4K UHD Review: Kino Lorber’s Suspect Zero (Collector’s Edition) 

Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley are separately trying to find the great white shark of serial killers in Suspect Zero.  Kino Lorber has given the film a 4K UHD release filled with extras and a new 4K Scan of the Original Camera Negative.  

The Film 

There’s a story about Zak Penn’s original script.  It was said that after reading Penn’s spec for Suspect Zero – a factoid about all serial killers’ ring finger was longer than their middle finger. Penn’s story was so effective Spielberg rushed home and checked all his children’s fingers for the affectation.  That setup/payoff does not appear in the film or most of Penn’s version of the story.  What is left in Suspect Zero is a lean, unaffected piece of genre “cop vs cop turned serial killer vs ultimate serial killer” pulp fiction that is at turns effective and ridiculous.  

The high concept plot – an FBI Agent, and a Mysterious man – both hunting the great white shark of serial killers.  A serial killer that has killed thousands over the years unnoticed.  The Mysterious man only known as O’Ryan (Ben Kingsley) seems to have an almost supernatural gift of finding the worst of humanity and exacting vengeance for their trespasses.  FBI Agent Mackelway (Eckhart) at first thinks O’Ryan is the killer.  It is only as Mackelway unlocks the same gifts as O’Ryan, does he realizes the greater truth.  That truth O’Ryan has known all along – they are tracking a true monster that they can only stop. 

In the center of the film is Ben Kingsley as the mysterious O’Ryan like a vengeful angel striking out of nowhere.  One wishes Kingsley was given more of these darker obsessive characters (see Sexy Beast for Kingsley at his best in this mode) as he’s brilliant here.  There’s an openness to the insular nightmare his character is experiencing.  None of the “remote viewing” plot mechanics would work without the actor.  He gives everything a sense of verisimilitude that even the more ridiculous notions work. 

One wishes that director E. Elias Merhige had brought a more genre-centric driving narrative force to the entire proceedings.  The film is visually astute, methodical, obsessively (appropriately) dark and gloomy. Though without that genre drive Suspect Zero feels narratively inert only finding its drive in the final twenty minutes.  When it does in that finale the film springs to life in the way that all great existential thrillers do.  

If one is patient, Suspect Zero delivers on the promise of a truly great concept. It may be a bridge too far for some audiences. 

The Transfer

The all-new HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative makes a case for Suspect Zero looking better than its initial theatrical run.  Kino has done it again turning out excellent work mirroring the movie’s 35mm filmic origins.  Suspect Zero’s desaturated look (as was the look at the era) keeps the luster of the particular style of film printing.  The highlights are the film grain, sharpness, contrast, and black levels.  The contrast levels and blacks go deep in the dynamic range never giving off the dreaded “crushed blacks” that even Blu-rays can sometimes have.  Bravo to Kino Lorber for their continued effective and wonderful work bringing catalog titles back to vivid life with their 4K UHD releases like Suspect Zero.  

The Extras

They include the following;

DISC 1 (4KUHD): 

• Audio commentary by Director E. Elias Merhige

DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):

• Audio commentary by Director E. Elias Merhige
• What We See When We Close Our Eyes: 4 Part Featurette 
• Remote Viewing Demonstration 
• Alternate Ending with Optional Audio Commentary by Director E. Elias Merhige
• Two TV Spots
• US Theatrical Trailer 
• UK Theatrical Trailer 

Note: The Blu-ray houses both the movie and special features. 

The archival audio commentary by Director E. Elias Merhige begins with that he set out to not make a “serial killer” movie but a psychological drama.  Some of the details of why he shot the opening moments the way he did; the references to Hitchcock and Psycho; discussion of Arron Eckhart and setting up the character; how they came up with the look of the remote viewing sections; removing additional scenes between Mackelway and Kulok that would have added context to their relationship; the visual setup of the history of remote viewing and of O’Ryan (Ben Kingsley) own work he’s done; the real-life remote viewing that was historically used by the Military and the CIA; the current (at the time post-9/11) rise in remote viewing being used by the Military and Law Enforcement again; and much more. Merhige gives us a very unique literary commentary track one that feels more like an audiobook from a making-of that was never written.  There is quite a bit of silence throughout the track, but Merhige’s comments are well worth listening to, especially if one loved the film.  

What We See When We Close Our Eyes (30:56) – divided into four parts this documentary looks into the psychic phenomenon of remote viewing.  Anyone who loves these sorts of paranormal investigative features (e.g. Unsolved Mysteries, Stranger Things, Men Who Stare at Goats) will love this deep dive into the subject that appears to have been well-researched by director E. Elias Merhige and the crew did on this topic.  Starting from the origins of this along with the practical application in conjunction with how it related to historical use, how it actually works, how it applies in the production itself, and how it worked in the film. Featuring comments by Director Merhige; stars Aaron Eckhart, Ben Kingsley, and Carrie Ann Moss; Remote Viewing experts or practitioners Russell Targ, Paul H. Smith, Dean Radin, PhD., Jessica Utts, PhD., and others.  Note: the featurettes can either be played individually or all together via a submenu. 

• How We See (3:26) 
• Remote Viewing (8:26) 
• Psychic Spying (13:01) 
• A Non-Local World (6:05)

Remote Viewing Demonstration (10:40) – hosted by director Merhige in this fascinating featurette where the director begins with a remote viewing specialist and goes very sideways from there.  The concept of what happens during the featurette is pretty fun and interesting and should be reviewed without spoilers.  This featurette will be divisive for views either believing or disbelieving what you’re seeing.  

Alternate Ending (0:58) with Optional Audio Commentary by Director E. Elias Merhige – the alternate ending is more of a coda to where Mackelway is one year later.  The commentary track quickly discusses why it was cut.  

TV Spots (0:53) – two 25-second TV spots 

Rounding out the special features are trailers for Suspect Zero – US Theatrical Trailer (2:08); Suspect Zero – UK Theatrical Trailer (1:42); Red Dragon (2:06); Thirst (0:43); Eastern Promises (2:22); The Crimson Rivers (1:57); In Bruges (2:30); The Score (2:30); Thursday (2:06); The Crew (2:03) 

The Final Thought 

Kino continues its great work with 4K UHD producing a wonderful edition of Suspect Zero fans will love. 

Kino Lorber’s 4K UHD Edition of Suspect Zero is out now.