‘Snakes on a Plane’ 4K UHD Review (Arrow Video)
Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Julianna Margulies, Nathan Phillips, Rachel Blanchard, Flex Alexander, Kenan Thompson, Lin Shaye, Bruce James, Sunny Mabrey | Written by John Heffernan, Sebastian Gutierrez, David Dalessandro | Directed by David R. Ellis
Back in 2006, New Line Cinema harnessed the growing power of the internet to whip up hype for Samuel L. Jackson’s gloriously unhinged action-thriller Snakes on a Plane. By the time the film finally slithered into cinemas on August 18th, anticipation had reached fever pitch, with fans primed for an outright ophidiophobic spectacle.
Now, Snakes on a Plane marks its 20th anniversary, and to celebrate this gloriously meme-fuelled milestone, Arrow Video has restored the film and unleashed it on 4K Ultra HD – giving the cult favourite the high-definition treatment it never knew it needed.
Samuel L. Jackson (Deep Blue Sea) is FBI agent Neville Flynn, escorting a key witness in the case against a ruthless crime lord on a commercial jet from Hawaii to Los Angeles. But at 30,000 feet, justice takes a backseat when the mobsters unleash a writhing cargo of venomous snakes into the cabin. With passengers dropping like flies and the cockpit compromised, Flynn and a ragtag band of terrified travelers are forced to enter a fight for survival against nature’s deadliest stowaways.
Snakes on a Plane is unapologetically B-movie fare, leaning fully into its own ridiculous premise. Samuel L. Jackson and the rest of the cast play everything completely straight, despite everyone involved – and watching – knowing just how utterly absurd it all is. That contrast is exactly where the film’s charm lies, turning what could have been throwaway schlock into something endlessly entertaining. It’s also why Snakes on a Plane has gone on to earn genuine cult-classic status in the years since.
Arrow Video have transferred Snakes on a Plane in 4K in 2160p and presented it in 2.35:1 aspect ratio in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible). The audio track is the original English DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Arrow Video has carried out a brand-new 4K restoration of Snakes on a Plane, and the results are genuinely impressive. The image quality completely blew me away – this is easily the crispest and cleanest the film has ever looked. Colours pop with real vibrancy, flesh tones appear natural and well-balanced, and the audio comes through loud, clear, and punchy. And, as you’d expect from Arrow, the work doesn’t stop at the restoration. They never slap a film on a disc and call it a day. This 4K Ultra HD release is packed with a generous selection of bonus features, making it a must-have for fans, including:
Special Features:
- Brand new audio commentary by critics Max Evry and Bryan Reesman
- Archival cast and crew audio commentary, featuring director David R. Ellis, actor Samuel L. Jackson, producer Craig Berenson, associate producer Tawny Ellis, VFX supervisor Eric Henry, and second unit director Freddie Hice
- Snakes on a Page, a brand new mini-documentary exploring the movie tie-in novelisation phenomenon, featuring publisher Mark Miller, historian David Spencer and Christa Faust, author of the Snakes on a Plane novelisation
- Pure Venom, an archival feature on the making of the film, featuring interviews with the cast and crew
- Meet the Reptiles, an archival featurette on the work of snake wrangler Jules Sylvester and the various snakes featured in the film
- VFX, an archival featurette on the use of CGI to bring the snakes to life
- Snakes on a Blog, an archival featurette on the online hype surrounding the film prior to its release
- Snakes on a Plane music video
- Making of the music video
- Gag reel
- Trailers and TV Spots
- Image gallery
- Easter eggs
- South Pacific Airlines safety instruction card
- Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options
- Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing by Daniel Burnett and Charlie Brigden
As you can see, Arrow Video have gone well above and beyond here, combining brand-new material with a wealth of archival content to make this release feel genuinely special. If you’re a fan of this Samuel L. Jackson, snake-filled chaos, the 4K upgrade comes highly recommended – you’ll be seriously impressed by just how good the film looks. That said, Arrow hasn’t forgotten those who haven’t leapt 4K just yet. Snakes on a Plane is also available on Blu-ray, meaning you can still enjoy the restored version in HD without missing out.
***** 5/5
Either way, this is a release worth adding to your collection, and it’s available now from Amazon.
______
