old DVD edition, which contained a significant amount of material. Although no new content was created for this release, the extra features across the two Blu-ray discs offer a depth typical of a Fincher film. Here’s what you can find:

      • Three commentary tracks: The first features Foster, Yoakam, and Whitaker, while the second has Fincher sharing his insights alone. The third involves screenwriter David Koepp joined by fellow writer William Goldman. I appreciate the varied perspectives in these commentaries, allowing the actors to emphasize their priorities, the director to provide an overall perspective, and the writer to delve into his craft, with Goldman facilitating the discussion.

      • Pre-Production (82 minutes): This section delivers substantial making-of content; it’s rare to find 82 minutes dedicated solely to the pre-production phase of a film.

      • Production (62 minutes): Fincher’s meticulous approach to filmmaking is explored, showcasing the set constructed for the movie and how the director achieved many remarkable shots.

      • Visual Effects (82 minutes): I initially thought some shots involved physically moving parts of the set, but there was much more visual effects work in the film than I had realized. This is not a concern; Panic Room serves as a strong example of a movie with seamlessly integrated visual effects.

      • Easter Eggs (10 minutes): Unlike the hidden extras of earlier DVDs, these two featurettes focus on real-life panic rooms and Foster’s attempts to break a bathroom mirror during filming.

      • Scoring (10 minutes): A brief look at Howard S. Shore’s musical score.

      • Sound Design (15 minutes): Sound designers Red Klyce and David Prior discuss